Audit Data Standards
ASEC’s Emerging Assurance Technologies Task Force established the Audit Data Standard working group to help develop new technologies that will contribute to the effectiveness, timeliness, and efficiency of the audit process. One of the main projects that this task force has been working on is developing a standardized data model that management, internal auditors and external auditors could utilize for enhanced analytics that would further improve the timeliness and effectiveness of the audit process.
Base Standard
Obtain a copy and guidance on the Audit Data Standard – Base Standard
General Ledger Standard
Obtain a copy and guidance on the Audit Data Standard – General Ledger Standard
Subledger Standards
Obtain copies and guidance on the Audit Data Standards – Subledger Standard: Order to Cash and Procure to Pay
Audit Data Standards Overview
One of the challenges that management and auditors face is obtaining accurate data in a usable format following a repeatable process. As a result, the working group has developed a voluntary, uniform audit data standards that identifies the key information needed for audits and provides a common framework covering: (1) data file definitions and technical specifications, (2) data field definitions and technical specifications, and (3) supplemental questions and data validation routines to help auditors better understand the data and assess its completeness and integrity. The standards are offered in either of the following two file formats: (1) flat file format (pipe-delimited UTF-8 text file format) and (2) extensible Business Reporting Language Global Ledger Taxonomy Framework (XBRL GL)
Helpful Links and Additional Resources
Standards
View all of the audit data standards.
Articles
AICPA Data Standard Digs Deeper in Corporate Books
Learn more about the benefits of the AICPA's Audit Data Standards
Audit Data Standard calls for organizational cooperation
Learn more about the value of audit data standardization and the AICPA's Audit Data Standards
Audit Data Standards - an important initiative of the AICPA
ACL discusses the Audit Data Standards and what's to come
Blog Posts
Microsoft collaborates with AICPA using Audit Data Standards with Dynamics
While collaborating with the AICPA, Microsoft has developed a demo of how Dynamics ERP customers can use Management Reporter to help share their data with their auditor, following the Audit Data Standards.
Audit Data Standards: Revolutionizing Business Information
From internal and external auditors to management and more...find out more about who can benefit from the Audit Data Standards
Audit Data Gathering in Ten Minutes or Less
Learn more about how the Audit Data Standards can cut down on the amount time it takes to gather audit data.
For more information or any questions related to the Audit Data Standards, please contact Dorothy McQuilken at dmcquilken@aicpa.org.
