Objectives of audit and advantages of Auditing

The objectives of an audit may broadly be classified as
1. Primary Objectives
2. Secondary objectives.

Primary Objectives:

The main purpose of audit is to judge the reliability of the financial statements and the supporting accounting records for a particular financial period.  The Companies Act, 1956 requires that the auditor of a company has to state whether in his opinion the accounts disclose a true and fair view of the state of company's affairs, profit and Loss Account and Balance Sheet of the state of affairs of a business, the auditor carries out a process of examination and verification of books of accounts and relevant documents.  Such an examination will enable the auditor to report to his client on the financial condition and working results of the organization.  While carrying out the examination of the various books of accounts, relevant documents and evidences, the auditor may came across certain errors and frauds.  Despite such a possibility the detecting of errors and frauds is an incidental object.  However, laymen have always associated the detection of errors and frauds as the main function of an auditor which is not true. At the same time audit also discloses how far the accounting system adopted in the organisation is adequate and appropriate in recording the various transactions as well as the weakness of these systems.

Secondary Objectives:

As stated above, an auditor has to examine the books of accounts and the relevant documents in order to report on the financial condition of the business.  In the process of such an investigation of accounts certain errors and frauds may be detected.  These are discussed under the following two heads:

A.  Detection and Prevention of Errors
B.  Detection and Prevention of Frauds

Detection and prevention of Errors:  Various types of errors are mentioned below:

1. Clerical Errors: Such an error arises on account of wrong posting.  For example, an amount received from Thomas is credited to Sunny.  Though there is wrong posting still the trial balance will agree.  Clerical errors are of three types as follows:

i)   Errors of Commission: There errors are caused due to wrong posting either wholly or partially of the amount in the books of original entry or ledger accounts or wrong calculations, wrong totaling, wrong balancing, and wrong casting of subsidiary books.  For example Rs. 500 is paid to a vendor and the same is recorded in the cash book.  While posting to the ledger, the Vendor's account is debited by Rs. 500.  It may be due to carelessness of the clerk.  Most of the errors of commission are reflected in the trial balance and these can be discovered by routine checking of the books.

ii)   Errors of Omission: Such errors arise when the transactions are not recorded in the books of original entry or posted to the ledger.  For example, sales are note recorded in the sales book or omission to enter invoices in the purchase book.  For example Rs. 200 is paid to a vendor.  The entry in the cash book is made on the credit side but posting to the vendor side is omitted.  Errors due to entire omission will not affect the trial balance whereas errors due to partial omission will affect the trial balance and can be detected.

iii)   Compensating Errors:  When two or more errors are committed in such a way that the result of these errors on the debits and credits is nil, they are referred to as a compensating errors. For example, Anil's account which was to be debited for Rs. 500 was credited for Rs. 500 and similarly, Sunil's account which was to be credited for Rs. 500 was debited for Rs.500.  These two mistakes will nullify the effect of each other.  Both the sides of the trial balance are equally affected.  As such, these errors are difficult to locate unless detailed investigation is undertaken.

2.  Errors of Principle: Such errors are committed when some fundamental principle of accounting is not properly observed in recording transaction.  For example, if there is incorrect allocation of expenditure or receipt between capital and revenue or when closing stock is over-valued.  Though trial balance will not disagree, the Profit and Loss Account may be very much affected.  Sometimes, such errors are committed deliberately to falsify the accounts or unintentionally due to lack of knowledge or sound principles of accounting.  Thus, a thorough examination is to be done to locate such errors.

Detection and Prevention of Frauds: Frauds are always committed deliberately and intentionally to defraud the proprietors of the organization.  If the frauds remain undetected, they may affect the opinion of the auditor on the financial condition and the working results of the organization.  It is, therefore, necessary that the auditor should exercise utmost care to detect such frauds.