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Purpose of an Audit

An audit involves the systematic examination of records and documents and confirmation of the information they contain by physical inspection or other means to ensure that proper records are being kept and to determine financial statements or reports and the fairness of the facts they present as well as determining the degree of compliance with established policies relating to reporting of financial transactions including GAAP and SFAS.

An audit is intended to provide users with reasonable assurance that the financial statements fairly represent a company's financial condition.  Audited financial statements do not guarantee accuracy.  Auditors examine financial statements by conducting statistical sampling methods.  Auditors and audits do not guarantee the statements presented are completely accurate.  Auditors follow an audit trail, meaning that auditors are able to track data back to its source by using a step by step method.  This technique is useful to auditors in verifying or validating the accuracy of the financial information being presented by the company being audited.

© 2011.  Michael C. Dennis.  All Rights Reserved.  Please visit his website at www.coveringcredit.com