All audits involve gathering evidence to test management's assertions.
External documentation is more reliable than internal documentation Testimonial evidence from unbiased outsiders with knowledge and time to address audit questions is more reliable than testimonial evidence from insiders or those without sufficient knowledge base or time to address audit questions. Examination of documents - Much of the audit process depends on examining documents. Recomputation or recalculation of data - Auditors often find it useful to recalculate a number of client computations. Recalculations include footing, crosscasting, tests of extensions and recomputations. Reprocessing of transactions - involves selecting a sample from a population of source documents, such as bills of lading, and reprocessing them to be sure they have been properly recorded.