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Optimal Timing of Account Audits in Internal Control

Author

Listed:
  • Richard C. Morey

    (Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27706)

  • David A. Dittman

    (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455)

Abstract

This paper calculates the minimum required frequency between audits of a given type to meet prespecified accuracy goals for a given type of account. Both "100 percent," as well as sampling type audits are addressed. The effectiveness of a given audit type includes the mean and standard deviation of any residual error that may remain in the account after the audit has been performed and after account balances have been adjusted. The accuracy goals consist of the maximum accumulated error that is considered by management to be tolerable between audits, and the prescribed likelihood that this tolerance level will not be exceeded. The model assumes that certain parameters of the error process have been estimated, but no distributional information is required. Closed form, easy to use, lot-size type formulae are derived which calculate the required frequency (or upper bounds) between audits. The model also provides insights as to the relative cost-effectiveness of various types of audits.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard C. Morey & David A. Dittman, 1986. "Optimal Timing of Account Audits in Internal Control," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 32(3), pages 272-282, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:32:y:1986:i:3:p:272-282
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.32.3.272
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    Cited by:

    1. Nicole DeHoratius & Adam J. Mersereau & Linus Schrage, 2008. "Retail Inventory Management When Records Are Inaccurate," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 10(2), pages 257-277, November.
    2. Benzion Barlev & Haim Levy, 1996. "Misuse And Optimum Inspecting Strategy In Agency Problems," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(1), pages 82-104, February.
    3. Nicole DeHoratius & Ananth Raman, 2008. "Inventory Record Inaccuracy: An Empirical Analysis," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 54(4), pages 627-641, April.
    4. Gel, Esma S. & Erkip, Nesim & Thulaseedas, Anoop, 2010. "Analysis of simple inventory control systems with execution errors: Economic impact under correction opportunities," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(1), pages 153-166, May.
    5. Xu, Jinpeng & Jiang, Wei & Feng, Gengzhong & Tian, Jun, 2012. "Comparing improvement strategies for inventory inaccuracy in a two-echelon supply chain," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 221(1), pages 213-221.

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