Course:
Data Analysis with Benford’s Law and Microsoft Access, Second session
Description:
This course builds on the work of the Data Analysis with Benford’s Law and Microsoft Access, first session. In this course we calculate Summary Statistics in Access and discuss the objectives of this test from and auditing viewpoint. We also select database records using specified criteria (e.g., all the records for over $1,000,000) and the possible objectives of this are discussed from an audit viewpoint. Advanced concepts of Benford’s Law such as the Excel table and conformity criteria are discussed. The Number Duplication test is shown in Access and discussed.
Instructions
Read and study the written material and then analyze the prescribed data set using Microsoft Access. When this has been done, complete the course exam in the last lesson.
Author: Mark J. Nigrini, Ph.D.
Author bio: Mark J. Nigrini, was formerly on the faculty at the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University where he taught undergraduate and graduate level auditing classes and a computer modeling class. He started his work with digital and number frequencies in 1989 when he saw the potential for auditors to use the expected digit patterns to test the authenticity of client data. In 1995 his work started receiving publicity and has been written about in forums such as The Wall Street Journal, The Globe and Mail, CA Magazine, The Financial Times, The New York Times, Business Week, and USA Today. He has published papers in academic journals such as The Journal of the American Taxation Association, Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory, and The Journal of Accounting Education, and in practitioner journals such as Internal Auditor, Journal of Accountancy, IT Audit Forum, The White Paper, and IEEE Potentials. He is the author of Digital Analysis Using Benford’s Law: Tests and Statistics for Auditors and Using Microsoft Access for Data Analysis and Interrogation.
Author Website: http://www.nigrini.com
Prerequisites: A basic knowledge of Excel functionality (Copy,
Paste, functions, cell-references etc.) is assumed. This session assumes that you to have done the Data Analysis
with Benford’s law and Microsoft Access, First session course and that you
are familiar with the work covered there.
This course uses the same data set as in the first session and this
therefore needs to be available to you.
Course level: Basic – Covers fundamental principles and skills, This level is for participants with limited or no exposure to subject.
Field of Study: Accounting/Auditing
Instructional method: Interactive self-study.
Software/Hardware requirements:
Internet connection at 28.8-kbps or faster speed
Microsoft Excel 97 or higher
Microsoft Access 97 or higher
Review first session and set objectives for this session
Calculate Summary Statistics using Access
Select records meeting certain criteria in Access
Learn about Benford’s Law advanced concepts
Perform the Number Duplication test in Access
Review conclusions drawn from the analysis of the data