Audit history. Auditing activities
The audit has a fairly long history. The first independent auditors appeared in the 19th century. in joint stock companies in Europe. The word "audit" in different translations means "he hears" or "hearer." So in theological educational institutions they called an excellent student who, on behalf of the teacher, carried out a confidential check of other students for the assimilation of the material they had passed. Such a relationship of trust also exists in auditing. Auditing activities- the process of verification by auditors (audit firms) of the correctness of accounting carried out by economic entities.
The emergence of audit is associated with the separation of interests of those who are directly involved in the management of the enterprise (administration, managers), and those who invest in its activities (owners, shareholders, investors). The latter could not and did not want to rely only on the financial information provided by the managers and accountants of the enterprise subordinate to them. Quite frequent bankruptcies of enterprises, deception on the part of the administration significantly increased the risk financial investments... The shareholders wanted to be sure that they were not deceived, that the reports submitted by the administration fully reflected the actual financial position enterprises. People who, in the opinion of shareholders, could be trusted were invited to verify the correctness of financial information and to confirm financial statements. The main requirements for the auditor were his impeccable honesty and independence. Knowledge of accounting was not of primary importance at first, however, with the increasing complexity of accounting, a good professional training of the auditor becomes a prerequisite.
The historical homeland of auditing is England, where, since 1844, a series of company laws has been issued, according to which the boards of joint-stock companies are required to invite a special person at least once a year to check accounting accounts and report to shareholders.
In Russia, the title of auditor was introduced by Peter 1. The position of auditor combined some of the duties of a clerk, secretary and prosecutor. Auditors in Russia were called sworn accountants. All three attempts to organize the institution of audit (in 1889, 1912 and 1928) were unsuccessful.
World economic crisis 1929-1933 increased the need for the services of accountants and auditors. At this time, the requirements for the quality of the audit and its obligation are sharply intensified, the market demand for this kind of services is increasing. After the end of the crisis, almost all countries begin to introduce mandatory requirements for the amount of information contained in annual reports, and the obligation to publish these reports and auditors' reports. Auditing is becoming a powerful weapon against fraud.
Until the end of the 40s. the audit mainly consisted of checking the documentation confirming the recorded monetary transactions, and the correct grouping of these operations in financial statements... This was the so-called confirmation audit. After 1949, independent auditors began to pay more attention to internal control issues in companies, believing that with an effective system of internal control, the probability of error is negligible and financial data are sufficiently complete and accurate. Auditing firms began to engage in more consulting activities than directly auditing. This audit is called system-oriented.
The third stage in the development of audit is its focus on possible risk when conducting audits or when consulting, preventing and avoiding risk; audit, in which, based on the conditions of the client's business, the verification is carried out selectively, mainly where the risk of error or fraud is greatest. In the early 70s. the development of auditing standards began. In England, auditors are any specialists in the field of control over the reliability of financial statements, including those working in government bodies... In France in the area of independent financial control there are two professional organizations: accountants-experts who are directly involved in accounting, reporting and consulting services in this area, and commissioners (authorized) for accounts, ensuring control over the reliability of financial statements. In the United States, financial reporting is verified by a Certified Public Accountant.
In all developed countries persons wishing to acquire the profession of an accountant-auditor will have many years of study and practical activity, as well as numerous exams. Representatives of the Chamber of Auditors, an organization uniting all persons of this profession, regularly check their work, and exclusion from the Chamber of Auditors means the prohibition of further activities.
The audit activity as such is generated by the market economy and is part of mechanism of this economy. The audit service in Russia is in the initial period of development (especially such a type of it as a bank audit). The very first audit firm in our country - "INAUDIT" was founded in 1997. in accordance with the decree of the USSR Council of Ministers. The creation of this firm, as well as many other audit firms, is associated with the formation of joint ventures in various sectors of the national economy. Foreign investors had a noticeable impact on the emergence and development of auditing in our country, which has existed in economically developed countries for more than a century and a half and has earned the trust of the business circles of these countries. Despite the rapid, especially in the last two years, growth in the number of audit firms in Russia, the development of the audit business in our country has been significantly delayed due to the lack of a proper legal framework.
History emergence audit .
Arte et humanitate, labore et scientia
(Art and philanthropy, labor and knowledge)
The history of audit begins in ancient times, and this is not a turn of speech. Already in the Ancient East, one can observe the beginnings of systematic control over accounting activities, and in many countries, the history of the emergence of audit is similar: the ancient Egyptians, Chinese and Sumerians already followed the activities of officials. In China during the Zhou Dynasty (1122 - 256 BC) state system had a tight budget and audit of all government departments. But only in Ancient Greece and Rome, the audit (as well as many other things) acquired a more distinct shape. In the 5th century. BC. in Athens, the People's Assembly controlled the revenues and expenditures of the state, and in the Republic of Rome, public finances were under the control of the Senate and the staff of auditors. It is here that special supervisory bodies appear, the responsibility of which has become to monitor the correctness of the keeping of accounting documents. Quaestors, as the "employees" of such services were called, sent their reports to Rome for hearing.
Listening is the root (literally and figuratively) of auditing. It is this Latin word that will become the name of the entire consulting industry in the future.
The English-language history of the emergence of audit is associated with the archives of the Treasuries of England and Scotland in 1130. In the 1200s, the City of London was audited, and in the early 14th century auditors appeared among the elected officials.
The emergence of audit is associated with the separation of interests of those who
directly involved in the management of the enterprise (administration, managers), and those who invest in its activities (owners, shareholders, investors). The latter could not and did not want to rely only on the financial information provided by the managers and accountants of the enterprise subordinate to them. Quite frequent bankruptcies of enterprises, deception on the part of the administration significantly increased the risk of financial investments.
The shareholders wanted to be sure that they were not deceived, that the reports submitted by the administration fully reflected the actual financial position of the enterprise. People who, in the opinion of shareholders, could be trusted were invited to verify the correctness of the financial information and to confirm the financial statements. The main requirements for the auditor were his impeccable honesty and independence. Knowledge of accounting was not of primary importance at first, however, since
the complication of accounting is also a prerequisite for a good professional training of the auditor.
In world practice, there are several stages in the development of audit:
1st stage... Historical origin of audit. There are several points of view regarding the exact date of the audit. According to one opinion, accountants-auditors first appeared in Great Britain in the middle of the 19th century. (The British Companies Act of 1862 prescribed a mandatory audit once a year), then in France (1867) a law was passed on the mandatory examination of the balance sheets of joint-stock companies by special auditors, who were called "account commissioners." Audit also emerged in other most developed capitalist countries in the context of the concentration of production and capital and the creation of joint-stock companies. As the scale of production increased, there was a division between managers and investors. The owner (investor) was less and less directly involved in production and financial issues by entrusting it to managers. Objectively, there is a need for an independent verification of accounting and reporting, drawn up by hired managers, and the expression of an opinion on its reliability, as well as an assessment financial condition enterprises. Such an opinion could be expressed by the auditor. At the same time, the purpose of conducting inspections is not to identify and correct errors and distortions (as it was before), but to assess the actual financial condition of the enterprise and its real size.
2nd stage... The emergence of selective auditing. At the turn of the Х1Х-ХХ centuries. there is a stormy the economic growth... Transnational corporations and business associations are being created. The business is beginning to diversify and segment itself functionally and geographically. Capitalism has entered the monopoly stage. In the history of accounting, this period is significant in that in 1904 a consolidated balance sheet appeared. Due to the dramatically increased volume of information, auditors could no longer check the accounting and reporting in a continuous manner, which led to the emergence of a selective audit, as well as the formation of a doctrine about the internal control system and the need to evaluate it during the audit. American audit spun off and began to evolve independently of the outside world.
3rd stage... The beginning of the normative regulation of audit activity. A noticeable impetus to the development of audit was the world economic crisis of 1929-1933, when the massive bankruptcy of enterprises required a tougher inspection procedure, ensuring the independence of inspections and the auditors themselves. In this regard, in Germany, already in 1931, a government decree on a mandatory audit was adopted. accounting reports enterprises with the regulation of the very process of the inspection. In the United States in 1934, the Commission on securities and stock exchange, which took over the statutory regulation of the accounting and reporting of American companies. Since annual reports joint-stock companies, whose shares were quoted on the stock exchange, must have been certified by an accountant-auditor or an auditing firm.
4th stage... The emergence of the first professional audit associations, the further development of auditing, teachings about the internal control system. In 1942, the Chamber of Expert Accountants and Certified Accountants was established in France. In 1945, the activities of the Chamber were regulated by a government decree. The Chamber began to be under the tutelage of the Minister of Economy and Finance.
In the 1940s. clearly formulated and consolidated regulatory documents the purpose of the audit activity is to express an opinion on the reliability of the presented financial statements (which remains unchanged to this day). National standards for auditing began to be developed.
Since the 1950s. auditors began to pay more attention to internal control issues, believing that with an effective system of internal control, the likelihood of errors and misstatements is negligible, and financial statements reliable. The importance of audit-related services, primarily consulting activities, is sharply increasing.
Two main directions of audit regulation are being formed (according to the degree of government influence): in the USA and Great Britain - the relative independence of audit organizations, which themselves create professional associations; the latter train auditors, assign them appropriate qualifications and monitor their work; in Western Europe - audit is strictly regulated by the government.
5th stage... The emergence of the International Auditing Practices Committee within the International Federation of Acountants, developed by International standards audit. In the early 1970s. under the auspices of the International Federation of Accountants (hereinafter - IFAC), the development of International Auditing Standards began. As you know, IFAC is a non-profit, non-governmental, non-political international organization professional accountants(in Russia, the government body, the Ministry of Finance, is considered the authorized body regulating accounting and the development of auditing standards at the level of the entire state). To date, the IFAC includes 153 representatives from 113 countries of the world. The main goal of the IFAC is to develop the profession, improve its quality, taking into account the public interest. IFAC operates through its committees.
By 1998, International Standards on Auditing (hereinafter - ISA) began to be used as national standards in 34 countries, and in another 35 countries they are applied without significant changes. Examples of such countries include the Netherlands, France, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Turkey.
The standards are constantly being improved taking into account the practice of their application, the development of the audit itself. The process of improving the ISA is of a constant dynamic nature.
The reaction to the events that took place at the turn of the XX - XXI centuries. on the world market of rendering audit services, was the introduction of new (and revision of the previous) International Standards on Auditing.
In particular, the provisions of ISA No. 500 “Audit Evidence” were substantially revised. In addition to the "traditional" types of audit evidence (control tests and substantive procedures), there are also Risk assessment procedures. It is assumed that with their help, the auditor should, to a certain extent, gain an understanding of the activities of the audited entity, as well as the environment in which it operates, the internal control system in order to assess the level of risk of material misstatements in the financial statements.
V new edition ISA No. 500 also significantly expanded the list of statements on the basis of which financial statements were prepared (Financial statement assertions).
Foreign and Russian researchers still have to work on studying, analyzing, commenting on and practical implementation of the provisions of the new auditing standards.
In all developed countries, persons wishing to acquire the profession of an accountant-auditor will have many years of study and practical activity, as well as numerous exams. Representatives of the Chamber of Auditors, an organization uniting all persons of this profession, regularly check their work, and exclusion from the Chamber of Auditors means the prohibition of further activities.
Originally term audit descended from Latin audit- listening, listening.
In modern language audit means nothing more than an independent and impartial professional study of accounting statements legal entity(enterprise, joint stock company) for the purpose of drawing up and expressing about it expert opinion, which is rendered in accordance with current legislation, rules and regulations for the implementation of such procedures.
Audit in world history
Audit has been known to mankind for more than 6 thousand years, so such a clear change in the description of the term is not surprising. Initially, the audit, as a control procedure, was carried out to account for the property of slave owners and high-ranking officials, to prevent theft from the courtyard and from the treasury, to calculate the military personnel and the population of the state.
Back in the 7th century. BC. The Roman Empire boasted a clear control system, which included curators, prosecutors, and quaestors.
Quaestors of the Roman Empire
Later, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the audit did not outlive itself, but was successfully applied in Italy. Its main purpose at that time was to prevent errors in the transportation of goods. by sea and control over the solvency of captains sea vessels in Florence and Venice.
Sea vessel of the Venetian merchants
The reference to audit systems can also be found in the writings of ancient Greek thinkers. In particular, Aristotle repeatedly mentions them in his work "Politics", clearly distinguishing between accounting and control functions in the state (in this case, he refers audit to control).
The great ancient greek thinker aristotle
There is information confirming that in the V century. BC NS. The control of the expenses of the People's Assembly in Athens was carried out precisely with the help of persons similar in authority to modern auditors. More than 2 centuries ago, audit found application not only in the territory of modern Europe, but also in the East - one of the first countries that created a clear audit control system is China.
The first documents directly mentioning the position of an auditor in Europe (in English-speaking countries - England, Scotland) are dated 1130. In 1285, King Edward I of England passed the first law regulating the activities of auditors. It is this period that is considered the time of the birth of modern audit in Europe, since in the future this system control received more and more development.
King of England Edward I
It is worth noting that the original meaning of the term audit - listening, listening, was extremely relevant in the Middle Ages. Most of the population of Europe at that time did not know how to read, therefore, the “practice of listening to reports” was especially popular, in which arguments were often given in favor of the guilt of convicts for various types of theft and theft. "Hearings" were held up to the 17th century. n. NS..
In the 18th century, on the recommendation of politician and economist George Watson, an audit of accounting records was carried out among Scottish merchants, which led to extreme interest in their circle and the further practice of regular checks. Development audit became even more rapid in the XVIII - XIX centuries due to dramatic changes in financial situation many states. At this stage, the main work of the auditor was to control the correctness of the accounting records of enterprises. In the same 19th century, in 1805, after the publication of a directory with the names of 17 professional auditors, they created the first professional audit organization. Since 1884, an annual audit of the accounting statements of enterprises and joint stock companies in England has become mandatory. In 1862 England legalized audit as a separate branch of economics.
With the adoption in the United States of America in 1886 of the first law on the formation of audit firms, the development of audit accelerated even more - in 1887 the Association of American Auditors appeared, and starting in 1896, after passing the specialty exam at the University of New York, any certified an accountant could obtain a license to engage in auditing activities.
Audit in Russia
Contrary to the popular belief that audit came to Russia relatively recently, there is evidence that the position of an auditor was first introduced at the beginning of the 18th century. Peter I. The main occupation of auditors at that time was the audit and accounting of army and navy property, as well as the solution of property disputes and proceedings. Compared with auditors of Western states, auditors in Russia in the period of the 18th-19th centuries were simultaneously auditors, and prosecutors, and investigators. Until 1867, they conducted their activities in special institutions - auditors.
Peter I
In its modern form, audit began to emerge in Russia in the 80s. At the moment, there are preparatory and four main stages in the development of audit in our country:
- Preparatory stage The preparatory stage includes the emergence of the first revision and economic groups under the USSR Ministry of Finance.
- The first stage (1987 - 1989) The first stage began with the appearance in the USSR of the first audit firm - the joint-stock company "Inaudit".
- Second stage (1989 - 1991) The period from 1989 to 1991 was marked by an attempt to pass the first law in the USSR regulating the activities of auditors and audit firms.
- The third stage (from 1991.12.05 to 2001) Project approval time Legislative act about audit. As a result, on 1993.12.29, the temporary rules of auditing in the Russian Federation were adopted.
- The fourth stage (from 2001.08.07 to the present day) The fourth stage in the development of audit in the Russian Federation began with the adoption Federal Law on audit activity, which was approved by the State Duma Russian Federation July 13, 2001 and entered into force on August 7, 2001.
Audit in the modern sense began to take shape in the middle of the 19th century. in connection with the development market relations... Becoming market economy accompanied by massive bankruptcy of companies. Quite frequent bankruptcies of companies, deception on the part of the administration significantly increased the risk of financial investments. Broken shareholders needed protection, and investors and existing shareholders needed reliable information about the state entrepreneurial activity in companies. The shareholders wanted to be sure that they were not deceived, that the reports submitted by the administrations were completely accurate. To this end, to check the correctness accounting statements people who, in the opinion of the shareholders, could be trusted, began to be invited. The task of the audit consisted in a detailed check of the financial economic activity and the correctness of company accounts. The main personality traits of the auditor at that time were his impeccable decency, honesty and independence.
The historical homeland of auditing is considered to be England, where in 1844 a number of laws were passed providing for the verification of accounts and reports by independent accountants for submission to shareholders. In 1862, a statutory audit law was passed in England. Later, statutory audit laws came into force in other countries. In the USA in 1887 the Association of Auditors was formed, and in 1896 in the state of New York the audit activity was regulated by legislative means. The first formal US audit ordinance was published in 1917 and was dedicated to "auditing balance sheets."
In Germany, the first audit attempt was made in 1870, when an amendment to the Law on joint stock companies obliged the supervisory boards of these companies to check the main reporting forms - the balance sheet, and bring the reports on the distribution of profits and the results of these checks to the attention of shareholders. In 1932, the Institute of Auditors was created in Germany, which operated until 1941. After the end of the Second World War, the Institute of Auditors in 1954 was renamed into the Institute of Auditors of Germany. State influence on the audit activity in Germany is determined by the fact that all auditors and audit firms must in mandatory be members of the Audit Chamber of the Federal Republic of Germany.
In France in 1867 laws were passed that obliged auditors to check and evaluate the balance sheets of joint-stock companies. Currently, there are two main organizations in France that are engaged in auditing activities. One is called the Chamber of Expert Accountants, and the other is called the National Company of Account Commissioners. The main difference between them is that the former are invited to carry out audits of accounting and reporting in joint stock companies, while the latter are appointed without fail to conduct audits.
In 1992, a government decree was adopted in Italy, according to which legal audit activities can only be carried out by persons entered in a special personal register, which is under the control of the Ministry of Justice. This register may include auditors who have passed exams in accounting, law, computing and computer science.
In Russia, the title of auditor was introduced by Peter I. The position of auditor combined some of the duties of a clerk, secretary and prosecutor. Auditors in Russia were called the jury of accounting.
In the Republic of Belarus, by a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Byelorussian SSR dated September 30, 1991, the Temporary Regulation on Auditing Activities in the Republic of Belarus was approved, which outlined the main ways of developing this type of activity. Then, by a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated August 17, 1992, the Audit Chamber was established under the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, which was entrusted with organizing audit activities, training personnel (auditors), issuing licenses to engage in this type of activity and other issues.
In accordance with the decree of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of March 14, 1994 "On improving the structure of public administration bodies of the Republic of Belarus and reducing the cost of their maintenance" self-financing.
By the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated June 16, 1994 "On the improvement in the Republic of Belarus state regulation audit activity and control over it ”, the Council of Ministers entrusted the Audit Chamber with the functions of state regulation of audit activity and control over it. The same resolution approved the Regulation on the procedure for state regulation and control over audit activities in the Republic of Belarus.
On November 8, 1994, at the Session of the Supreme Council, the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Auditing Activity" was adopted, which was put into effect on December 7, 1994. The Law determined the legal basis
implementation of audit activities on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, basic rules and procedure for its implementation.
By the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 28.08.1999 No. 30 "On some measures to improve state regulation of audit activities and control over its implementation in the Republic of Belarus" assigned to the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Belarus. By the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 08.10.1999, No. 1558, the Main Audit Department was established in the structure of the Ministry of Finance.
On November 15, 2002, the House of Representatives made amendments and additions to the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Auditing Activity", which was adopted on November 8, 1994. This law was approved by the Council of the Republic on December 2, 2002 (registered in the NRPA RB on December 27, 2002. , per. No. 2/913).
The need for the services of auditors arises in connection with the following circumstances: the possibility of biased information on the part of its compilers (administration) in the event of conflicts between the administration and its users (founders, investors, creditors); users of accounting (financial) information usually do not have access to the reflection business transactions in the accounts of the organization's accounting, in addition, they do not have the relevant experience, for this purpose they need to invite auditors to work; the consequences of decisions made by users can be so significant for them that the accuracy and completeness of the information obtained through auditors is absolutely essential.
The above circumstances and a number of other reasons led to the emergence of a need for services independent experts who have the appropriate training, qualifications and work experience.
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