Collaborate and Review Effortlessly
The online delivery of Audit Assistant allows the potential for powerful team synergy.
Users may log on to their work wherever there is internet connection (via broadband or wireless) or work may be 'checked out' for situations where this is not possible. Multiple staff in any number of locations may work on any part of the audit workbook at the same time. Partner or managers can review work in spare moments from overseas, in airports, cafes or even on a smart-phone or iPad. Peer reviewers may also be added as limited users.
Online interaction with clients
Individual pages may be shared temporarily with third parties so that clients for instance may complete checklists on-line. Their answers are also tagged with their name and date along with 'shared'. They are given temporary access to specified pages to answer questions, attach documents or complete system notes and questionnaires.
User rights
Each firm has a unique URL and each user is assigned a unique login and chooses a password. Users are also allocated a position by the account administrator. These allow different levels of authority (only a partner can perform the final sign off for example). Staff are assigned to individual jobs and are not able to work on other jobs.
As work is performed each work item is tagged with the user name and date of work completion, providing total accountability. Only staff at a higher level can delete or edit work, and when work is edited it is re-assigned to the editor.
Partner or Manager Review
Partners and managers can add review notes to any item pre-conclusion or below the conclusion if post-conclusion. There is also a one-click review 'stamp' which gives a final page sign-off. This also shows in the index allowing a reviewer fast access to un-reviewed work.
Review notes are gathered under a single tab for fast reference. They must be addressed before a page can be finally concluded. like 'follow-ups' they do not print out as the final work-book.
Print-out, Finalisation and Roll-over
At any stage of audit work individual pages may be printed or the whole work-book may be sent to a PDF file which can be downloaded as a snap-shot backup.
On completion only the partner may authorise the final sign-off. This sign-off creates a PDF file which may be digitally signed and includes all attachments.This then becomes the final soft-copy of the entire audit work-book (assuming all third-party documents have been added as attachments). A copy of this file is stored on the system for later access.
The completed file may then be rolled over. This removes conclusions and moved current to prior year in the trial balance. The workbook structure is retained and all work done in the prior year including attachments is retained - able to be brought forward and reused as required. Any work bought forward will be re-assigned to the person who updates it and re-dated.