What should auditors maintain as part of their documentation during the audit?

Maintaining copies of sampled documents, including dates of testing, is critical for auditors as part of their documentation during an audit. This practice serves several key purposes. Firstly, it ensures that there is a clear and verifiable record of the audit procedures that were performed, which is essential for demonstrating compliance with auditing standards and regulations. These copies provide concrete evidence that supports the auditor’s conclusions and findings.

Having the dates of testing associated with these documents adds an additional layer of accountability and traceability, allowing other professionals reviewing the audit to understand the timing of procedures. This is important for assessing the relevance and reliability of the findings, especially in dynamic environments where conditions can change rapidly.

By meticulously documenting these aspects, auditors can better defend their conclusions if questioned, provide transparency for stakeholders, and facilitate any follow-up audits or regulatory reviews. In contrast, maintaining a list of potential audit issues, general notes on team discussions, or estimating total audit expenses, while informative for internal purposes, does not provide the same level of evidential support or clarity needed in the formal audit documentation process.