THE APPLICATION OF STATISTICAL AND/OR NON-STATISTICAL SAMPLING TECHNIQUES BY INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTIONS IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN BANKING INDUSTRY

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Abstract

This article explores the use by internal audit functions of audit sampling techniques in order to test the effectiveness of controls in the banking sector. The article focuses specifically on the use of statistical and/or non-statistical sampling techniques by internal auditors. The focus of the research for this article was internal audit functions in the banking sector of South Africa. The results discussed in the article indicate that audit sampling is still used frequently as an audit evidence-gathering technique. Non-statistical sampling techniques are used more frequently than statistical sampling techniques for the evaluation of the sample. In addition, both techniques are regarded as important for the determination of the sample size and the selection of the sample items.

Keywords: Internal Audit, Chief Audit Executive, Non-Statistical Sampling, Sampling Risk, Statistical Sampling, Tests of Controls

How to cite this paper: Van Der Nest, D. P., Smidt, L., Lubbe, D. (2015). The application of statistical and/or non-statistical sampling techniques by internal audit functions in the South African banking industry. Risk governance & control: Financial markets & institutions, 5(1), 72-80. https://doi.org/10.22495/rgcv5i1art7