Volume 18, 2018

 

Auditing with smart contracts Andrea M. Rozario and Miklos A. Vasarhelyi Published February 2018
Blockchain-based smart contracts are emerging as a disruptive force that may change the way financial statement audits are performed and delivered. With their potential ability to autonomously execute audit procedures on behalf of the auditor and disclose the results of these audit procedures, blockchain-based smart contracts have the potential to improve audit quality and meet the information demands of various vested parties for more timely and transparent audit reporting. This paper proposes the application of smart contracts to auditing as an enabler for improved audit data analytics and close to real-time audit reporting.
Digital economy and corruption perceptions: A cross-country analysis Mohammad I. Merhi and Punit Ahluwalia Published March 2018
The motivation of this study is the lack of empirical evidence on the ability of Information Technology related factors to reduce corruption. This paper proposes a conceptual model that depicts the relationships between macro-level technology related factors and corruption perceptions. Data are collected from reputable organizations such as EIU and Transparency International. The sample used is sixty-nine countries, making the results more generalizable than those of single case studies or smaller sample size. The hypotheses are confirmed using PLS analytical procedures and the findings are reported. We discuss the results and their implications for researchers and practitioners.
Embracing Textual Data Analytics in Auditing with Deep Learning Ting Sun and Miklos A. Vasarhelyi Published April 2018
While the massive volume of text documents from multiple sources inside and outside of the company provides more information for auditors, the lack of efficient and effective technology solutions hampers the full use of text data. Powered by the emerging data analytics technology of deep learning, the value of the text can be better explored to deliver a higher quality of audit evidence and more relevant business insights. This research analyzes the usefulness of the information provided by various textual data in auditing and introduces deep learning, an evolving Artificial Intelligence approach. Furthermore, it provides a guide for auditors to implement deep learning techniques with pre-developed tools and open-source libraries.
Identifying Influencing Factors of Audit Risk Model: A Combined Fuzzy ANP-DEMATEL Approach Morteza Shafiee Sardasht and Elham Rashedi Published May 2018
In the professional circles, factors affecting audit risk are treated independently; however, a more objective approach in assessing detection risk should be involved the relationships among the audit risk factors. This study introduces a framework based on a fuzzy multi-criteria decision support to identify the influencing factors may affect the audit risk model considering the interdependencies among them. We first takes advantages of a fuzzy screening method to screen forty more practical factors may affect the audit risk model out of 58 potential ones. Then, we applied a combined approach of Analytic Network Process (ANP) and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) to weight the factors and prioritize them considering their inner and outer dependencies complemented with a case study of Iran. To be more compatible with ambiguities related to human beings and make more useful decisions in the real world, the fuzzy set theory is used. The combined approach used in this study providing correct, precise weight for each factor can explore a more rigorous framework for decision-making in risk assessment by integrating interdependent relationships within and among audit risk factors.
Developing a Cognitive Assistant for the Audit Plan Brainstorming Session Qiao Li and Miklos A. Vasarhelyi Published July 2018
With technological advances, audit firms have been able to increase the level of decision support embedded within the firms’ audit support tools (Dowling et al., 2008). Large audit firms have been investing substantive resources into the utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to take advantage of their past audit experience and industry knowledge (Kokina and Davenport, 2017; Appelbaum, 2017). During the initial stages of an audit, the engagement team will meet to update their understanding of the client through brainstorming sessions. Audit firms are required by SAS No. 99 and SAS No. 109 to use brainstorming sessions to evaluate risk factors and discuss the susceptibility of the entity’s financial statements to material misstatement, either as a result of error or fraud (AICPA, 2012). At present, the most commonly used decision support tool for audit plan brainstorming is the checklist (Bellovary and Johnstone, 2007), which has shown limitations (Dowling and Leech, 2007; Seow, 2011; Landis, 2008). To improve audit plan effectiveness, this study proposes an audit domain cognitive assistant system to provide interactive decision support for information retrieval and risk assessment in audit brainstorming session. Cognitive Assistants are speech-enabled technologies that can understand voice commands, recognize conversation’s context, and answer questions in a personable manner (Garrido et al., 2010; Myers et al., 2007).
Bibliometric Analysis of Digital Accounting Research Ardianto Ardianto and Nadia Anridho Published September 2018
In 2015, International Journal of Digital Accounting Research reached fifteen-year milestone. This study provides bibliometric analysis of the 93 articles which were published from 2001 to 2015. Content and citation analyses were conducted to review and analyze published articles. This study contributes to accounting information system literature by analyzing the methodology used, main accounting topical areas, the contribution of authors and institutions as well as the citation analysis of IJDAR publication. The results of this study show that IJDAR is suitable for wide audience such as academics, graduate students, practitioners and all others interested in digital accounting research.
Accounting for Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies under IFRS: A Comparison and Assessment of Competing Models David Procházka Published November 2018
The invention of blockchain technology has radically changed the perception of how monetary systems can be structured and operated. Central banks and state authorities mostly refuse to acknowledge that cryptocurrencies are money, yet the number of payment transactions using cryptocurrencies is increasing and cryptocurrencies form a non-negligible stake of wealth. As with other economic phenomena, cryptocurrencies shall be addressed in the financial statements of the entities using them, albeit without any accounting guidance in current financial reporting standards. This paper fills this void by suggesting, comparing, and assessing potential accounting models under IFRS. Based on evidence from literature review, as well as recent time-series data on the price volatility of cryptocurrencies, the paper shows that fair value accounting is the most relevant source of useful information for users of financial statements when cryptocurrencies are acquired for investment purposes. Furthermore, the paper identifies scenarios under which cryptocurrencies shall be treated as (foreign) currencies, even though financial system regulators do not consider cryptocurrencies as being money (fiat currency).