Business Risk Approach

This approach requires the auditor to determine what are the very important business risks which the client faces. This line of approach both helps the client and also enables the auditor to appreciate and understand his clients business and appreciate all aspects of the business activities. It is then for the auditor to determine where the risks are likely or unlikely and whether the risks are likely to produce serious consequences. This enable the audit to be focussed on those matters where there is a possibility of misstatement. This is the basis of revised auditing standards.

The big firms have largely adopted this approach within their audit methodology.

The history of auditing shows a gradual change over time as detailed testing of transactions moved to system audits. The next development was the audit risk model which focuses the audit and the extent of audit procedures on to the areas of an audit where the auditor was most at risk of giving an inappropriate opinion.

Here we consider concept of risk from the view point of the business as a whole.