Analytical procedures, an evidence-gathering process, play an important role in today’s
risk-based audits. The technique includes comparing a client’s unaudited balance to an
independent expectation developed by auditors.1 Although this test is one of the most
efficient available to auditors, its efficiency may come at the price of effectiveness: decision-making
may be negatively influenced by the timing of knowledge acquisition pertaining to the current-year
balances.