Speaking to SMSF Adviser, chief executive of Engage Super Audits Jo Heighway said “traditional” audit methodology does not deliver a better quality audit experience or outcome.
Rather, she said it results in the application of “outdated” audit procedures that don’t address the risks most relevant to the digital age.
“It quite simply doesn’t make sense to apply old-school audit techniques to highly advanced SMSF administration systems,” Ms Heighway said.
“Change is vital if we are to remain relevant in an era where trustees, their advisers and even the regulators are able to access so much valuable information in real time thanks to technology. That means rethinking everything we do.”
Auditors are increasingly being viewed as a “low value” statutory requirement, Ms Heighway said, and stressed the value of real-time SMSF audits.
“The only way for auditors to continue to remain relevant and demonstrate real value is to sit within the technology system and use their specific area of expertise to add greater integrity to the system as events are happening,” Ms Heighway said.
“The best way for SMSF auditors to deliver what is required by SIS s 129 is to completely rethink the technology and audit methodology required to undertake our audit testing in real time,” she added.
This echoes Ms Heighway’s comments late last year, when she called for a “shake up” of the auditing profession, saying it’s “no longer acceptable” for auditors to be receiving client information months after transactions have occurred.
“That means effectively our advice is almost way too late to even be relevant to anybody. Real-time information is what everyone wants,” Ms Heighway said.
See more from Jo Heighway in an upcoming edition of SMSF Adviser magazine.
Last time I checked, it was the trustee who needed to be checking compliance up to 30 June.
A SMSF Auditor does not attest or provide an audit opinion prior to that.
Let’s be clear, the trustee is responsible for running the fund. The Auditor is appointed to form an opinion on what happened once the year is finalised.
Advisers can assist trustees during the year, it is not the Auditor’s role and may breach professional requirements regarding independence.
I hope SMSFAdvisor is getting paid to print this rubbish. JO Heighway should focus on actually delivery on her 7 day service promise and have more respect for administrators who know how to advise their clients. We are qualified accountants and SPAA specialist members also……..
What a load of cobblers. For the vast majority of SMSF’s she is irrelevant. you are correctly seen as a “low value statutory requirement” because for the vast majority, that is what you are – an expense imposed that may or may not be needed, but have to have. How you do it is irrelevant so long as it is cheap. As “Lord Stockton” asks, what information is the auditor going to provide that a trustee (and their advisers) don’t already have? I cannot think of anything.
Katarina, did you ask Ms Heighway for an example of how these “new school” methods work….surely you can do better than to allow for another example of self-promoting? Seriously, most audit contraventions are resolved by the accountant before the auditor identifies the issue
Real-time information is what everyone wants, Ms Heighway said.
Just what information does the trustee want or need that the auditor provides?