Auditing 378
Batch Controls
Introduction:
- Source documents should be grouped into separate batches (eg. of 50) where after the following
control totals must be MANUALLY computed:
o Financial totals (totals of any monetary fields)
o Hash totals (totals of any numeric fields – eg. Invoice no’s)
o Record counts (total of the amount of records in the batch)
Process:
- A batch control sheet should be prepared and attached to each batch, and should state:
o A unique batch number
o Control totals of the specific batch
o Identification of the transaction types (eg. Invoices)
o Spaces for the signatures of all the people who dealt with the batch (prepared by –
received by – reviewed by)
- A batch register should be used to record physical movement of batches (the register should be
signed by the recipient of the specific batch)
- The batch control system should function as follows:
o 1) The details of the batch are entered into the computer (eg. description, control totals,
etc) to create a batch header label
o 2) Information off each record in the batch is keyed in, in order to perform validation
tests thereof (eg. account number, limit checks, etc)
o 3) The computer then computes the control totals of all the inputted data, and then
compares these to the manually computed totals from the batch control sheet
o 4) If the totals agree, without any other errors, the batch is sent for processing (otherwise
it is rejected and sent for correction)
o 5) Once control totals have been attached to the batch, they must be checked and
reconciled at every step in the process (ie. If there are 10 clock cards in the batch, the
computer must register and display that 10 records were typed in, 10 were processed, and
10 were outputted.
- Batching assists with:
o Identifying data transcription errors (eg. incorrect values in the inputting)
o Detection of data captured in the wrong fields
o Detection of invalid (eg. duplicate) or omitted transactions or records for the batch
- Even though an on-line system has no batch system, batches can be calculated afterward to check
totals, as follows:
o 1) Set one: The computer sorts records into batches and computes control totals
o 2) Set two: A PC operator manually computes the control totals of the same data set as
the computer used, and then compares the two to identify any errors.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller nosizwenoceemadoda. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $6.82. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.