Supporting documents
Financial Dictionary — Auditing
Definition
Supporting documents are documents that support the presentation of a particular opinion or proof of a particular point by providing documents that support the opinion reached. For example, documents supporting the audit process and providing technical opinion.
Detailed Explanation
Supporting documents are documents that support an opinion or evidence for a point, such as documents supporting the audit process and providing technical evidence.
Common Uses
- Used in audit planning to understand risks and design procedures.
- Used during testing (controls/substantive) and documentation of audit evidence and conclusions.
- Used during testing (controls/substantive) and documentation of audit evidence and conclusions.
Practical Example
- Example: The auditor references **Supporting documents** when designing procedures and documenting conclusions in the audit file.
Why This Term Matters
- Why it matters: Supports high-quality, defensible audit conclusions and helps detect material misstatements and control weaknesses.