

IDEA gets your data analysis process up and running quickly with its universal file conversion capabilities.
#Grouping data in caseware idea software#
CaseWare Analytics, for example, offers our software in a bundle of services: you can receive in-house training and then have one of our trainers spend time in your office to get you started, help you acquire the necessary data, and use IDEA to score some quick wins. You can then augment your training with other resources, such as IDEA user groups, YouTube videos, or blogs.īeyond training, you can also seek out organizations that provide consulting services to get your company going with data analytics. It doesn’t have to be software training, of course, but it does have to involve integrating analytics into your audit procedures.

Unfortunately these skills don’t just fall into our laps: we have to dedicate ourselves to learning them. It will also help you gain a better understanding of your organization’s pain points that you can then use the tools to help overcome.Īlthough some people don’t like to hear this, the most important thing you can do to get started with data analytics is to invest in training. This will help you see the benefits of data analytics, which will motivate you to adopt it. Read the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) magazine, browse the AuditNet website, attend a few webinars, talk to your peers, go to an IIA chapter meeting. There’s no doubt that changing an established audit plan is a daunting task, but you have to be willing to do it to ensure data analytics is included as a standard part of any audit.Īs much as you can, expand your data analytics knowledge. It’s also challenging because those working within accounting firms who should be designing new procedures aren’t necessarily comfortable doing this. Any time they spend trying to learn a tool like IDEA has to be made up somewhere, so there’s understandably a reluctance to do this. It’s a tough habit to break away from, particularly for external auditors who have a set number of hours to complete an engagement. They often feel compelled to abide by an audit plan that doesn’t include the use of these tools. Most auditors understand the functionality of data analytics tools, but they struggle to actually use them.

So how do you get started? First, you need to let go of old habits. It’s been around for decades, after all, but given the intense hunger out there for data analysis skills and champions, it’s clear that it’s still not being used as widely as it should. As the Chief Operating Officer for a company that develops data analysis software, I’m frequently approached by auditors who-though deeply interested in using a data analytics tool in their engagements-simply don’t know how where to start.
