ABSTRACT
In the UK the main standard is currently SAS 430, issued by the APB, see Appendix 4, though the guidance issued by the (then) APC during the period of the exposure draft and by the CIPFA following SAS 430 are particularly helpful. (See Appendix 6 for details.)
Important though these pronouncements are, it would be unhelpful for auditors to rely solely on professional standards when considering the rationale for statistical sampling. Few attitudes are more likely to lose the confidence of auditees, or one's own colleagues, than unquestioning adherence to a set of 'rules' issued by some remote third party. Indeed SAS 430 seems to discourage this attitude at various points by drawing attention to the choices open to auditors and the need for professional judgment.
