Process Mining of Event Logs in Auditing: Opportunities and Challenges

32 Pages Posted: 29 Aug 2014

See all articles by Mieke Julie Jans

Mieke Julie Jans

Hasselt University; Maastricht University

Michael Alles

Rutgers Business School

Miklos A. Vasarhelyi

Rutgers Business School

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: February 15, 2010

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the value that process mining of event logs can provide to internal and external auditors. Process mining aims to extract knowledge from event logs recorded by an information system. What makes an event log such a unique and potentially invaluable resource for auditing is not only that it provides the auditor with more data to analyze, but also because that additional data is recorded automatically and independently of the person whose behavior is the subject of the audit. In other words, an event log helps achieve the classic audit principle of “four eyes”, or in modern parlance, act as the equivalent of a surveillance camera, peering over the auditee’s shoulder. Until recently, the information contained in event logs was rarely used by auditors. In this paper is considered how process mining can add value to auditing, perhaps even to fundamentally transform it.

Keywords: Event logs, process mining, auditing, continuous auditing

Suggested Citation

Jans, Mieke Julie and Alles, Michael Gamini and Vasarhelyi, Miklos A., Process Mining of Event Logs in Auditing: Opportunities and Challenges (February 15, 2010). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2488737 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2488737

Mieke Julie Jans (Contact Author)

Hasselt University ( email )

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Maastricht University ( email )

P.O. Box 616
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Michael Gamini Alles

Rutgers Business School ( email )

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973-353-1283 (Fax)

Miklos A. Vasarhelyi

Rutgers Business School ( email )

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Ackerson Hall, Room 315
Newark, NJ 07102
United States
973-353-5002 (Phone)
973-353-1283 (Fax)

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