Abstract:
Generalized audit software is a tool used by auditors to automate various audit tasks.
As most accounting transactions are now computerized, auditing of accounting data
is also expected to be computerized as well. The purpose of this study is to investigate
the utilization of generalized audit software by external auditors in Sri Lanka and
what are the factors influenced the use of generalized audit software. This study
carried out using a standard questionnaire which consists of mainly five parts. The
sample of the study was auditors of five international audit firms and five local audit
firms. 100 questionnaires have been distributed to auditors and out of all, 70
responses were received from the selected sample, 40 from international audit firms
and 30 from local audit firms. The collected data have analyzed using the Statistical
Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. According to the findings of the
research, the utilization of generalized audit software is low among local audit firms
and all the international firms use generalized audit software. Organizational factors,
technological factors, client factors and personal factors influence to the usage of
generalized audit software and audit profession factor not influence to utilization of
audit software. This will provide useful insights for audit professionals, software
developers, vendors, academicians and researchers
