Original scientific paper

Application of Benford's Law in Payment Systems Auditing

Zdravko Krakar ; Faculty of organization and informatics, University of Zagreb, Varaždin, Croatia
Mario Žgela orcid.org/0000-0002-9908-2397 ; Croatian National Bank, Trg hrvatskih velikana 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Information systems auditing activities are mandatory in today business environments. There are numerous useful methods that can be conducted in such audits. One of contemporary methods is application of so-called Benford's Law. In this paper we examine ways of application of this law in investigation of certain number set with aim to make a conclusion if number set conforms to Benford's Law. As an examination target we used foreign payment system messages which are issued between foreign and domestic business entities i.e. commercial and central banks. We chose sample of 1.745.311 transactions and conducted examination for first, second and first two digits. We examine certain data subsets, created according to certain payment types, and investigate how Benford’s Law tests can be used in auditing. We also compare practical usefulness and note differences between various conformity tests in auditing environment. Results we achieved prove adequate potential of this law in audit practice.

Keywords

Benford's Law; payment systems; information systems auditing; foreign payment messages; data auditing; conformity test; chi-square; Z-statistics; MAD

Hrčak ID:

38717

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/38717

Publication date:

6.7.2009.

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