Enhanced Internal Auditing with RPA: Save Time and Boost Efficiency
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Chapter 1: The Rise of RPA in Internal Auditing
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is increasingly gaining traction in various fields, and internal auditing is no exception. By automating repetitive computer tasks, RPA allows auditors to focus on more intricate and value-added activities. This guide will illustrate how I utilize RPA to streamline my auditing responsibilities.
RPA consists of "attended bots" and "unattended bots." Attended bots, which are installed directly on a user’s PC, can be activated with a simple click. This approach is more cost-effective compared to unattended bots, which typically operate on virtual machines or in the cloud. I have chosen to implement attended bots for my auditing tasks due to their affordability.
Section 1.1: Automating Recurring Audits
In the auditing domain, there are numerous recurring tasks that often require analyses from ERP systems like SAP. These analyses usually follow a consistent format, making them ideal candidates for automation.
Subsection 1.1.1: Creating a Custom Dashboard
To address the diverse range of analyses needed, I quickly developed a dashboard. This tool allows me to select and customize the analyses I require at any given time. With just one click, I can evaluate various factors, such as:
- Were there expenses incurred over the weekend?
- Were invoices manually altered?
- Were discounts and prices adjusted manually?
- Was complimentary merchandise distributed?
- Were inventory documents deleted?
- Automatic preparation of sample checks for incoming invoice reviews.
- Automatic preparation of sample checks for customer-specific discounts and pricing.
Completing the dashboard involves selecting the date and subsidiary company, enabling it to generate essential insights swiftly.
Section 1.2: The Efficiency of RPA
The dashboard can be launched whenever necessary, providing instant access to critical information while allowing normal workflow to continue. The results are stored in multiple files at the user’s discretion, with a log file documenting when each analysis was executed.
Chapter 2: Unlocking the Full Potential of RPA
RPA is a formidable and versatile tool. The dashboard I created is merely a glimpse into what RPA can achieve! Reflect on your own computer tasks: Are there any that you perform repetitively? Automate them! This way, you can reclaim valuable time for more significant endeavors. If you have any inquiries, feel free to reach out—I'm here to help!