Tests used during an audit to determine the effectiveness of a company's control procedures. The extent of compliance testing will depend upon the extent to which specific controls are relied upon. Results of compliance testing will indicate the necessary level of substantive testing (tests of transactions, balances, etc.). If controls are found to be working well, substantive testing may be reduced to some extent.
A substantive test in an audit to verify that the underlying records accurately represent the transactions entered into by the audited business.
