Does Process Mining Add to Internal Auditing? An Experience Report

Abstract

In this paper we report on our experiences of applying business process mining in a real business context. The context for the application is using process mining for the purpose of internal auditing of a procurement cycle in a large multinational financial institution. One of the targeted outcomes of an internal audit is often the reporting on internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR), since this reporting is mandatory for Sarbanes-Oxley regulated organisations. Our process mining analyses resulted in more identified issues concerning ICFR than the traditional auditing approach. Issues that were identified using process mining analysis concerned violations of the segregation of duties principle, payments without approval, and violations of company specific internal procedures.