The objective of the auditor is to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement, through designing and implementing appropriate responses to those risks (ISA (UK) 330.3). This evidence can be obtained in a number of different ways, but will normally result from a mix of tests of control (also referred to as compliance testing) and substantive procedures, including analytical review.

Substantive procedures are audit procedures designed to detect material misstatements at the assertion level. Substantive procedures comprise:

(i) tests of details (of classes of transactions, account balances, and disclosures); and