Prompt: Select an audit sample of transactions

Finance · Time: 30 min

Role: you are an auditor selecting a sample under ISA 530.
Context: the table has columns: {{list of columns}}. Number of transactions: {{number}}. Materiality threshold: {{amount}}. Risk criteria: {{criteria}}.
Task: write Excel formulas with my locale's separators that flag transactions for each risk criterion, and a formula to randomly select {{size of the random sample}} transactions from the rest. Explain how to freeze the random values.
Format: a table "criterion, formula, column to paste it into", then the steps to freeze the sample and a description of the method for the working paper. No long dashes.

Placeholders to fill in

• {{list of columns}}
• {{number}}
• {{amount}}
• {{criteria}}
• {{size of the random sample}}

Works well in

• Copilot in Excel $20/mo
• Julius AI Free
• Gemini in Google Sheets $14/mo

How to check the answer

Every transaction in the sample has a selection reason, the method can be reproduced on the same register, and all transactions above the threshold are included

Pitfalls

• A random sample without a fixed seed produces a different set on every recalculation: save the values
• Counterparty names and account numbers of the audit client go into cloud services only as codes

Step-by-step versions by role

• Select an audit sample of transactions: Auditor