Rank in the order of reliability

1. Vouch a sample of purchase orders to receiving reports.

2. Obtain the client's payroll deduction worksheet and perform the computation.

3. Obtain a letter from the company's external lawyer with regard to the existence and possible outcome of existing claims at year-end.

4. Talk with the company's management to determine if obsolescence factors are present for the production assets.

5. Obtain the minutes from the board of directors' meetings to determine if the business acquisition was approved

6. Ask a purchasing clerk to enter a purchase order in the accounting system for an amount above their authorized credit limit and verify that the system will block this purchase from being processed.

7. Compare the revenues and expenses with those of the prior year to identify any unusual variances.

8. Ask the in-house legal counsel about the anticipated outcome of the ongoing litigation and the estimated amount of any settlement.