When the internal auditor tests for the existence of financial information, which data attribute is being tested?

When an internal auditor tests for the existence of financial information, the auditor is verifying that the items recorded actually exist in the appropriate context. This directly relates to the attribute of validity. Validity ensures that the transactions recorded in the financial statements correspond to actual occurrences in the real world. For example, if a company reports revenue, validity assesses whether that revenue is based on genuine sales transactions rather than fictitious entries.

In this context, completeness, accuracy, and timeliness are all relevant attributes in financial data quality, but they serve different purposes. Completeness would focus on whether all necessary information is included, accuracy pertains to whether the financial data is free from error, and timeliness involves whether the information is reported in a relevant timeframe. However, for the specific aspect of confirming the existence of financial information, validity is the key attribute being tested.