Magistro baigiamasis darbas „Audito įrodymai ir jų formavimo metodų tyrimas atliekant vidaus auditą Kauno apskrities viršininko administracijos audituotuose subjektuose“ aktualus tuo, jog audito įrodymai yra svarbus audito proceso etapas, tiek teoriniu, tiek praktiniu aspektu. Nuo jų surinkimo priklauso audito ataskaitos projekto ir ataskaitos rengimas. Teorinės bei praktinė problematikos susijusios su šiuo audito procesu apsprendė ir darbo tikslą, - teoriniu bei praktiniu aspektu ištirti audito įrodymų rinkimą ir jų formavimo problemas, Vidaus audito tarnybos darbuotojams atliekant auditą Kauno apskrities viršininko administracijos audituotuose subjektuose. Atsakant į šį tikslą formuoti uždaviniai, susiję su auditų procesų etapų analize, auditų įrodymų surinkimų sampratų tyrimu. Taip kelti uždaviniai, susiję su pagrindinio subjekto – Kauno apskrities viršininko administracijos Vidaus audito tarnybos audito įrodymų proceso tyrimu, kuriuo siekta ištirti audito įrodymų turinį, svarbą ir jų formavimo metodus. Darbe naudota lyginamoji ir literatūros analizė, apibendrinimas, indukcija, sintezė ir norminių dokumentų analizė. / Speaking in theoretical and practical terms audit evidence is important stage in audit process. Auditors gather evidence to formulate their judgment on statements and it is also important for final report. The aim of the magister theses is analysis of problems concerned with problems of the formation and gathering audits’ evidence in the Department of Internal audit in the Kaunas region Administration. The tasks of the study is to examine processes and procedures of inner audit; research of theoretical conceptions connected with gathering of audit evidence. Another aim is research of the practical problems using case analysis. The mixed qualitative and quantitative methods are used for the analyses of the problematic. The hypothesis of the research – gathering of audit’s evidence do not always correspond up the standards and requirements in the practices of Department of Inner audit. The results of the study show that there is no strong relation between the audits frequencies and opinion about the practice of gathering audit evidence. The results of qualitative research shows that Department of Internal audit in the Kaunas region Administration I effectively managed in the context of audit evidence gathering procedures (efficient training’s aims, consistent audit planning and consultation process). The research shows that critical factor in audits’ evidence gathering process is the competence of auditors. In the other hand there are some obstacles in the process of using... [to full text]

As the workplace has evolved over the past few years, several studies have documented perceived differences in personalities, values, and preferences between generations in the workplace, including in public accounting. In this study, I examine whether exposure to a negative preconceived belief about a staff auditor's generation (generational stereotype) influences the affective state of staff auditors and ultimately causes them to reduce the extent to which they communicate with a client manager to gather the necessary information to perform an audit adequately. I also investigate whether attribute affirmation from a work buddy helps elicit positive affect to mitigate the effects that exposure to negative generational stereotypes may have on audit evidence collection. I conducted a 2 x 2 experiment using graduate auditing students as a proxy for staff auditors. I find that general affect (i.e., mood) rather than interpersonal affect (i.e., likability), drives the negative effect of exposure to generational stereotypes on willingness to collect more audit evidence. I also find that high levels of negative mood can negatively impact participants' self-efficacy. I, however, failed to find evidence of a moderated mediation. The presence of an attribute affirmation results in an insignificant increase in positive affect. When staff auditors are exposed to a negative generational stereotype, attribute affirmation does not evoke enough positive affect to help auditors overcome the generational stereotype threat.

Auditing literature recently identified what has been termed a "social mismatch" between novice auditors and older, more experienced, more knowledgeable client contacts (Bennett and Hatfield 2013). This phenomenon occurs when novice auditors avoid face-to-face interactions with clients and can adversely affect the audit process. In light of the importance of novice auditor-client interactions, I conduct an experiment to identify potential mechanisms to mitigate the social mismatch phenomenon. Specifically, accounting students proxying for novice auditors are randomly assigned to experimental conditions in which they participate in role-play and perspective-taking exercises and complete an audit task commonly performed by novice auditors. Initial findings indicate that role-play interventions, such as those currently used in training at large public accounting firms, may exacerbate novice auditor inhibition tendencies. Furthermore, additional results suggest that actively taking the client's perspective prior to choosing an evidence gathering technique does not improve novice auditor decisions. Finally, auditor inherent characteristics are studied, including levels of emotional intelligence and impression management, and also do not appear to have implications for selection of evidence gathering techniques. Results of this study provide valuable insight into novice auditor-client interactions, as well as the implications of such interactions for audit evidence gathering activities. / Ph. D.

Titel Har granskningen påverkats?  Författare Elsa Henrysson och Johanna Löfdahl  Handledare Pernilla Broberg  Bakgrund Det senaste året har präglats av pandemin Covid-19 vilket har medfört att revisorer behövt tillämpa alternativa metoder vid inhämtandet av revisionsbevis, då arbetet övergått till att vara mer digitalt än tidigare. Covid-19 har drabbat många företag och branscher, både i positiv men främst negativ bemärkelse. Detta har bland annat resulterat i att revisorn har ställts inför att göra svårare bedömningar om exempelvis företagets fortsatta drift och vad som anses vara tillräckliga och ändamålsenliga revisionsbevis.  Syfte Syftet med denna studie är att förstå hur revisorernas tillvägagångssätt vid inhämtande av revisionsbevis har påverkats av Covid-19. Metod Studien tillämpar en kvalitativ forskningsstrategi och har sin utgångspunkt i en deduktiv forskningsansats med induktiva inslag. För datainsamlingen genomfördes 16 semistrukturerade intervjuer med revisorer från de fem största revisionsbyråerna i Sverige och som jobbat både innan och under Covid-19.  Slutsats Studiens resultat antyder att Covid-19 delvis påverkat tillvägagångssättet vid inhämtande av revisionsbevis sett till att lagerinventeringar genomförts digitalt. I annan bemärkelse har egentligen inte tillvägagångssättet påverkats avsevärt, utan har istället påverkat revisorns professionella bedömningar på grund av den osäkerhet som Covid-19 medför. Revisionskvaliteten går ännu inte att utläsa om Covid-19 haft någon inverkan på. Däremot har kvaliteten gentemot kund påverkats mer i negativ bemärkelse samt kvaliteten internt. På grund av den osäkerhet som råder kring Covid-19 anses revisorns upplevda komfort påverkats som en följd av osäkerheten men inte till följd av hur man arbetar. Vad som däremot är viktigt att poängtera är att Covid-19 upplevs ha påverkat i olika omfattning beroende på vilken bransch som revisorerna arbetar mot. / Title Has the audit been affected?  Authors Elsa Henrysson och Johanna Löfdahl  Supervisor Pernilla Broberg Introduction The past year has been characterized by Covid-19 which has affected the way auditors collect audit evidence due to new digital ways of working. Covid-19 has affected companies and businesses both in positive and foremost negative meaning. This has contributed to the auditor now needing to make more difficult judgements, especially regarding going concern and in determining what is considered to be sufficient and appropriate audit evidence. Purpose The aim of this study is to understand how the auditor's approach of collecting audit evidence has been affected by Covid-19.  Method The study is based on a qualitative research strategy where a deductive approach is applied with some inductive inputs. The collection of data consists of 16 semi-structured interviews with auditors representing the five biggest audit firms in Sweden that have worked both before and during Covid-19.  Conclusion The result indicates that Covid-19 to some extent has affected the approach to collecting audit evidence, especially considering the inventory. In other ways, the approach does not seem to have been affected drastically but has instead affected the auditors’ professional judgements due to the uncertain circumstances regarding Covid-19. The audit quality cannot yet be determined in which way it has been affected. But the customer quality and the internal quality has been affected negatively. Due to the uncertain circumstances that concerns Covid-19 is the auditors' comfort considered to be affected, but not considering in the way they work. Although, the effect of Covid-19 seems to be different depending on which business the auditor works towards.

The primary goal of this study is to identify the influence of auditor incentives in audit quality and how and why it influences the auditor in practice in south Asian countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. This research will be relevant to authorities like audit firms, regulators, practitioners, and academics and it will be helpful to make the standard setup to establish the methods or procedures to offer the incentives which can be matched with the global context.  Theoretical concepts are based on previous research and publications regarding incentives, technological use in audit, auditor motivation, auditor behaviour, audit report and audit quality. Literature was used to derive the research gap and research questions. According to the literature, there is no universal definition to define the audit quality and presently, it is applying the standard frameworks to overcome that requirement. In this study, the authors also identified such frameworks and were mainly concerned about the Knechel et al, (2013) and IAASB (2014). According to the Knechel et al, (2013), the authors recognized the audit quality indicators under input, process, context, and outcome.  The study is conducted based on the Interpretivism paradigm as qualitative research concerning subjective viewpoints of ontology and humanist ways. For this thesis purpose the authors use semi-structured interviews with auditors from big four, private firm and large local audit firm in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as it helps to develop the findings, because these sorts of interviews provide detailed answers to the questions, interviewer can change the questions during the interview session according to the answer of the interviewee. From each country six participants have been chosen to conduct the interview.  The findings shows that auditor incentives have influenced on audit quality. Auditors who are highly motivated with incentives can produce audit report with free of misstatement. Moreover, Bangladeshi audit firms are not using technology and automation for auditing and accounting system except big four, whereas Sri Lankan audit firm are conducting their auditing and accounting through automation. Finally, the authors found that the Incentives, it may be financial or non-financial, are motivating the auditors and then auditors are doing their best effort to deliver the quality audit report.

Audit evidence enables the auditor to express an opinion on the financial statements. To address the risk that the auditor may express an inappropriate opinion, the nature, timing and extent of audit procedures must be responsive to the assessed risks of material misstatement. The auditor must aggregate the levels of assurance obtained from different combinations of tests of controls, substantive analytical procedures and tests of details to respond to the assessed risks. These evidence planning decisions are complex and require professional judgement. Research has found that the extent of audit procedures is not linked to the assessed risks and that auditors may not know to aggregate evidence from different types of audit procedures. Research also supports the use of a structured audit methodology that includes decision models, to guide the application of professional judgement. This leads to the overall objective of this study: the development of an integrated audit evidence planning model to quantify the extent of audit evidence. The study employs a grounded theory model building approach, interpreting the relevant concepts and principles from the literature review into the development of the model. The integrated audit evidence planning model quantitatively relates the extent of audit evidence in a logical and structured manner with the risk assessment and three distinct overall levels of assurance needed to support the audit opinion. It uses the cumulative nature of audit evidence and the compensatory inter-relationship between tests of controls, substantive analytical procedures and tests of details to quantitatively aggregate the extent and levels of assurance from the different combinations of procedures to obtain reasonable assurance at the required overall level of assurance. The model provides a framework for influencing and guiding the exercise of professional judgement and is a practical and effective tool to benefit the users thereof when conducting an audit. Thus, the study models the extent of audit evidence with reference to the aggregation of different types and combinations of evidence and the linkage between the risk assessment and the extent of evidence that provides a flexible framework for the application of professional judgement regarding the gathering of audit evidence. / Auditing / D. Com. (Auditing)

Audit evidence enables the auditor to express an opinion on the financial statements. To address the risk that the auditor may express an inappropriate opinion, the nature, timing and extent of audit procedures must be responsive to the assessed risks of material misstatement. The auditor must aggregate the levels of assurance obtained from different combinations of tests of controls, substantive analytical procedures and tests of details to respond to the assessed risks. These evidence planning decisions are complex and require professional judgement. Research has found that the extent of audit procedures is not linked to the assessed risks and that auditors may not know to aggregate evidence from different types of audit procedures. Research also supports the use of a structured audit methodology that includes decision models, to guide the application of professional judgement. This leads to the overall objective of this study: the development of an integrated audit evidence planning model to quantify the extent of audit evidence. The study employs a grounded theory model building approach, interpreting the relevant concepts and principles from the literature review into the development of the model. The integrated audit evidence planning model quantitatively relates the extent of audit evidence in a logical and structured manner with the risk assessment and three distinct overall levels of assurance needed to support the audit opinion. It uses the cumulative nature of audit evidence and the compensatory inter-relationship between tests of controls, substantive analytical procedures and tests of details to quantitatively aggregate the extent and levels of assurance from the different combinations of procedures to obtain reasonable assurance at the required overall level of assurance. The model provides a framework for influencing and guiding the exercise of professional judgement and is a practical and effective tool to benefit the users thereof when conducting an audit. Thus, the study models the extent of audit evidence with reference to the aggregation of different types and combinations of evidence and the linkage between the risk assessment and the extent of evidence that provides a flexible framework for the application of professional judgement regarding the gathering of audit evidence. / Auditing / D. Com. (Auditing)

Syftet med denna studie är att skapa förståelse för hur revisorer går till väga vid revision av verkligt värde på förvaltningsfastigheter. Forskningsstrategin är av kvalitativ art med en abduktiv ansats och grundas i den hermeneutiska forskningstraditionen. Den empiriska undersökningen utgörs av semistrukturerade intervjuer som sedan tolkas och kopplas till tidigare forskning och relevanta teorier för att besvara studiens forskningsfrågor. Studiens resultat visar hur revisorer går till väga vid revision av verkligt värde på förvaltningsfastigheter, genom en modell med tre faser. Ingen större skillnad på revisionsmetod kan urskiljas genom den empiriska undersökningen. Studien kommer även fram till att IAS 40 medför högre krav på revisorers kunskap på grund av att det verkliga värdet är av större väsentlighet och risk, samt innebär mer subjektiva bedömningar av antaganden och indata. I studiens teoretiska resultat återfinns tre-fas-modellen för revision av verkligt värde på förvaltningsfastigheter samt skillnaden mellan full värdering och skrivbordsvärdering. Det praktiska resultatet för studien består av förslag till förändring av ramverk kring området. Som förslag till vidare forskning på området rekommenderar författarna att undersöka varför de oerfarna revisorerna har en mindre positiv syn på verkligt värde. Även latent skatt inom fastighetsbolag belyses som ett område med möjlighet till vidare forskning. / The purpose of this study is to create an understanding of how auditors audit fair value of investment properties. The research strategy is of qualitative nature, with an abductive research approach and is based on the hermeneutical research tradition. The empirical study is based on semi-structured interviews which are then interpreted and linked to previous research and relevant theories to answer the study’s research questions. The study shows how the auditors proceed during the audit of fair value of investment properties, through a model with three phases. No big difference of audit methodology can be identified through the empirical study. The study also concludes that IAS 40 results in higher demands on auditors' knowledge due to the major importance and risk that fair value brings, which means more subjective assessments of assumptions and inputs. The study's theoretical contributions include a three-phase model for the audit process of fair value of investment properties and the difference between a full valuation and a desktop valuation. The practical contribution of the study consists of proposals for change in the framework. As suggestions for further research in this area, the authors suggest why the inexperienced auditors have a less positive view of fair value. Also deferred taxes in real estate is highlighted as an area of opportunity for further research.

I slutet av år 2019 bröt viruset covid-19 ut som under senare tid ledde till en global pandemi som har påverkat både folkhälsan och ekonomin. Revisorernas arbete står inför en förändringsfas på grund av pandemin, där specifika delar i revisionen påverkats. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur revisorns åtgärder och bedömningar har påverkats till följd av Covid-19 under revisionsprocessens gång för att revisorn ska känna sig komfortabel med sitt genomförda arbete. Genom att studera komfort teorin och revisionsprocessen tre huvuddelar vilka är planeringsfasen, granskningsfasen och rapporteringsfasen möjliggörs en koppling till studiens insamlade empiri som resulterar i en analys av studiens resultat som vidare resulterar i välgrundade slutsatser och förslag på vidare forskning. Trots de rådande omständigheterna med covid-19 valdes ett genomförande av en kvalitativ studie. Detta gjordes med anledning av att få en mer djupgående förståelse kring vårt ämne. Empirin samlades in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer som utfördes via digitala möten med revisorer från två olika revisionsbyråer från Big-4. Studiens slutsats är att pandemin både haft positiv och negativ påverkan på revisionsprocessen och att revisorerna behöver vidta och genomföra fler åtgärder än tidigare för att uppnå komfort. / Towards the end of 2019 the COVID-19 virus started spreading all over the world, which led to the global pandemic that has had an affect on both the public health and the economy. Because of the pandemic, specific parts of auditing have been affected, which has led to a change in the workload for auditors. The purpose of this study is to examine and analyse how the auditor's measures and assessments have been affected as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and how auditors can feel comfortable while they perform their audit process. By examining and exploring the comfort theory and the three main parts of the audit process; the planning phase, the review phase, and the reporting phase, a connection to the study's collected empirical data is enabled and an analysis of the results will result in legitimate conclusions and suggestions for further research. Despite the current circumstances with COVID-19, a qualitative study was chosen. This was chosen in order to get a more in-depth understanding of the subject. The empirics were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted through digital meetings with auditors from two different Big-4 auditing firms. The study concludes that the global pandemic has had both a positive and a negative impact on the audit process, and that auditors need to take and implement further measures than before COVID-19 to achieve comfort.

Covid-19 pandemin har orsakat dödsfall, risk för människors hälsa och en världsekonomisk nedgång vilket resulterade i att restriktioner infördes för att minska smittspridningen. Restriktioner i form av fysisk distansering till följd av Covid-19 pandemin har skapat både utmaningar och möjligheter för olika branscher i världen. Ett flertal arbetsplatser fick drastiskt omstrukturera arbetssätt och införa ett distansarbete. Revisionsbranschen har inte varit ett undantag utan genomfört en drastisk implementering av distansarbete. Utvecklingen av digitala verktyg inom revisionsbranschen har varit ett pågående arbete under en längre period. Detta för att realisera ett ökat distansanpassat arbetssätt i framtiden, vilket påskyndades till följd av Covid-19. Trots teknologiska förberedelser har det inneburit utmaningar samt givit möjligheter inom revisionsbranschen vilket kan medföra inverkan på revisionskvalitén. Eftersom detta område i skrivande stund är outforskat, är syftet med studien att bidra med kunskap om hur distansarbetet under Covid-19 har inneburit utmaningar och möjligheter inom revisionsbranschen samt skapa förståelse om balansen mellan revisionskvalitet och oberoende och objektivitet.    Studien berör revisionsprocessens förändrade arbetssätt till följd av ökat distansarbete och dess inverkan på revisionskvaliténs slutprodukt. I studien presenteras centrala faktorer vilka vid införandet av distansarbete kan inverka på revisionskvaliteten. Via tio kvalitativa intervjuer med revisionsmedarbetare, vilka har varierande erfarenhet, har individuella-, organisatoriska-, privata- och teknologiska faktorer inom distansarbete ansetts betydelsefulla. Vidare har även input-, process- och output faktorer inom revisionskvalitén samt revisionsprocessens samtliga faser ansetts betydelsefulla. Ytterligare kvalitativ datainsamling har skett genom textanalys av tio företags revisionsberättelser för år 2019, 2020, samt 2021. Majoriteten av respondenterna i studien tillhör Big Four-byråer resterande fyra respondenter tillhör medelstora revisionsbyråer. Samtliga av respondenterna arbetar aktivt med K3-regelverket och är lokaliserade på kontor i olika delar av Sverige.    Studien bidrar med kunskap om vilka möjligheter och utmaningar revisionsbranschen har mött i samband med den drastiska implementeringen av distansarbete. Vidare utfördes en analys angående om revisionskvalitén har påverkats på grund av de identifierade utmaningarna och möjligheterna. Tillvägagångssättet för studien var att undersöka distansarbetets inverkan på revisionskvalitetens dimensioner bestående av input-, process-, och outputfaktorer. Studien visade på att distansarbetet har medfört kommunikativa utmaningar och svårigheter att upprätthålla kunskapsutveckling. Distansarbetet har även medfört möjligheter för ökad effektivitet. En slutsats av studien var att distansarbetet inte påverkat den slutliga produktens kvalité och därmed uppfattades ingen inverkan på revisionskvaliteten i dagsläget. Vidare uppmärksammas gränsdragningen mellan revisorers oberoende och objektivitet i förhållande till kundrelationerna. Studien uppmärksammar även att om implementering av hybrid-arbetssätt fortsätter bör revisionsbranschen se över kunskapsförsörjningen hos revisionsmedarbetare. / The Covid-19 pandemic causes death, risk to human health and a world economic downturn. The pandemic led to the establishment of restrictions to reduce the spread of the infection and physical distancing have both brought challenges and opportunities for various industries in the world. Several workplaces had to drastically restructure their working methods and implement teleworking. The auditing industry has not been an exception to this, and a drastic implementation of teleworking took place in the line of business. The development of digital tools in the auditing industry has been an ongoing work for a long period. This is to implement an extended teleworking method in the future, which has been accelerated as a result of Covid-19. Despite technological preparations, it has posed challenges and provided opportunities in the auditing industry, which can have an impact on auditing quality. Based on this unexplored field at the time of writing, the purpose of this study is to contribute knowledge about how teleworking during Covid-19 has entailed challenges and opportunities in the auditing industry and to create an understanding of the balance between auditing quality and independence and objectivity   The study refers to the changed working methods regarding the audit process as a result of increased telework and its impact on the audit quality in the final product. The study presents key factors which, when introducing telework, can affect the quality of auditing. Through ten qualitative interviews with audit staff, with varying experience, has individual, organizational, private and technological factors in teleworking been considered significant. Furthermore, input, process and output factors within the audit quality and all phases of the audit process have also been considered significant. Further, qualitative data collection has taken place through text analysis of ten companies' audit reports for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021. The majority of the respondents in the study belong to Big Four-agencies, the remaining four respondents belong to medium-sized audit firms. All the respondents work actively with the K3 regulations and are located in offices in different parts of Sweden.    The study contributes with knowledge of the opportunities and challenges the auditing industry has faced in connection with the drastic implementation of teleworking. Furthermore, an analysis was performed regarding whether the audit quality has been affected due to the identified challenges and opportunities. The approach for the study was to investigate the impact of telework on the dimensions of audit quality consisting of input, process, and output factors. The study showed that teleworking has led to communicative challenges and challenges in maintaining knowledge development. The telework has also led to opportunities for increased efficiency. One conclusion of the study was that the telework did not affect the quality of the final product and thus no impact on the audit quality was perceived at present. Furthermore, attention is drawn to the demarcation between auditors' independence and objectivity in relation to customer relationships. The study also draws attention to the fact that if the implementation of hybrid working methods continues, the auditing industry should review the supply of knowledge among audit staff.