During the last decade, there has been severe critique directed at the auditing profession regarding its necessity and accuracy. Auditors have been accused of neglecting their duty to the public interest, which is overshadowed by their financial dependence on the audited companies. In light on several large audit failures, the users of the audit report have demanded more information be released regarding the company and the audit process. In response to this, several standard setting bodies have released new regulatory suggestions regarding the audit report. Among the revised regulations that are relevant to Sweden are the ISA 700 (revised) and the newly created ISA 701, both of which become effective starting December 2016. FAR, the Swedish Professional Institution for Authorized Accountants and Auditors, have expressed concerns regarding the effect of the implementation of the Key Audit Matters in combination with the Swedish confidentiality clause, by which auditors must abide. These revisions are meant to increase the informative value of the audit report for the users, where the main users of the audit report are non-professional investors. Due to this, along with lacking research on the topic of Swedish non-professional investors in this context, we have chosen to focus our thesis on the effects of the changes to the audit report in relation to the investment behavior of this specific group. Research Question: How is the Swedish adaptation of ISA 700 (revised) and ISA 701 likely to impact the perceived value of the new audit report to young Swedish nonprofessional investors? We have conducted an online questionnaire with an attached case, derived from a listed British company that has already made similar changes to their audit report format. Based on the responses of 100 young Swedish non-professional investors, we found that the new changes to the audit report, as we presented them, had positive effect on the young non-professional investors perception on the audit report. Of the respondents, 64% viewed the new audit report as significantly more informative than the current Swedish audit report. Both new information, in the form of the audit resolution paragraph, and useful information, in the form of the Key Audit Matters paragraph, statement of the audit firm, and movement of the audit opinion, was perceive by the respondents. In addition to this, we found that 63% of our sample would read the audit report in the future, as compared to 49% today. However, we are unsure of whether these positive effects will be observe following the Swedish implementation of the changes, due to FAR and Swedish auditors hesitation toward the Key Audit Matters.

Background/problematization: Traditionally, the auditor’s report was a short pass-or-fail statement with a few lines of text andstandardized wording. Critics have argued that the auditor’s report was a tedious anduninformative statement, more entity-specific and relevant information was wanted in theauditor’s report. As a result, ISA 701 was implemented in 2016, which required auditors todisclose Key Audit Matters. However, skeptics were concerned that the expanded auditor’sreport following the new regulation ISA 701 would become standardized as well. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the research on whether IAASB has achieved withits intention of ISA 701, to make the auditor’s report provide more entity-specific information,thus increasing the communicative value. By doing this, we also intend to contribute to theunderstanding of the factors that shape the disclosure of audit information. Methodology: The study was based on a positivistic philosophy together with a deductive approach. To collectdata, a quantitative method and a longitudinal design was used. 72 sample companies wereinvestigated over the time period of 2017-2021. This resulted in 359 firm-year observations.The data used was secondary data from annual reports and the database Orbis. The main test ofthe data was done in multiple linear regression models using SPSS. Findings: The findings suggest that there is no systematic standardization on a cross-national level,however there are some indications for standardization of the disclosure of KAMs on thenational level in some cases. We have identified three diving forces of standardization: country-, audit firm-, and auditor effects. Among these driving forces, the country effect was found tobe the strongest driving force.

New and revised Canadian Auditing Standards for audits of companies with fiscal periods ending on or after December 15, 2018 came into effect in April 2017. This paper examines the economic effects of one of the updates: the new auditor reporting requirement to disclose the auditor’s responsibilities over other information. We investigate the relationship between the existence of the auditor’s commentary about the MD&A within the other information paragraph on the auditor’s report and the reactions of users of the financial statements, namely investors and analysts, to the MD&A. We find that both investors and analysts do not respond to the auditor’s commentary about the MD&A within the other information paragraph present on the auditor’s report. Our result indicates that although the disclosure may not be providing additional information value to users of the financial statements as the standard setters intended, it is also not creating an increase in the audit expectation gap.

O fortalecimento de um mercado acionário está relacionado diretamente com a transparência e confiabilidade da informação disponível para os usuários desses mercados. Com este fim, o auditor e o seu trabalho, divulgado através do relatório de auditoria, configuram-se como garantias da realidade econômica e contábil das empresas de capital aberto. No entanto, na realidade latino-americana (nos casos do Brasil, Colômbia e Argentina), ainda não se tem quantificado o impacto que o auditor, e o relatório de auditoria, exercem na dinâmica dos seus mercados acionários. Em resposta à falta de estudos que quantifiquem a relação auditoria mercado acionário se formula o presente trabalho. Assim, analisa-se, através de um estudo de eventos, o efeito que os relatórios de auditoria exercem no preço das ações das companhias de capital aberto listadas nas principais bolsas de valores do Brasil (Bolsa de Valores, Mercadorias e Futuros BM&F Bovespa), Colômbia (Bolsa de valores de Colombia BVC) e Argentina (Bolsa de Comercio de Buenos Aires BCBA). Realizou-se um estudo univariável e multivariável para testar as hipóteses. No caso brasileiro e argentino, o período de estudo abrangeu desde o ano 2000 até 2007. No primeiro caso, confirma-se que a divulgação dos relatórios de auditoria modificados, das companhias de capital aberto participantes da BM&FBOVESPA, não afeta o preço das suas ações. Já para o caso da Argentina, obtém-se um resultado oposto, verificando através do teste de hipóteses que o relatório do auditor impacta no mercado acionário representado pela Bolsa de Comércio de Buenos Aires; em particular, a divulgação dos relatórios de auditoria modificados tem um efeito negativo nos preços das ações negociadas no mercado acionário Argentino. Por último, no mercado acionário da Colômbia analisa-se um período de estudo desde o ano 2001 até 2007. Na Colômbia são obtidos resultados similares aos verificados no mercado acionário brasileiro. Assim, a contribuição do presente trabalho é avaliar e quantificar a importância do auditor externo nesses países em estudo e, indiretamente, avaliar o uso do relatório de auditoria como médio de divulgação de informação relevante aos seus mercados acionários. / The strength of a stock market is related to transparency and reliability of all information available for its users. In this sense, both the auditor and his work, which is disseminated through the auditing reports, become the guarantee of the economical reality from all publicly traded companies. However, in Latin America reality (especially in Brazil, Colombia and Argentina), the impact of the Auditor and his reports still has not been verified upon the stock markets. Hence, this present job aims to respond to the lack of studies stating the relationship between Auditing and Stock markets in Latin America. The analysis is done through a event study, evaluating what is the auditing report effect upon the prices of stocks from the main publicly traded companies in Brazilian stock market (Bolsa de valores, Mercadorias e Futuros BM&FBovespa), Colombian stock market (Bolsa de valores de Colombia BVC) and Argentine stock market (Bolsa de Comercio de Buenos Aires BCBA). In particular, two studies are carried out, one univariable and the other multivariable, in order to test the hypothesis. In Brazilian and Argentine cases, the study covers the period from 2000 until 2007. In the first case, the disclosure of the modified auditing reports, considering public companies of the BM&FBovespa Stock Exchange, does not affect their stock price. On the contrary, in Argentine case, an opposite result is obtained: the auditing reports impact on BCBA Stock Exchange; specifically, the disclosure of modified auditing reports has a negative effect on stock prices. Finally, for the Colombian stock market, a study period from 2001 until 2007 is utilized. In Colombian case, similar results to those reported from Brazilian analysis are obtained. The contribution of this thesis is to evaluate and quantify the role of the auditor in the countries mentioned above and, indirectly, the use of the auditor\'s report as way to disseminate Auditing information.

O fortalecimento de um mercado acionário está relacionado diretamente com a transparência e confiabilidade da informação disponível para os usuários desses mercados. Com este fim, o auditor e o seu trabalho, divulgado através do relatório de auditoria, configuram-se como garantias da realidade econômica e contábil das empresas de capital aberto. No entanto, na realidade latino-americana (nos casos do Brasil, Colômbia e Argentina), ainda não se tem quantificado o impacto que o auditor, e o relatório de auditoria, exercem na dinâmica dos seus mercados acionários. Em resposta à falta de estudos que quantifiquem a relação auditoria mercado acionário se formula o presente trabalho. Assim, analisa-se, através de um estudo de eventos, o efeito que os relatórios de auditoria exercem no preço das ações das companhias de capital aberto listadas nas principais bolsas de valores do Brasil (Bolsa de Valores, Mercadorias e Futuros BM&F Bovespa), Colômbia (Bolsa de valores de Colombia BVC) e Argentina (Bolsa de Comercio de Buenos Aires BCBA). Realizou-se um estudo univariável e multivariável para testar as hipóteses. No caso brasileiro e argentino, o período de estudo abrangeu desde o ano 2000 até 2007. No primeiro caso, confirma-se que a divulgação dos relatórios de auditoria modificados, das companhias de capital aberto participantes da BM&FBOVESPA, não afeta o preço das suas ações. Já para o caso da Argentina, obtém-se um resultado oposto, verificando através do teste de hipóteses que o relatório do auditor impacta no mercado acionário representado pela Bolsa de Comércio de Buenos Aires; em particular, a divulgação dos relatórios de auditoria modificados tem um efeito negativo nos preços das ações negociadas no mercado acionário Argentino. Por último, no mercado acionário da Colômbia analisa-se um período de estudo desde o ano 2001 até 2007. Na Colômbia são obtidos resultados similares aos verificados no mercado acionário brasileiro. Assim, a contribuição do presente trabalho é avaliar e quantificar a importância do auditor externo nesses países em estudo e, indiretamente, avaliar o uso do relatório de auditoria como médio de divulgação de informação relevante aos seus mercados acionários. / The strength of a stock market is related to transparency and reliability of all information available for its users. In this sense, both the auditor and his work, which is disseminated through the auditing reports, become the guarantee of the economical reality from all publicly traded companies. However, in Latin America reality (especially in Brazil, Colombia and Argentina), the impact of the Auditor and his reports still has not been verified upon the stock markets. Hence, this present job aims to respond to the lack of studies stating the relationship between Auditing and Stock markets in Latin America. The analysis is done through a event study, evaluating what is the auditing report effect upon the prices of stocks from the main publicly traded companies in Brazilian stock market (Bolsa de valores, Mercadorias e Futuros BM&FBovespa), Colombian stock market (Bolsa de valores de Colombia BVC) and Argentine stock market (Bolsa de Comercio de Buenos Aires BCBA). In particular, two studies are carried out, one univariable and the other multivariable, in order to test the hypothesis. In Brazilian and Argentine cases, the study covers the period from 2000 until 2007. In the first case, the disclosure of the modified auditing reports, considering public companies of the BM&FBovespa Stock Exchange, does not affect their stock price. On the contrary, in Argentine case, an opposite result is obtained: the auditing reports impact on BCBA Stock Exchange; specifically, the disclosure of modified auditing reports has a negative effect on stock prices. Finally, for the Colombian stock market, a study period from 2001 until 2007 is utilized. In Colombian case, similar results to those reported from Brazilian analysis are obtained. The contribution of this thesis is to evaluate and quantify the role of the auditor in the countries mentioned above and, indirectly, the use of the auditor\'s report as way to disseminate Auditing information.

As recentes discussões a respeito da relevância das informações apresentadas no relatório do auditor independente e do valor e credibilidade da profissão de auditoria culminaram em propostas de alteração no relatório do auditor, em uma das mais relevantes mudanças recentes para o ramo, passando de um formato padronizado para uma tentativa de individualização, caracterizada pela obrigatoriedade de comunicação dos Principais Assuntos de Auditoria (PAAs). As Normas Brasileiras de Contabilidade que regem o tema foram implementadas para períodos findos em ou após 31 de dezembro de 2016. Com o objetivo de analisar o processo de implementação dessas novas regras e verificar o nível de qualidade observado nos novos relatórios, foi desenvolvido um indicador (o Índice de Qualidade do Novo Relatório do Auditor Independente - IQNRA), considerando requisitos normativos e expectativas dos usuários das informações financeiras. Essa métrica foi aplicada para uma amostra de 189 empresas de capital aberto, em seus dois primeiros relatórios anuais emitidos. Os resultados observados demonstram um bom nível médio de qualidade e, em um processo de adaptação e aprendizado, melhorias do primeiro para o segundo ano de publicação do relatório em seu novo formato. Destaca-se, em linhas gerais, que ainda há melhorias a serem feitas, tanto em itens normativos (forma e conteúdo de apresentação), como em tópicos de divulgação voluntária, requeridos e apontados pelos participantes de mercado como desejáveis (informações sobre materialidade e escopo de auditoria, possíveis valores e impactos financeiros para cada tema relevante reportado, e comparativo das alterações nos principais assuntos relevantes para a auditoria a cada ano). Nota-se, ainda, que as maiores empresas de auditoria tendem a apresentar maior nível de qualidade nos reportes; enquanto o setor econômico a que pertencem as companhias auditadas parece não influenciar o nível de qualidade ou quantidade de assuntos reportados como relevantes (PAAs). Como primeiro trabalho de análise qualitativa do Novo Relatório do Auditor Independente no Brasil, este estudo pode trazer foco ao tema, iniciar discussões e motivar estudos adicionais, mostrando novas direções a seguir na contabilidade e auditoria; além de trazer evidências empíricas sobre a experiência até então observada aos diferentes participantes do mercado, contribuindo e dando insumos quanto aos pontos positivos e possíveis caminhos para a melhoria e evolução. Os resultados foram encorajadores em seu início, porém, talvez ainda seja cedo para se falar em consequências e implicações na literatura e mercado, dada a incipiência do tema. Entende-se que ainda é necessário mais tempo e experiência para uma maior absorção e consequente impacto sobre o comportamento dos produtores e usuários das informações financeiras, bem como desenvolvimento de novas pesquisas, oferecendo mais informações e conclusões sobre os efeitos e consequências da implantação do novo reporte e atendimento aos objetivos traçados pelos órgãos reguladores, de oferecimento de informações mais relevantes aos usuários e reforço do valor e importância da auditoria. / The recent discussions on the relevance of the information presented in the independent auditor\'s report and on the value and credibility of the audit profession have culminated in proposed changes in the auditor\'s report, in one of the most relevant recent changes to the industry, from a standardized format for an attempt of individualization, characterized by the obligation of communication of the Key Audit Matters (KAMs). The Brazilian Accounting Standards governing the theme were implemented for periods ending on or after December 31, 2016. In order to analyze the process of implementing these new rules and verify the level of quality observed in the new reports, an indicator was developed (the New Independent Auditor\'s Report Quality Index - IQNRA), considering the regulatory requirements and expectations of users of financial information. This metric was applied to a sample of 189 publicly held companies in their first two annual reports. The observed results demonstrate a good average level of quality and, in a process of adaptation and learning, improvements from the first to the second year of publication of the report in its new format. It should be noted, in general terms, that there are still improvements to be made, in normative items (form and content of presentation) and in topics of voluntary disclosure, required and pointed out by market participants as desirable (information on materiality and audit scope, possible values and financial impacts for each relevant subject reported, and comparative changes in the main issues relevant to the audit each year). It is also noted that the largest auditing companies tend to present a higher level of quality in the reports; while the economic sector to which the audited companies belong does not appear to influence the level of quality or quantity of subjects reported as relevant (PAAs). As the first qualitative analysis of the New Independent Auditor\'s Report in Brazil, this study can bring focus to the topic, start discussions and motivate additional studies, showing new directions to follow in accounting and auditing; in addition to providing empirical evidence on the experience previously observed to the different market participants, contributing and giving input on the positive points and possible ways for improvement and evolution. The results were encouraging at the outset, but perhaps it is too early to talk about consequences and implications in the literature and market, given the incipience of the subject. More time and experience are needed for a greater absorption and consequent impact on the behavior of producers and users of financial information, as well as the development of new research, offering more information and conclusions on the effects and consequences of the implantation of the new reporting and meeting the objectives set by regulatory bodies, offering more relevant information to users and reinforcing the value and importance of the audit.

Bakgrund: Inom räkenskapsrevisionen är förtroendevalda revisorer ansvariga för granskningen och biträds i sin tur av sakkunniga revisorer. Kombinationen av revisorerna ska säkerställa en revision som är både demokratiskt förankrad och professionellt utförd. De förtroendevalda revisorernas oberoende har dock ifrågasatts och kritiserats, det anses att de har egna politiska intressen att skydda och kan påverka räkenskaperna för att på så sätt kunna förmedla en viss bild av resultat och ekonomisk ställning. Det kan därför anses vara väsentligt att den kritik som sakkunniga revisorer riktar i revisionsrapporterna också beaktas i revisionsberättelsen. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att förklara vilka externa faktorer som påverkar huruvida förtroendevalda revisorer beaktar sakkunniga revisorers kritik i revisionsberättelsen. Metod: Studien utgår från ett deduktivt tillvägagångssätt där hypoteser testas för att kunna förklara faktorer som påverkar de förtroendevalda revisorernas beaktande av de sakkunniga revisorernas kritik i revisionsberättelsen. Studien är en kvantitativ tvärsnittsstudie baserad på revisionsrapporter samt revisionsberättelser från svenska kommuner avseende 2019. Slutsats: Studien indikerar att förtroendevalda revisorers beaktande av sakkunniga revisorers kritik i revisionsberättelsen påverkas av vald revisionsbyrå. Vidare indikerar studien på att sakkunniga revisorers formella kompetens inte påverkar beaktande av kritik. Slutligen visar studiens empiriska resultat att kommunens finansiella styrka påverkar negativt huruvida förtroendevalda revisorer beaktar sakkunniga revisorers kritik i revisionsberättelsen. / Background: In the financial audit, politically appointed auditors are responsible for the audit. Politically appointed auditors are assisted by expert auditors, the combination of the auditors shall ensure an audit that is both democratically based and professionally performed. However, the independence of the politically appointed auditors has been questioned and criticized. It is considered that the politically appointed auditors have their own political interests to protect and can influence the accounts to be able to convey a certain picture of the results and financial position. It can therefore be considered essential that the criticisms given by the expert auditors in the audit memorandum are also considered in the audit report. Purpose: The aim of this study is to explain the external factors that affect whether politically appointed auditors consider expert auditors' criticism in the audit report. Method: The study is based on a deductive approach where hypotheses are tested to be able to explain factors that affect the politically appointed auditors' consideration of the expert auditors' criticism in the audit report. The study is a quantitative cross-sectional study based on audit memorandum and audit reports from Swedish municipalities regarding 2019. Conclusion: The study indicates that the elected auditors' consideration of expert auditors' criticisms in the auditor's report is affected by the chosen audit firm, while the consideration is not affected by the expert competence of the expert auditors. Furthermore, the elected auditors' consideration of the expert auditors' criticism in the audit report is negatively affected by the municipality's financial strength.

The thesis deals with the audit of the financial statements of the selected company. In the theoretical part, there is the general knowledge about the auditing, the audit legislation, the procedure of financial statements audit and the auditing issues from the audited company's perspective. The next separate part concerns Austrian auditors. The practical part applies the selected audit procedures in the audited company and analyzes the preparation of the audited company for the audit. The proposal part contains the recommendations for the organization of accounting work within this preparation.