Through the audit of annual reports, auditors contribute to the credibility of financial information. To ensure trustworthiness, the auditor has to be independent from the audited company. Auditors’ independence has been a very broadly discussed topic for many years. The most discussed threat to auditors’ independence is the provision of non-audit services by audit firms. But there are other threats to auditors’ independence besides the provision of non-audit services, which are not that frequently discussed so far. There is a tendency that companies hire employees of their current audit firm, which can imply a threat to auditors’ independence. This threat is addressed in the present research paper. The purpose of this paper is to examine if banks, as important capital providers, are aware of the threat to auditors’ independence through the client employment of previous auditors. This study uses qualitative data, collected by a web-based self-completion questionnaire with open questions. This questionnaire was sent out to corporate account officers in German banks via email. The analysis of these results shows that banks perceive the client employment of previous auditors as a threat to auditors’ independence. But even though banks perceive this as a threat, most of the respondents do not see any possibility to counteract the dangers posed by such a move. The main reason is the missing capability to gather knowledge about the employment behavior of a company. Hence, the client employment of previous auditors often stays undetected. Such a move may affect the mind-set of the bankers in a theoretical way, but has no influence regarding their daily business with the customer firms. Different measures exist to counteract the threat to auditors’ independence as well as the negative impacts caused by the client employment of previous auditors. These countermeasures refer to all three parties – (I) the company, (II) the audit service providers and (III) the bank. Especially regulation, both of the audit and the bank, but as well voluntary acting can be consulted. Further research needs to be done in order to proof the results of this study preferably in a quantitative way. An extension to how banks act instead on looking how they perceive the client employment would be interesting in order to draw more conclusions and develop further countermeasures.

Recent financial crises and accounting scandals resulting from perceived audit failures have given rise to increase criticism in the manner which accountants and auditors respect their professional code of ethics. As a consequence, the SEC rules in 2000 limits the services auditors are allowed to provide to their clients and also set limits on fees for internal audit services. In addition to this, they called upon all firms to disclose all fees paid to auditors for both audit and non-audit services. This thesis investigates whether the provision of Non-Audit Services is associated with auditor’s independence evidence from the earnings management perspective proxy by discretionary accruals. I began this study by examining the relevant textbooks and related articles of accounting and auditing. Furthermore, the hypotheses and research model are proposed based upon related accounting and auditing theories. The data for this thesis were manually collected from the NASDAQ OMX website from the annual financial reports of 107 Swedish public listed firms in the Stockholm Stock Exchange. The selection of these companies was based on their capitalization i.e., Large, Medium and Small size firms. In this study, quantitative research method has been used to explore the relationship between provision of NAS and auditor’s independence with the help of statistical soft wares (SPSS and Excel) for data analysis. My research outcome provides evidence that the amount of non-audit services rendered by a firm’s external auditors is not associated with earnings management; therefore, the auditor’s independence is not compromised for providing NAS to their clients. This no association is an indication that, the auditor’s independence is strengthened during the provision of non-audit services a result consistent with that of prior researches (e.g., DeFond et al. (2002); Crabtree et al. (2004); Chung & Kallapur (2003)). I also found out that, the provision of audit services is not associated with earnings management, an indication of no management discretionary accruals. Therefore, the auditor’s independence is not compromised when providing a joint audit and non-audit services. These results provide an insight concerning the perceptions of auditor independence and also afford empirical evidence regarding the role that non-audit and audit services fees plays in establishing confidence among the users of firms’ annual financial report.

Ett flertal redovisningsskandaler har ägt rum världen över där revisorer varit inblandade, vilket gjort att revisionskvaliteten ifrågasatts och framförallt revisorernas oberoende. Tidigare studier rapporterar om faktorer som kan påverka oberoendet där gåvor, social identitet, professionalism, relationer, påtryckningar, rykte och ekonomi har visat sig kunna påverka revisorernas agerande. Syftet med denna studie var att förklara hur revisorer strategiskt agerar för att upprätthålla sitt oberoende mot sina klienter, samt att förklara skillnader i agerandet utifrån professionens perspektiv. Tidigare studier visar att det föreligger skillnader kring människors handlingssätt beroende på kön, ålder, erfarenhet, vilken ort man är verksam i samt vilken byrå man arbetar för. Denna studie utfördes genom en tvåmetodsundersökning där vi med hjälp av intervjuer skapade oss en överblick över professionens syn på oberoendet, vilket senare lade grunden för utformningen av studiens enkät som resulterade i 317 fullständiga svar. Genom en korrelationsanalys och en multivariat regressionsanalys undersökte vi om det förelåg samband mellan de oberoende variablerna kön, ålder, storlek på ort, storlek på byrå, erfarenhet och de beroende variablerna gåvor, social identitet, professionalism, relationer, påtryckningar, rykte och ekonomi. Fyra av studiens hypoteser fick stöd, däribland att manliga revisorer är mer benägna till närmare relationer till sina klienter i jämförelse med kvinnliga revisorer. Vidare fann vi även stöd för att revisorer på mindre orter är mer benägna till närmare relationer till sina klienter i jämförelse med revisorer i storstäder. Vi fann även stöd för att yngre revisorer i högre grad beaktar sitt rykte i jämförelse med äldre revisorer. Slutligen fann vi även stöd för att manliga revisorer i högre grad beaktar klienters ekonomiska betydelse i jämförelse med kvinnliga revisorer. Utöver de hypoteser som testades fann vi ytterligare samband av intresse att analysera, däribland ett signifikant negativt samband mellan ålder och revisorers benägenhet att ta emot gåvor och acceptera närmare relationer. Vidare noterades att manliga revisorer i högre grad tycks beakta sitt rykte i jämförelse med kvinnliga revisorer. Revisorns ålder ocherfarenhet visar även ett negativt signifikant samband med revisorers benägenhet att beakta klientens ekonomiska betydelse. Slutsatsen är att revisorer tycks följa olika strategier för att bemöta faktorer som kan påverka oberoendet och att det föreligger vissa skillnader i agerandet beroende på revisorns erfarenhet, ålder och kön samt storleken på den ort revisorn är verksam  i. / Several accounting scandals have taken place around the world where auditors have been involved, which means that the audit quality is questioned and especially the auditors’ independence. Previous studies report on factors that may affect the independence, where gifts, social identity, professionalism, relationships, pressure, reputation and economy are factors that have been shown to affect the auditor’s actions. The purpose of this study is to explainhow auditors act strategically to maintain independence with their clients, as well as to explain differences in action based on the professional perspective. Previous studies shown that there is behavioral differences regarding gender, age, experience, the city you operate in and which firm you work for. This study was conducted through a two-method study in which we, with the help of interviews, were able to create an understanding of the auditor’s  independence from the profession’s perspective. The interviews contributed to the creation of the study’s survey which had a sample of 317 responses. Through a correlation analysis and a multivariate regression analysis we examined whether there is a correlation between the independent variables gender, age, the size of city, the size of firm, experience and the dependent variables gifts, social identity, professionalism, relationships, pressure, reputation and economy. In our study four of the hypotheses received support, including that male auditors are more likely to have closer relationships with their clients compared to female auditors. Furthermore, we also found support for the fact that auditors in smaller cities are more likely to have closer relationships with their clients compared to auditors in larger cities. We also found support for the fact that younger auditors care more about their reputation compared to older auditors. Finally, we also found support for that male auditors are more liable to care about their clients'economic importance compared to female auditors. In addition to the hypotheses that were tested, we found other relationships that were of interest to analyze, including a significant negative relationship between age and auditors' tendency to accept gifts and closer relationships. Furthermore, it is noted that male auditors care more about their reputation compared to female auditors. The auditor's age and experience also shown a negativelysignificant relationship with auditors' tendency to consider the client's economic importance. The conclusion in this study is that auditors seem to follow different strategies to address the various factors that may affect independence, where the study shows that there are differencesin the action depending on the auditor's experience, age and gender and also the size of city the auditor operate in.

To complete work in a satisfactory manner, the auditor needs to maintain his or her qualifying role; it is required that the auditor is independent. The auditor shall review his or her independence before each assignment and resign if there are circumstances that could upset the trust in his or her independence. The study is based on the scepticism we have that a human being can ever be independent. The thesis aims to obtain valuable insight into the auditor’s independent position by studying the auditor’s approach on independence and the eventual threats they may experience. Furthermore, the purpose is to determine if an auditor can be independent. Through a qualitative method and abductive approach, the study has taken its starting point in the research to supplement the general knowledge with the practice from the auditor’s perspective. Within the institutional context, we have analyzed the empirical data based on three overarching themes; 1. The Swedish Auditing Act’s five threats against independence, 2. Independence in fact and independence in appearance, and 3. The auditor’s practical course of action. The study shows that there are divided opinions about whether an auditor can be independent and that there are patterns that indicate the existence of isomorphism. Likewise, the study shows that threats of friendship and self-examination should not necessarily be seen as a threat but rather as an advantage to conducting a qualitative audit. / För att en revisor ska genomföra ett tillfredsställande arbete och behålla sin kvalitetsstämplande roll krävs det att hen är oberoende. Revisorn ska med stöd av revisorslagens analysmodell pröva sitt oberoende innan varje uppdrag och avsäga sig uppdrag om det finns omständigheter som kan rubba förtroendet för hens opartiskhet eller självständighet. Problematiken i studien grundar sig i den skepticism vi har till att en människa någonsin kan vara oberoende. Syftet med uppsatsen är att få en användbar inblick i revisorns oberoendeposition genom att studera revisors synsätt på sin roll och de eventuella hotbilder mot oberoendet som de upplever. Vidare är syftet att reda ut om det överhuvudtaget är möjligt för en revisor att vara oberoende. Studien har genom en kvalitativ metod och abduktiv ansats tagit avstamp ur forskningen för att komplettera det rådande vetandet med praktiken ur revisorers perspektiv. Studien har inom en institutionell kontext analyserat empirin utifrån tre övergripande teman; 1. Revisorslagens analysmodell, 2. Faktiskt och synbart oberoende, och 3. Revisorns praktiska tillvägagångssätt. Studien visar att det finns delade meningar kring huruvida det är möjligt för en revisor att vara oberoende, samt att det föreligger mönster som tyder på existensen av isomorfism. Studien påvisar likaså att vänskaps- och självgranskningshot inte nödvändigtvis bör ses som ett hot, utan snarare som en fördel till att genomföra en kvalitativ revision.

Professionell skepsis är en förutsättning för en fungerande revision och för att upprätthålla kvaliteten på revisionen krävs det av revisorerna att vara professionellt skeptiska. Det finns flera faktorer som påverkar hur revisorer kan upprätthålla kvaliteten på revisionen. Bland annat har den tidspress som revisorer utsätts för visat sig ha en negativ inverkan på revisionskvaliteten eftersom revisorer till följd av tidspress kan uppvisa dysfunktionella beteenden som kan innebära att de lägger ner mindre tid än vad som faktiskt behövs för att utföra en bra revision. Vidare finns det en utmaning för revisorer i de situationer där de ska granska verkliga värden om det inte finns några marknadspriser för tillgången eller skulden och redovisning till verkligt värde ska beräknas med hjälp av interna uppskattningar och beräkningar.Tidigare studier har undersökt hur tidspress och granskning av redovisning till verkligt värde påverkar revisionskvaliteten, men inte hur den professionella skepsisen påverkas av dessa två faktorer, trots att professionell skepsis är en förutsättning för en god revisionskvalitet. Tanken med denna undersökning är därför att beskriva och analysera hur revisorers professionella skepsis påverkas av dessa två faktorer. För att besvara studiens syfte skickades enkäter ut till totalt 3477 svenska kvalificerade revisorer varav 132 användbara svar inkom. Enkäten innehöll bakgrundsinformation om respondenten, frågor om revisorers professionella skepsis, granskning av redovisning till verkligt värde samt tidspress. Tillsammans utgjorde dessa basen för studiens analys och slutsats.Utifrån resultatet kan vi konstatera att revisorerna inte upplever särskilt stor tidspress utan tycker att tidsbudgetarna är relativt uppnåeliga trots att revisorerna till viss del agerar på ett dysfunktionellt sätt till följd av den tidspress som förekommer. Vidare pekar resultatet på att revisorer anser att de står inför en utmaning när det gäller granskning av redovisning till verkligt värde. Vi kan dra slutsatsen att varken tidspress eller granskning av redovisning till verkligt värde starkt påverkar revisorers professionella skepsis. Däremot visar resultatet ett svagt negativt samband mellan professionell skepsis och granskning av redovisning till verkligt värde. Den låga svarsfrekvensen på 3,8 procent gör det viktigt att påpeka att studiensslutsatser måste dras med stor försiktighet. / Professional skepticism is a prerequisite for a functioning audit and to maintain the quality of the audit it is required by the auditors to be professionally skeptical. There are several factors that affect how auditors can maintain the quality of the audit. Time budget pressure, for example, has shown to have a negative impact on audit quality since the auditors as a result of time budget pressure may show dysfunctional behavior. This means that auditors may spend less time that is actually required to perform a good audit. Furthermore, there is a challenge for the auditors in auditing fair value measurements if there is no active market for the asset or liability and when the fair value is calculated using internal estimates and calculations.Previous studies have examined how time pressure and audit of fair value measurements have affected audit quality, but not how auditors’ professional skepticism is directly affected by these two factors, despite the fact that professional skepticism is a prerequisite for a good audit quality. The aim of this study is to describe and analyze how the auditor's professionalskepticism is affected by these two selected factors.To answer the aim of the study questionnaires was sent out to a total of 3477 Swedish qualified auditors and we got 132 useful answers. The questionnaire included background information of the respondent, questions about auditor's professional skepticism, audit of fair value measurements and time budget pressure. These questions formed the base of the study's analysis and conclusionThe results indicate that auditors does not experience great time budget pressure but feel that the time budgets are relatively attainable although they still to a certain extent show dysfunctional behavior as a result of time budget pressure. The result also indicates that auditors feel that they face challenges when auditing fair value measurements. Further, we canbased on the result conclude that neither time budget pressure nor audit of fair value measurements strongly influence auditors’ professional skepticism. The results however, show a weak negative correlation between professional skepticism and audit of fair value measurements. The study's low response rate of 3.8 percent means that the results must be interpreted with great caution. / <p>160603</p>