This qualitative study delves into the effects of Computer Assisted Audit Tools (CAAT) onthe quality of audits in Sri Lanka. Recognizing the lack of a universal definition for auditquality, this research draws upon established frameworks by Knechel et al. (2013) and theInternational Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) from 2014 to explore auditquality indicators within the domains of input, process, context, and outcome. The researchadopts an Interpretivism paradigm to appreciate subjective viewpoints and humanisticaspects within its methodology. In order to gain an in-depth understanding, semi-structuredinterviews were conducted with auditors from the big four, private firms, and large localaudit firms in Sri Lanka.Selection criteria ensured a diverse sample size of seven participants from each firmcategory. Findings reveal that not only does the use of audit software contribute to enhancedaudit quality in Sri Lanka, but motivated auditors armed with effective tools are also morelikely to produce reports devoid of misstatements.Furthermore, the study observes a discrepancy in technology adoption for auditing purposeswith larger firms utilizing more advanced systems compared to smaller local entities anddiscusses how this dichotomy impacts overall audit practices. The research ultimatelyunderscores the significance of technological innovation and auditor motivation in elevatingaudit quality within the Sri Lankan context and offers valuable insights for practitioners,regulators, and academics aiming to bridge practices with global standards.

Problematization: Previous studies have focused on examining the competencies required of sustainability auditors through the auditor’s perspective. However, there is a gap in research when it comes to examining competence by analyzing the market and its different demands on auditors and non-auditors. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to increase understanding of the competency requirements within sustainability auditing practice and find out if there are variations in the requirements between auditors and non-auditors. Frame of reference: The section begins with the purpose of sustainability assurance and the different components of competence through the competence tree. Then previous research related to competence within sustainability assurance, structured according to the different components of competence is presented. The section ends with a review of resource-based theory, new institutional theory and the analytical model for the study. Method: The study was carried out using a qualitative method, where a qualitative content analysis was applied. The study’s sample consists of 30 job advertisements in different countries in the EU for external sustainability assurance providers, with a division into audit firms and non-audit firms. Empirical evidence and analysis: The result shows both similarities and differences in the demand for competence in education, experience, knowledge and personal characteristics. Audit firms focus strongly on business financial competence, while non-audit firms demand specific competence in sustainability areas. At the same time, the study identifies certain similarities and a certain harmonization in the industry in terms of skills in demand. Conclusions: Auditors and non-auditors require a diverse and complementary set of competencies toeffectively ensure sustainability and meet the varying needs of different businesses. Market analysis reveals that an auditor’s experience and knowledge are more crucial for sustainability assurance than previously emphasized. The study has contributed to an increased understanding of the competence required in practice for sustainability assurance based on the market’s demand. / Problemdiskussion: Tidigare studier har fokuserat på att undersöka den kompetens som krävs hos hållbarhetsgranskare genom granskarens perspektiv. Dock finns det ett gap i forskningen när det kommer till att undersöka kompetensen genom att analysera arbetsmarknaden och dess olika krav på revisorer och icke-revisorer. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att öka förståelsen för kompetenskraven inom hållbarhetsgranskning och ta reda på om det finns variationer i kraven mellan revisorer och icke-revisorer. Teoretisk referensram: Avsnittet inleds med syftet för hållbarhetsgranskning och kompetensträdets innebörd. Därefter presenteras tidigare forskning om kompetensbegreppet, strukturerad enligt kompetensträdets olika delar. Avsnittet avslutas med en genomgång av den resursbaserade teorin, nyinstitutionell teori, isomorfism samt legitimitetsbegreppet, och introducerar en analysmodell. Metod: Studien har utförts med hjälp av en kvalitativ metod, där en kvalitativ innehållsanalys tillämpats. Studiens urval består av 30 jobbannonser inom olika länder i EU för extern hållbarhetsgranskning, där uppdelning är revisionsbyråer och icke-revisionsbyråer. Empiri och analys: Resultatet visar både likheter och skillnader i efterfrågan på kompetens inom utbildning, erfarenhet, kunskaper och personliga egenskaper. Revisionsbyråer fokuserar starkt på företagsekonomisk kompetens, medan icke-revisionsbyråer efterfrågar specifik kompetens inom hållbarhetsområden. Samtidigt identifierar studien vissa likheter och en viss harmonisering i branschen när det gäller efterfrågade kompetenser. Slutsatser: Revisorer och icke-revisorer kräver en mångsidig och kompletterande uppsättning kompetenser för effektiv hållbarhetsgranskning och för att möta de varierande behoven hos olika företag. Analysen av arbetsmarknaden visar att en revisors erfarenhet och kunskap är viktigare för hållbarhetsgranskning än vad som beaktats i tidigare studier. Studien har bidragit till en ökad förståelse för den kompetens som krävs i praktiken för hållbarhetsgranskning baserat på marknadens efterfrågan.

All provincial departments are required to report on pre-determined objectives in terms of Section 40 of the Public Finance Management Act, read in conjunction with Section 5.1.1. of the Treasury Regulations. The purpose of this study was to establish the challenges faced by the Limpopo provincial departments in reporting pre-determined objectives to the Auditor-General. Reporting pre-determined objectives has been a challenge over the past financial years and this is evident in the Auditor-General‟s reports, in which departments continued to receive qualified audit reports (Auditor-General Reports, 2008-2011). The introduction of the Framework for Managing Programme and Performance Information by National Treasury, as well as Government-wide Monitoring and Evaluation by the Presidency, was intended to specifically address this challenge faced by departments (National Treasury, 2007 & The Presidency, 2007). The literature review revealed that performance management is fundamental to enhancing organisational performance. In this study, a qualitative research approach was used to collect and analyse data. Key findings of the study were that management should prioritise strategic planning, performance reporting, monitoring and evaluation to enable it to be in a position to make a determination as to whether what was planned by the department was realised. It is of paramount importance that performance reporting is on top of the agenda at management meetings. / MA (Public Administration), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

All provincial departments are required to report on pre-determined objectives in terms of Section 40 of the Public Finance Management Act, read in conjunction with Section 5.1.1. of the Treasury Regulations. The purpose of this study was to establish the challenges faced by the Limpopo provincial departments in reporting pre-determined objectives to the Auditor-General. Reporting pre-determined objectives has been a challenge over the past financial years and this is evident in the Auditor-General‟s reports, in which departments continued to receive qualified audit reports (Auditor-General Reports, 2008-2011). The introduction of the Framework for Managing Programme and Performance Information by National Treasury, as well as Government-wide Monitoring and Evaluation by the Presidency, was intended to specifically address this challenge faced by departments (National Treasury, 2007 & The Presidency, 2007). The literature review revealed that performance management is fundamental to enhancing organisational performance. In this study, a qualitative research approach was used to collect and analyse data. Key findings of the study were that management should prioritise strategic planning, performance reporting, monitoring and evaluation to enable it to be in a position to make a determination as to whether what was planned by the department was realised. It is of paramount importance that performance reporting is on top of the agenda at management meetings. / MA (Public Administration), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Local government, as government at grassroot, has, probably undergone transformation more than any institution in post-1994 South Africa. State-of the-art legislation have been passed that have restructured municipalities, and, especially, in the areas of performance and conduct of councillors and officials. Prominent in the areas of transformation are the roles of the Executive Mayor, which are no longer ceremonial as well as the radical changes which have been legislated in municipal financial management. This study was undertaken to determine the challenges that confront the Executive Mayor in financial management in selected local municipalities in the Free State. The hypothesis was formulated that "despite the state-of-the art legislation to regulate municipal finance, Executive Mayors in municipalities face the challenge of poor service delivery as a result of noncompliance to financial statutes due to human resource incapacity". To test the hypothesis, use was made by empirical research that comprised questionnaires completed by sample of managers and officials in the selected local municipalities of Mafube, Metsimaholo, Moqhaka and Ngwathe.The findings, amongst others, were that: • Human capital in the 4 selected local municipalities are in their prime age. 69 percent of managers are in the aged between 30 years to 50 years; • 57 percent of the managers responded that they have adequate qualifications and training to pursue the challenges in municipal finance; • All 4 municipalities normally get their budgets approved as required by compliance. • The hypothesis was consequently, invalidated. The study ends with recommendations to help improve standards and quality of financial management practice in the 4 municipalities.

Local government, as government at grassroot, has, probably undergone transformation more than any institution in post-1994 South Africa. State-of the-art legislation have been passed that have restructured municipalities, and, especially, in the areas of performance and conduct of councillors and officials. Prominent in the areas of transformation are the roles of the Executive Mayor, which are no longer ceremonial as well as the radical changes which have been legislated in municipal financial management. This study was undertaken to determine the challenges that confront the Executive Mayor in financial management in selected local municipalities in the Free State. The hypothesis was formulated that "despite the state-of-the art legislation to regulate municipal finance, Executive Mayors in municipalities face the challenge of poor service delivery as a result of noncompliance to financial statutes due to human resource incapacity". To test the hypothesis, use was made by empirical research that comprised questionnaires completed by sample of managers and officials in the selected local municipalities of Mafube, Metsimaholo, Moqhaka and Ngwathe.The findings, amongst others, were that: • Human capital in the 4 selected local municipalities are in their prime age. 69 percent of managers are in the aged between 30 years to 50 years; • 57 percent of the managers responded that they have adequate qualifications and training to pursue the challenges in municipal finance; • All 4 municipalities normally get their budgets approved as required by compliance. • The hypothesis was consequently, invalidated. The study ends with recommendations to help improve standards and quality of financial management practice in the 4 municipalities.

Syftet med uppsatsen är att beskriva och analysera hur slopandet av revisionsplikten har påverkat låneräntan för mikroföretag. För fem år sedan avskaffades revisionsplikten för småföretag, så kallade mikroföretag, vilket gör det intressant att studera vilka effekter denna lagändring har medfört. Syftet med lagändringen var att det skulle leda till en minskad administrativ börda och öka konkurrenskraften. Tidigare forskning har dock kommit fram till att denna lagändring medfört ökade kostnader så som ökade lånekostnader. En kvantitativ studie med en deduktiv ansats har genomförts på aktiva svenska mikroföretag. Datainsamlingen har skett från databasen Retriever Business och enbart fokuserat på finansiell data. Genom linjär multipel regression har företag studerats under perioden 2013-2012 samt 2010-2009. Studien har ett eklektiskt angreppssätt. Hypotesen har framställts utifrån teorier som agentteorin, intressentteorin, institutionell teori samt tidigare forskning. Det finns ett flertal bakomliggande faktorer som påverkar låneräntan. Studien har kunnat konstatera både signifikanta och icke-signifikanta samband. Det generella svaret på studiens frågeställning är att det finns andra faktorer än revisorn som påverkar låneräntan. Den individuella effekten av revisorn på låneräntan kunde inte konstateras. / The purpose of the thesis is to describe and analyze how the abolition of the statutory audit has affected the interest rate for micro firms. It has passed five years since the abolition of the statutory audit for small firms, also called micro firms, which makes it interesting to study the effects of this legislative act. The purpose of this legislation was to decrease the administrative burden and increase the competitiveness. Although, prior research has concluded that this legislative change has led to increased costs such as increased costs of borrowing. A quantitative study with a deductive approach has been made on operating Swedish micro firms. The dataset has been retrieved from the database Retriever Business and has only been focusing on financial data. Companies have been studied through a multiple linear regression for the time period 2013-2012 and 2010-2009. The thesis has an eclectic approach. The hypothesis has been developed through theories such as agency theory, stakeholder theory and institutional theory together with prior research. There are several underlying factors that affect the interest rate. The study has established both significant and non-significant relationships. The general answer to the study’s problem is that there are other factors than the auditor that affects the interest rate. The individual effect of the auditor on the interest rate could not be established.

As a result of crisis and scandals, a lot of criticism has been emphasized against an auditor’sindependence and profession. In order to re-establish confidence in financial statements, theEuropean Commission introduced a Green Paper that above all included a proposal of mandatoryaudit firm rotation aiming to enhance an auditor's independence. The aim of this thesis istherefore to describe whether an auditor’s independence may be affected by the new lawregarding Mandatory Audit Firm Rotation, by contributing with more information regarding auditfirm rotation based on Swedish companies from the Swedish market. The study is based on a quantitative approach using a multivariate logistic regression in order tocompile and analyze the results. Six hypotheses have been tested in order to determine whetherchosen variables may affect an auditor's independence and their statements. Based on our results,we accepted four hypotheses, showing that four variables have an influence on qualified opinion,with rotation as a reference variable. The four variables are leverage, size, specialist and losswhich showed a statistically significance using a 5% significance level. The results imply thataudit firm rotation may enhance an auditor's independence.

Bakgrund: Revisorer omfattas av penningtvättslagstiftningens krav och ska rapportera misstänkta transaktioner som de upptäcker till Finanspolisen. Men revisorernas rapporteringar är väldigt få. Tidigare studier visar på att bristande utbildning och kunskaper hos revisorerna kan vara en orsak till det låga rapporteringstalet. Andra aspekter som framförts är att det är svårt att hitta oegentligheter under en revision eftersom det endast är ett urval av transaktioner som granskas, samt att penningtvätt lämnar få spår i en årsredovisning.  Syfte: Syftet med studien är att ge en ökad förståelse för revisorers förutsättningar för rapportering av misstänkta transaktioner genom att undersöka hur revisorer utbildas inom penningtvättsområdet och hur revisorernas möjligheter att upptäcka penningtvätt kan se ut i verkligheten.  Metod: Jag har utfört min studie med abduktiv forskningsansats, där jag växlat mellan insamling och tolkning av både teori och empiri för att uppfylla studiens syfte. Jag har samlat min empiri genom semistrukturerade kvalitativa intervjuer med personer från revisionsfirmor och utredande myndigheter, samt att jag använt mig av ett penningtvättsfall med domar från tingsrätt och hovrätt samt årsredovisningar för de bolag som ingick i fallet. Slutsats: Den generella uppfattningen hos respondenterna från revisionsfirmor är att revisorernas utbildning inom penningtvätt är tillräcklig för att uppfylla penningtvättslagens krav. Samtidigt framkommer att det finns ett behov av mer praktisk utbildning för att ge revisorerna bättre förståelse för vad de ska leta efter för att hitta penningtvätt. Vidare framkommer att lagkravet om transaktionsgranskning bör ges mer emfas i revisorernas utbildning. Studiens rättsfallsanalys visar på att revisorernas möjligheter att upptäcka penningtvätt i det aktuella fallet var bättre avseende små bolag. Revisorns val av granskningsmetoder samt att vara observant på avvikande betalningsströmmar är viktiga faktorer som påverkar möjligheterna att upptäcka penningtvätt. / Background: Accountants are subject to money laundering legislation and has to report suspicious transactions they detect to the Financial Police. But accountants submit very few suspicious transactions reports. Previous studies indicate that this could be due to the accountants’ lacking training and knowledge. Other aspects that have been expressed are that it is difficult to find irregularities during an audit as only a selection of transactions are examined, and that money laundering leaves few traces in a financial statement.  Purpose: The purpose of this study is to increase the understanding of the accountants’ conditions for reporting suspicious transactions by examining how the accountants are trained in the money laundering field and which possibilities the accountants might have to detect money laundering in reality.  Method: I have performed this study with an abductive research approach, where I have alternated between collecting and interpreting both theory and empirical data to fulfil the purpose of the study. I have gathered my empirical data through semi-structured qualitative interviews with persons from accounting firms and investigative authorities. I have also used a money laundering case with court decisions from Crown court and Court of Appeal together with the financial statements from the limited companies that were involved in the case. Conclusions: The general perception among the respondents from the accounting firms is that the accountants’ training in the money laundering field is sufficient to fulfil the legislative requirements. At the same time it appears that more practical training is required to give the accountants a better understanding of what they should be looking for to detect money laundering. Furthermore, it appears that the legislative requirement for examining transactions should be give more emphasis in the training. The study’s analysis of a court case indicates that the accountants’ possibilities to detect money laundering in the specific case were better regarding smaller sized companies. The accountant’s choice of audit procedures and to be observant of abnormal money flows are important factors that impacts the possibilities to detect money laundering.

Sammanfattning   Bakgrund: Efter införandet av IFRS standarder i Sverige har andelen redovisad goodwill ökat allt mer bland börsbolagen. Detta har resulterat i att allt fler investerare fäster större vikt vid goodwill och där en nedskrivning förmedlar väsentlig ny information till marknaden. Ett problem är dock att en nedskrivningsprövning innehåller flertalet komplexa bedömningar såsom identifiering av kassagenererande enheter och tillämpning av diskonteringsränta. Om företagen inte har den expertis som krävs kan det leda till orimliga värderingar. Det finns både interna och externa indikationer på när goodwillvärdet försvagas och då klientföretagen har en djupare intern information försvåras revisorns möjligheter vid granskning, vilket kan anses vara en stor börda för revisorn. Att goodwill ökat i omfattning och allt större fokus riktas mot posten, leder till att även granskningen av goodwill bör öka i betydelse för revisorer. Deras roll är att inge förtroende åt klientföretagens finansiella rapporter och motsvara samhällets normer och etiska synsätt. Därmed tilltar intresset att veta hur revisorer praktiskt går tillväga då de granskar en goodwillpost upprättad enligt IFRS regler. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att beskriva revisorns arbetsgång vid en granskning av goodwill upprättad enligt IFRS samt diskutera hur revisorns arbete påverkas av omständigheter i dess närhet. Målet är att studien ska kunna bidra till att intressenter av finansiella rapporter kan få en bättre förståelse för hur revisorn granskar goodwillposter. Metod: För att uppfylla studiens syfte valde vi att tillämpa en kvalitativ metod för att få en så djup förståelse för revisorers tillvägagångssätt som möjligt. Vi började med att undersöka vilka revisorer som granskat börsbolag med stora goodwillposter i förhållande till eget kapital. På detta sätt kunde vi avgöra vilka revisorer och revisionsbyråer som har stor erfarenhet av väsentliga goodwillposter. Sedan har intervjuer genomförts där revisorerna fått återge sitt tillvägagångssätt vid granskning av goodwill och dennes personliga uppfattningar kring ämnet. Slutsats: Theory of Practice har fungerat i syfte att hjälpa oss analysera den individuella revisorns praktiska tillvägagångssätt på ett djupare plan. Goodwillgranskning kan anses vara en problematisk situation där revisorn ständigt behöver utveckla sin kunskap för att kunna upprätthålla den viktiga roll revisorn har i företagsvärlden och samhället i stort. Studien visar att revisorerna högst motsägelsefullt tenderar att uppfatta goodwill som en komplex redovisningspost, samtidigt anser de att den inte är särskilt svår att hantera. Studien visade även att trots splittrade personliga åsikter om IFRS regler så agerar revisorerna på ett relativt enhetligt sätt då en goodwillpost granskas. Revisorns agerande påverkas av sina kollegors förväntningar men även klientföretagets förtroende. Den främsta förklaringen till dessa slutsatser är att revisionsbyråerna skapat kontroll över revisorernas tillvägagångssätt genom en uppbyggd organisationsstruktur med flera kunskapsintensiva stödfunktioner. Genom att bidra revisorerna med dessa resurser kan byråerna styra utvecklingen av ett gemensamt synsätt på hur ett problem ska lösas. Revisorerna ser stödfunktionerna som en kunskapskälla vilket inger en känsla av trygghet. Denna effektiva strategi leder till att kunskap sprids och underlättar revisorns granskningsarbete. Nyckelord: goodwill, IFRS, nedskrivning, revision, revisor, granskning, Theory of practice. / Abstract   Background: Following the introduction of IFRS standards in Sweden, the amount of goodwill has soared among listed companies. This makes investors pay more attention to goodwill and impairment gives substantial new information to the market. One problem is that impairment test contains several intricate assessments, such as the identification of cash generating units and the application of discount rate. If the companies don’t have the required expertise, it may lead to unreasonable valuations. There are both internal and external indications of goodwill impairment, where clients have access to more internal information than the auditor. This can be considered as a great burden for the auditor to overcome. Since goodwill, as an asset, has become more important this implies that review of goodwill should increase in importance for auditors. Their role is to increase trust in financial reporting and meet societal norms and ethics. Thereby, there is an increasing interest to understand how auditors review goodwill according to IFRS. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the auditor´s review procedures related to goodwill according to IFRS and to discuss how the auditor´s work is influenced by the circumstances in its vicinity. The objective of the study is to contribute with an increased understanding among stakeholders about the auditor´s review of goodwill. Method: In order to fulfill the purpose of this study, we chose a qualitative method to get as deep understanding of an auditors' approach as possible. We began by examining the auditors who audited the listed companies with large goodwill relative to shareholders’ equity. In this way, we could determine which auditors and audit firms that have best experience of goodwill items. After narrowing down the list we ask auditors to reproduce their approach and personal views of goodwill auditing through interviews. Conclusion: Theory of Practice has worked in order to help us analyze the individual auditor's practical approach on a deeper level. Goodwill review can be considered a problematic situation where the auditor continuously improve their knowledge in order to maintain the important task of the auditor have in the corporate world and society in general. Contradictory the study shows that auditors tend to recognize goodwill as a complex accounting item, but at the same time they do not consider that it is particularly difficult to manage. The study also shows that despite the fragmented personal views on IFRS rules the auditors acting in a relatively uniform manner as goodwill are reviewed. Auditor's behavior is influenced by their colleagues' expectations as well as the client company’s confidence in them. But the main explanation for these findings is that audit firms create control over the auditors approach through organization structure with a number of knowledge-intensive support functions. By contributing resources to the auditors, the audit firms are able to develop a common approach to how a problem should be solved. The auditors find the support functions as a knowledge source which inspires a sense of security. This determinacy leading to that knowledge distributes and facilitates the auditor's review. Keyword: goodwill, IFRS, impairment, accounting, audit, auditor, Theory of Practice