The recent financial crises in the world in general and in Saudi Arabia in particular, contrary to the contents of audit reports indicating that companies are financially healthy, suggest that auditors may not be providing accurate information about their state of affairs or of those who invest after the release of audit reports in companies that later lacked understanding of the content of the report. The study seeks to determine whether the users of audit reports understand the contents and meanings of words used in audit reports in Saudi Arabia. It also examines whether users of audit reports are interested in a change in the structure, contents and information of audit reports. The theoretical framework of the research is based on representation and legitimacy theories, which are related to the qualitative paradigm employed to explain how users appreciate or understand the contents or words employed in an audit. The primary data for the study was collected through semi-structured interviews, comprising twenty-seven interviewees drawn from three groups: institutional investors (creditors or lenders), audit firms, and the officials of the regulator the Saudi Organization for Certified Public Accountants. The interviews were taped, transcribed and managed with the use of computerised qualitative analysis software (NVIV09). It was found that users do not attach much value to the contents of audit reports. Audit reports are drafted in a vague and ambiguous language and users lack basic knowledge of the terms used. Reports are drafted to protect auditors from liabilities. The credibility attached to audit reports is based on the status of the auditing firm. The audit reporting standards in Saudi Arabia are outdated. The majority of the users prefer detailed information in an audit report. The review of audit language methodologies and standards of reporting, putting into consideration the users, is recommended.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:572896 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Altayari, Abdullah Mohammed |
| Publisher | University of Essex |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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