Over 50 senior audit professionals from 24 international networks of accounting firms met yesterday to share their perspectives on the topic of audit quality. The symposium, organized by the Forum of Firms, assembled a group of experts to discuss several elements of audit quality, in support of work currently being undertaken specifically by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB).
"This symposium was designed to encourage participants to exchange views on audit quality from the perspectives of different stakeholders, including users, practitioners, and audit committees,” said David Maxwell, chair, Transnational Auditors Committee. “The discussion raised questions on how audit quality should be defined, as well as ideas for practitioners to consider implementing in their audits.”
The symposium commenced with an overview of the IAASB’s project to develop an international framework for audit quality. Set against this backdrop, the first of two panels debated the expectations of auditors by investors, regulators, and management and the role that those charged with governance have in contributing to audit quality. Having an understanding of the multiple perspectives on audit quality, participants then considered what practitioners can do to drive audit quality by focusing on the “audit inputs”—namely audit firm culture, qualities of audit personnel, and audit process.
"Audit quality is a topic that runs right to the core of the Forum of Firms mandate and mission—the more we all understand it, the more we all can do to strengthen it,” said Robert Dohrer, chair, Forum of Firms. “It is essential that all audit firms be engaged in the debate on this topic so that we can better consider how, as practitioners, we can better contribute to its advancement.”
About the Forum of Firms
The Forum of Firms is an association of networks of international accounting firms that perform transnational audits. Members of the Forum have committed to adhere to and promote the consistent application of high-quality audit practices worldwide, including the use of International Standards on Auditing, and the maintenance of appropriate quality control standards in accordance with International Standards on Quality Control issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. Through their organizations, members also conduct globally coordinated internal quality assurance reviews on a regular basis and have policies and methodologies that conform to the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants. The Transnational Auditors Committee is the Executive Committee of the Forum of Firms and a committee of the International Federation of Accountants.
