Matérias relevantes de auditoria e características das empresas

Abstract

The increasing of scrutinity of the auditors work and the pressure of society for greater transparency in the audit process have led to change the audit regulations. In this context, the International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 701 – “Communicating Key Audit Matters in the Independent Auditor’s Report” was introduced. This standard, which has been in force since 2016, created a specific section within the auditors report where auditors must disclose the most sensitive audit matters and how they were addressed. The aim is to enhance transparency in the relationship between companies, auditors and users, while also increasing the amount of information available about the company. This dissertation aims to study the implementation of this standard and understand how the disclosure of Key Audit Matters (KAM) impacts the perception of both stakeholders and shareholders. To this end, a systematic literature review was conducted, consisting of the collection, selection, evaluation and synthesis of studies previously published between 2011 and 2024 on the introduction and disclosure of KAM and its influence on the reactions of users of financial information. The findings of the systematic literature review show that the answer to this question is not unanimous. The literature indicates that, although KAM have the potential to enhance the quality of audited information, their value to financial information users is influenced by the characteristics of the audit, users, theirs interests and the roles they play. To maximize the impact of KAM, it’s crucial to consider the clarity and specificity of the KAM as well as the expectations and prior knowledge that users may have.

Date of Award	15 Jan 2025
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Luísa Anacoreta (Supervisor)