Audit and Assurance Practice Exam

What factor most likely influenced an auditor’s decision to issue a qualified opinion?

1. Adequacy of the disclosures.

2. Revenue recognition practices.

3. Internal control effectiveness.

4. Client financial performance.

The correct answer is: Adequacy of the disclosures.

A qualified opinion is issued by an auditor when they believe that, except for certain issues, the financial statements present a true and fair view in accordance with the relevant financial reporting framework. Adequacy of disclosures is vital because financial statements must provide all necessary information for users to understand the financial position of the entity. If disclosures are found to be inadequate, it could create a lack of transparency, leading to the auditor concluding that while the overall financial statements are reliable, specific issues warrant a qualification in their opinion. When disclosures are insufficient or misleading, it may limit the user's understanding of critical aspects of the financial statements, such as accounting policies, contingent liabilities, or significant estimates. Therefore, an auditor would issue a qualified opinion to highlight these deficiencies, making it clear that while the core financials may still be acceptable, the auditor is unable to provide a clean opinion due to the inadequacy of disclosures. In contrast, while the other factors—revenue recognition practices, internal control effectiveness, and client financial performance—are also important and can lead to different types of opinions or concerns, the specific mention of inadequate disclosures aligns more closely with the rationale behind issuing a qualified opinion.