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AN ARTICLE ON
EXPECTAION GAP REGARDING AUDIT IN BANGLADESH: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY
Department of Accounting & Information Systems
Faculty of Business Studies
University of Dhaka
Assigned by:
Ranjan Kumar Mitra
Lecturer
Department of A&IS
Faculty of Business Studies
University of Dhaka
Submitted by:
Sl No. Name ID01 Md. Mahadi Hasan 1512002 Md. Enamul Haque 1512103 Sushanta Chandra Mondal 1512604 Md. Shamim Raihan 1513205 Md. Rabbiul Hasan 1515706 Piyas Chandra Das 15169
Department of Accounting & Information Systems
Faculty of Business Studies
University of Dhaka
Date of Submission: 20 March, 2011
Table of contents
Sl no. Topics Page no.
01 Abstract 01
02 Introduction 01
03 Literature Review 02
04 Methodology 03
05 Data Analysis Findings 04-11
06 Recommendation 12
07 Conclusion 13
10 References 14
Abstract
The expectation gap is a serious concern for professionals Accountant through the world. Auditing expectation gap is the difference between what auditors actually do and what third parties expect. This paper/study aims at to investigate the existence of an audit expectation gap and to measure the magnitude
of audit. Throughout the paper we will cover the evaluation of audit and causes of audit expectation gap. We will also covet the evidence of expectation gap in Bangladesh. For this purpose sample group were selected from different groups of people with different background.
Keywords: Audit, Expectation gap, Third parties
Introduction
Accounting and auditing are the most critical and integrated parts of any types of organization
globally who deals with monetary transactions. Accounting keeps all of the monetary
transactions as a means of providing information through financial reporting to end - user,
auditing authenticate the true and fair view of the information provided by the accountants
through its authentication based on professional code of ethics and regulation. In this process,
auditors work as a bridge to fill up the communication or information gap between entities,
management and end-users of published financial reports, through their authentication reliability
and correctness of financial reporting/statements. Moreover in this modern era, the recipients of
financial statements have become more sophisticated so they demand from an audit function then
only attestation of the financial reports. Furthermore in last decades there has been a great
number of accounting scandals throughout the world specially Enron, World com Parlmalat and
Famee Mac has drown much more attention regarding the auditing service. So our objective in
this study is to determine the expectation gap between auditors and the thirds parties especially
in the present context of Bangladesh.
Literature review
The concept of the expectation gap was firstly defined by Liggio in 1974, (p.27). According to
his concept expectation gap is the difference between (a) what the general people and financial
statement users the responsibilities of auditors to be (b) what auditors believe their responsibility
are? Porter (1993) gives a detail look on the component of expectation with structural Wags.
This study is not new in our country's several studies were conducted on this issue in our country
for example Chowdhury, RR and Innes (1998), Rehan Fowzia (2010), Siddiqui, Al-Amin and T
Nasreen(2004). J. Siddiqui, Amin,T Nasreen, 2004 they studied the existence of expectation gap
among the students those who completed one course on Auditing and other groups completed
two courses on Auditing. They mainly tried to find out the effect or rule of auditing education on
expectation gap. However the findings of these study where surprising, because the study found
that expectation gap is greater among the students those who completed two courses than the
students completed one courses. The overall results were like that auditing education did not
significantly reduce the expectation gap. However this study was very contradictory with some
other research put on by several integration researchers; for example Bailey et al (1983), Pierce
and Kilcommins (1996), Kilcommins studied 6 types of students Categories into 1st year, 2nd
year, having and not having auditing course. The findings of this study were as usual as students
having completed more courses on auditing have less expectation gap than those of others. This
very critical issue was also studied what the perspective of two countries that means comparison
of audit expectation gap between two countries. Mahadeves wamy and Salehi (2008), the study
was aimed at to find out the similarities and dissimilarities of audit expectation gap among
auditor and investor between two countries and finding magnitude of auditor responsibility. The
findings of this study were that there were not much more differences in the responsibility of
auditor of two countries.
Methodology
To conduct this study we have collected data from both the primary and secondary sources. For
primary sources we have prepared a questionnaires consisting of 20 questions. First part contains
personal information of respondents and second part contains some statements where an
expectation gap prevails. For finding out the expectation gap we have assigned the base point
according to the established criteria given in BAS. The highest rank is 5 and the lowest rank is 0
for no opinion. We have surveyed among 100 people consisting of investor, business background
and non-business background, auditor/articles student etc.
For secondary data sources we have go through several journals, research papers, and articles of
different research published in different times. We have also taken help from different websites.
For coming to a decision we have not chosen any special groups but we have conducted this
survey in every class related people.
However in order to conducting the study we have taken the following scale to measure the level
of expectation gap among different relevant parties. The scale is as follows:
Strongly Agree=1, Moderately Agree=2, Agree=3, Disagree=4, Strongly Disagree=5, & No
Opinion=0
The above scale has been taken according to BSA (Bangladesh Auditing Standards).
Data analysis and Findings
For better understanding we will discuss our findings in five segments. In first segment we will
discuss our findings regarding expectation gap of non-commerce student, in second segment we
will discuss our findings regarding commerce student, in third segment we will show our
findings regarding auditor and finally in fourth segment we will show our findings for general
investor and in fifth segment we will show our findings combinedly on all of the people we have
taken as sample and surveyed.
Segment 1: Expectation gap on non-commerce student
For non-commerce student our findings are as follow: Table 1
Statements Base
scorea
Averageb Gapa -b
The Auditor can give Absolute Assurance 5 1.09 3.91
The Auditor checks every single the transection 5 1.04 3.96
The Auditor is responsible for detecting all frauds 5 .67 4.33
The Auditor is appointed by Government 5 1.64 3.36
The Auditor ensures internal control of an
organization.
5 3.33 1.67
The Auditor is responsible for maintaining accounting
records
5 3.09 1.91
The Auditor is responsible for preventing fraud 5 .33 4.57
The Auditor is unbiased and objectives 1 1.67 -.67
The degree of assurance given by the Auditor is
clearly indicated in the audit report
1 1.33 -.33
The Audited Financial statements provide an
assurance regarding the performance of audited firm
5 1.87 3.13
The Auditor is responsible for both Audit failure &
Audit Risk
5 .39 4.61
The auditor is responsible for preparing Financial 5 1.88 3.12
Statements
Conduct of 100 percent examination in audit proceed 5 1.02 3.98
Right procedures followed before authenticating
financial statements
1 2.07 -1.07
Giving assurance that company is in good financial
health
5 1.67 3.33
Reporting all detected frauds and thefts to the relevant
authority
5 1.34 3.66
The auditor will Safeguard the assets of the company 5 1.33 3.67
The above table shows that in every cases the non commerce student have huge expectaion gap.
However expectation gap is more in some cases for example most of the non commerce student
think that the auditor will give absulate or 100% assurances and auditors cheack every single
tranjaction. We see a huge gap in case of the statements auditor is responsible for detecting all
fraud. Even they think that auditors is appointed by government. They make the auditor
responsible to prevent fraud as they have no idea about the audit risk and audit failure so they
think that auditor is responsinble for both audit failure and audit risk. From the above table we
can say that non commerce student have expectation gap but this gap is more or less it will be
decided after evaluating the all of the cases for the different respondendent groups.
Segment 2: Expectation gap on commerce student
Table 2
Statements Base
scorea
Averag
eb
Gapa -
b
The Auditor can give Absolute Assurance 5 2.93 2.07
The Auditor checks every single the transection 5 3.29 1.71
The Auditor is responsible for detecting all frauds 5 1.96 3.04
The Auditor is appointed by Government 5 4.82 .18
The Auditor ensures internal control of an organization. 5 3.71 1.29
The Auditor is responsible for maintaining accounting records
5 3.79 1.21
The Auditor is responsible for preventing fraud 5 2.43 2.57
The Auditor is unbiased and objectives 1 2.36 -.36
The degree of assurance given by the Auditor is clearly indicated in the audit report
1 2.21 2.79
The Audited Financial statements provide an assurance regarding the performance of audited firm
5 2.57 2.43
The Auditor is responsible for both Audit failure & Audit Risk
5 2.5 2.5
The auditor is responsible for preparing Financial Statements
5 3.5 1.5
Conduct of 100 percent examination in audit proceed 5 2.57 2.43
Right procedures followed before authenticating financial statements
1 2.64 -1.64
Giving assurance that company is in good financial health
5 3.21 1.79
Reporting all detected frauds and thefts to the relevant authority
5 2.5 1.5
The auditor will Safeguard the assets of the company 5 3.14 1.86
Here in the above table we see among commerce student expectation gap is prevails but the gap
is much more less than the non commerce bacground student. but the gap is not near to zero or
bellow one this is happened because among commerce student all of the student have not
completed the auditing cource some of them completed one cource on auditing some completed
two cources on auditing. But in the statements the auditor is responsible for preventing fraud the
gap is much more than any other sector of gap.
Segment 3: Expectation gap on investor
Table 3
Statements Base
scorea
Averageb Gapa -
b
The Auditor can give Absolute Assurance 5 1.41 3.59 The Auditor checks every single the transection 5 .63 4.37 The Auditor is responsible for detecting all frauds 5 1.54 3.46
The Auditor is appointed by Government 5 1.28 3.72
The Auditor ensures internal control of an
organization.
5 1.63 3.37
The Auditor is responsible for maintaining accounting
records
5 1.64 3.36
The Auditor is responsible for preventing fraud 5 .86 4.14
The Auditor is unbiased and objectives 1 1.88 -.88
The degree of assurance given by the Auditor is
clearly indicated in the audit report
1 1.55 -.55
The Audited Financial statements provide an
assurance regarding the performance of audited firm
5 .49 4.51
The Auditor is responsible for both Audit failure &
Audit Risk
5 1.78 3.22
The auditor is responsible for preparing Financial
Statements
5 2.04 2.96
Conduct of 100 percent examination in audit proceed 5 .39 4.61
Right procedures followed before authenticating
financial statements
1 1.47 -.47
Giving assurance that company is in good financial
health
5 1.92 3.08
Reporting all detected frauds and thefts to the relevant 5 1.82 3.18
authority
The auditor will Safeguard the assets of the company 5 2.08 3.92
Above table shows the expectation gap among the investor. The result is really a worring matter
for our country. Most of the cases the investor have no knowldge regarding the auditing and
there is huge expectation gap among the general investors. in most of the cases investors think
auditors checks every single tranjaction and the auditor provide an assurance regarding the
performance of the of the audited clients. Investor also think auditors do 100% examination of
the audited organization.
Segment 4: Expectation gap on Articleship student
Table 4
Statements Base
scorea
Averageb Gapa -b
The Auditor can give Absolute Assurance 5 4.54 .46
The Auditor checks every single the transection 5 4.69 .31
The Auditor is responsible for detecting all frauds 5 4.62 .38
The Auditor is appointed by Government 5 4.15 .85
The Auditor ensures internal control of an
organization.
5 4.31 .69
The Auditor is responsible for maintaining accounting
records
5 4.31 .69
The Auditor is responsible for preventing fraud 5 4.38 .62
The Auditor is unbiased and objectives 1 1.23 -.23
The degree of assurance given by the Auditor is
clearly indicated in the audit report
1 1.09 -.09
The Audited Financial statements provide an
assurance regarding the performance of audited firm
5 3.99 1.01
The Auditor is responsible for both Audit failure & Audit Risk
5 4.92 .08
The auditor is responsible for preparing Financial Statements
5 4.96 .04
Conduct of 100 percent examination in audit proceed 5 4.97 .03
Right procedures followed before authenticating financial statements
1 1.85 -.85
Giving assurance that company is in good financial health
5 3.94 1.06
Reporting all detected frauds and thefts to the relevant authority
5 3.77 1.23
The auditor will Safeguard the assets of the company 5 4.64 .36
Above table shows the result of our survey on expectation gap on articles student those who
have joined in different CA firm in our country. The findings of this survey are really surprising
because the articles student have expectation gap in some cases. Though the gap is not profound
it is almost near to 1 or 0. The reason for this might be the student of articles student might be on
the very beginning of their CA course in knowledge level. So they don’t have complete
knowledge of auditing.
Segment 4: Expectation gap on in all related third parties (Among 100
samples)
Table 5
Statements Base
scorea
Averageb Gapa -b
The Auditor can give Absolute Assurance 5 2.49 2.51
The Auditor checks every single the transection 5 2.43 2.57
The Auditor is responsible for detecting all frauds 5 2.2 2.8
The Auditor is appointed by Government 5 2.97 2.03
The Auditor ensures internal control of an organization. 5 3.25 1.75
The Auditor is responsible for maintaining accounting records 5 3.21 1.79
The Auditor is responsible for preventing fraud 5 2 3
The Auditor is unbiased and objectives 1 1.78 -.78
The degree of assurance given by the Auditor is clearly
indicated in the audit report 1 1.54 -.54
The Audited Financial statements provide an assurance
regarding the performance of audited firm
5
2.23
2.77
The Auditor is responsible for both Audit failure & Audit Risk 5 2.4 2.6
The auditor is responsible for preparing Financial Statements 5 3.1 1.9
Conduct of 100 percent examination in audit proceed 5 2.24 2.76
Right procedures followed before authenticating financial
statements
1
2.01
-1.01
Giving assurance that company is in good financial health 5 2.68 2.32
Reporting all detected frauds and thefts to the relevant authority 5 2.36 2.64
The auditor will Safeguard the assets of the company 5 2.8 2.2
From the above table it very clear to us that expectation gap is very acute in our country. After
examining the all above table we see that expectation gap much higher among the non-commerce
student and general investor who don’t have any knowledge of auditing. Overall it was found
that auditing education significantly reduces the expectation gap (table 4). Our findings are
matched with some renowned researcher conducted study on it. For example Pierce &
Kilcommins, 1996, find that the people or student who have completed at least a single course on
auditing have significant reduction in the misunderstanding of audit regulation. We have
conducted our research work to identify the fundamental issues regarding the expectation gap in
auditing in Bangladesh. In this very stage ii can be easily understandable that the expectation gap
is more prone especially the people who have no or minimum idea of auditing and auditing
procedure. At the same time the educated users are less likely to demand the higher levels of
audit assurance (Epstein & Geiger, 1994). But the matters of regret that these two comments
(Pierce & Kilcommins, 1996, and Epstein & Geiger, 1994) are contradictory with the journal of
Al-Amin, Javed & Taslima, 2004. This phenomenon can easily describe as that the situation on
which the journal were written was different than that of now.
Recommendation
Throughout this very study we can come to conclusion regarding the key findings that is what
can we do for narrowing expectation gap. There are some ways out of the expectation gap these
are given bellow:
Expending the Audit Report:
To remove the Expectation gap we can expand the Audit report by the following steps.
By setting out a clear & precise responsibilities of auditors and directors
Clarify the Auditing procedure, like
Audit is based on sampling basis
The procedure has significant influence of judgments & estimates
Give reasonable assurance on financial statements
Identify only material misstatement.
Engagement Letter:
In the engagement we should make a clear indication regarding the role and responsibilities of
auditors, directors and the respective firm.
Audit Committees:
We can reduce the expectation gap of the respective users by establishing Audit committee in the
company structure. In the audit committee there will be two audit teams one is for internal
auditing another is for external auditing. This overall procedure shall be clear to the users by
giving proper disclosures regarding the separate duties and responsibilities of both two types of
auditors.
Conclution
This Study provides evidence about the nature of an audit expectation gap between
auditors and users in Bangladesh. The Study shows that the audit expectation gap
exists among almost all of the related parties including the person who have
auditing knowledge. However increased litigation and criticism of auditors has
express those auditors are facing a liability and credibility crisis (Russell 1986).
But the blame should not be placed entirely on the auditors as the nature and
objectives of auditing are thought differently between the public and auditors.
These differences in perceptions have created the audit expectation gap. This
differences or gap shall be addressed as soon as possible otherwise it might have
long term impact in our overall macro-economic variables. One of the key findings
of this study is that the people having no auditing knowledge have more
expectation gap than those of others who have auditing knowledge. The study also
reveals that educating the public about the objects of an audit, auditors’ role and
responsibilities will help to narrow the audit expectation gap. At last we can say
that audit expectation gap is the result of deficiencies in audit, auditor
independence, audit process, regulatory mechanism and society at large.
References
Chowdhury,R.R. and Innes, J.(1998),” A Qualitative Analysis of the Audit Expectations Gap
in the Public Sector of Bangladesh,” International Journal of Auditing, pp-247-266
Liggio, C.D. (1974), "The expectation gap: the accountant's waterloo", Journal of Contemporary
Business, Vol. 3 No.3, pp.27-44.
Nasreen Taslima (2006), “Audit Expectation Gap in Bangladesh: The Role of Auditing
Education in Narrowing the Gap”, DU Journal of marketing, Vol. No. 9, June, 2006.
Pierce, B., Kilcommins, M. (1996), "The audit expectations gap: the role of auditing education",
Dublin City University Business School Research Papers 1995-1996, No. 13,
Siddiqui, Amin and Nasreen(2004) The Presence of a reasonableness gap ? Student perceptions
regarding Audit & the role Audit Education in Bangladesh
Leif Højskov (1998) , The expectation gap between users' and auditors' materiality judgments in
Denmark
Salehi, Mansoury, Azary (2009) Audit Independence and Expectation Gap: Empirical Evidences
from Iran
Mahadevaswamy, Salehi(2008) Gap in Auditor Responsibilities: Comparison between India and
Iran Audit Expectation
M.Salehi a, V.Rostami(2009) AUDIT EXPECTATION GAP: INTERNATIONAL EVIDENCES
Bailey, K.E, J.H and Shield 1983, Effect of audit report wording changes on the perceieved
messages. Journal of auditing research, 355-70.