International standards on auditing : an institutional driver for audit quality : empirical research within the financial sector on indices of compliance using auditor reporing characteristics

This book reflects the scientific work which is based on Dries' passion for the ISAs. It provides answers to questions, including :

• Are ISAs optimal auditing standards from a theoretical audit quality perspective ?
• What is the advantage of principles-based over rules-based standards, and in what respect may such standards contribute to audit quality ?
• In what way is the potential impact of auditing standards on audit quality contingent on the applicable institutional context ?
• In what way is the legitimacy of auditing standard-setters under pressure ?
• What may be the influence on standard-setting and regulation in general of a desire amongst policymakers for zero-tolerance in terms of residual risk ?
• How does a researcher define and measure audit quality from a scientific perspective ?
• In what respect is « compliance » different from « quality » ?

Next to scientific arguments, this book is a unique attempt to providing empirical results related to audit reports issued in practice from 2004 to 2009 :

• Which parties contribute towards compliance with ISA reporting standards : de-jure auditing standard-setters (IAASB, national auditing standards) or de-facto auditing standard-setters (Big-N auditing networks) ?
• Are audit reports standardised from an individual criterion point of view ?
• Is the text of audit reports harmonised at the international level, as we would expect from an ISA perspective ?

This book is highly recommended for policymakers, standard-setters and academics around the globe who are interested in auditing standard-setting.