What types of auditor's report are there?
Unmodified, qualified and adverse opinions, and a disclaimer of opinion: what each of them means.
The auditor's report is the "grade" of an audit. It shows how far the company's statements can be trusted. In international practice there are four types of opinion.
What are the four types?
| Opinion type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Unmodified (clean) | The statements are fairly presented in all material respects. The best result. |
| Qualified | Generally fair, but there are one or more material issues that are not pervasive |
| Adverse | The misstatements are so large and pervasive that the statements are not reliable |
| Disclaimer of opinion | The auditor could not obtain sufficient evidence and therefore cannot express an opinion |
What is the difference between a qualified and an adverse opinion?
The difference lies in the scope of the problem. An error in a single account, for example an overstated value of inventories, may lead to a qualified opinion. If the error affects a large part of the statements, the opinion is adverse.
What does this mean for the company?
- A bank looks at the auditor's report when granting a loan
- Investors and partners assess trustworthiness through this report
- By fixing the causes of a qualified or adverse opinion, the company can obtain an unmodified opinion next year
Test yourself
5 questions on this topic: pick an option or reveal the answer.
Under ISA 701, in which audit is the "Key audit matters" section mandatorily included in the auditor's report?
Under Article 9 of the Law "On Auditing Activity" (ZRU-677), where must the International Standards on Auditing applied as auditing standards be published?
In the audit of "Kamalak tekstil", the auditor's report is planned to be signed on 20 March. Under ISA 580, what date should management's written representations (representation letter) bear?
The auditor's report was signed on 1 March 2027. According to the application material of ISA 230 (audit documentation), what is usually an appropriate time limit for completing the assembly of the final audit file?
The auditor was unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence, and the possible effects could be both material and pervasive. Under ISA 705, what does the auditor do?
Answered: 0 / 50 of 5 correct
All tests →See also
Sources
- International Standards on Auditing: ISA 700 and ISA 705 · general classification of opinion types