Definition of auditing by different authors

John Danz, “Auditing: An Accounting Review” (1985) - Defines auditing as a systematic and independent examination of books, accounts, statutory records, documents, and vouchers of an organization to ascertain how far the financial statements, as well as non-financial disclosures, present a true and fair view of the concern.

Alvin A. Arens, Randal J. Elder, Mark S. Beasley, “Auditing and Assurance Services: An Integrated Approach” (2021) - Defines auditing as a systematic process of objectively obtaining and evaluating evidence regarding assertions about economic actions and events to ascertain the degree of correspondence between those assertions and established criteria and communicating the results to interested users.

K. H. Spencer Pickett, “Auditing: Principles and Techniques” (1978) - Defines auditing as the accumulation and evaluation of evidence about information.

ISA 315 (Revised), "Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement through Understanding the Entity and Its Environment" (2019) - Defines auditing as a systematic process of objectively obtaining and evaluating evidence to determine the extent to which the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by error or fraud, thereby enabling the auditor to express an opinion on the financial statements.

Ghosh & Ghosh (2011). Auditing Principles and Techniques. Tata McGraw-Hill Education. "Auditing is an evaluation of an organization's financial and non-financial records and information to determine the accuracy and reliability of the information, and to provide an opinion on whether the information is presented fairly in accordance with established criteria."

Definition of auditing by different authors

Knechel & Salterio (2016). Auditing: A Risk-Based Approach to Conducting a Quality Audit. Cengage Learning. "Auditing is the systematic process of objectively obtaining and evaluating evidence to determine the extent to which the financial statements are presented fairly in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles."

ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) (2013). Auditing and Assurance. "Auditing is an independent examination of financial information of any entity, whether profit-oriented or not, and irrespective of its size or legal form when such an examination is conducted with a view to expressing an opinion thereon."

"Auditing is the independent examination of financial information of any entity, whether profit oriented or not, irrespective of its size or complexity, with a view to express an opinion thereon." -Alvin A. Arens and Randal J. Elder (2017) Auditing: A Risk-Based Approach to Conducting a Quality Audit. ISBN: 978-1-305-96411-8.

References:

• Danz, J. (1985). Auditing: An Accounting Review. Prentice-Hall, Inc.
• Arens, A. A., Elder, R. J., & Beasley, M. S. (2021). Auditing and Assurance Services: An Integrated Approach (18th ed.). Pearson.
• Pickett, K. H. (1978). Auditing: Principles and Techniques. John Wiley & Sons.
• International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) (2019). ISA 315 (Revised), "Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement through Understanding the Entity and Its Environment".

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