This thesis examines the establishment of Auditors as third party assurers of sustainability reports in Sweden. This is done through a qualitative case study that examines the subject from both a preparer?s and an assurer?s perspective. Empirical data was analyzed using a combination of agency- and legitimacy theory. The study reaches the conclusion that sustainability reporting companies in the study demand a verification service for reported sustainability data in order to increase creditability, meet increased stakeholder demand and increased accounting complexity.

Auditing demands knowledge in many diverse areas. To be able to provide all this knowledge it is necessary for the auditor to have access to persons with special skills. Through these contacts the auditor builds up a business network that brings support in the daily work. Our purpose with this study is to find out how auditor?s network in big auditing firms is organized and to show how they use their network.

Objectivity is often emphasized as one of the fundamental principles for the auditing profession and is also a requirement for preserving satisfactory professional practice. The multiple company scandals in the first decade of the 21st century have created distrust for Auditors? capability to maintain objectivity. The purpose of this study is to contribute with a new way of thinking when it comes to the factors that affect objectivity. Earlier studies have indicated that personality factors may affect work performance in many different fields and this study is exploring the connection between separate personality factors, and the capability of less experienced Auditors to maintain objectivity in the relationship with dominating and demanding clients.Data was collected through a survey that was divided into two separate parts where the first part measured the participant?s score on different personality factors, and the other part measured the participant?s score on perceived objectivity.

The aim of this paper is to examine the capacity for ethical reasoning of Swedish certi-fied Auditors in the five largest accounting firms in Stockholm, and also how ethics courses affect the Auditors' ability to ethically statement. To calculate the Auditors ability to ethical statement, questionnaire has been used. The questionnaire is based on a psychological instrument, the so-called Defining Issues Test. At the beginning of the questionnaire some questions are asked about the ethics courses. From the questionnaire a calculation was made of an average index called p-score (Principled score).

Aim: The analysis model was introduced after several audit-scandals in order to enhance the confidence in the Auditors? independence. Our purpose with this essay is to find out if the Auditors experience that the stakeholders? confidence in their review of the financial information has increased as a result of the analysis model. We also strive to describe the function of the analysis model in order to give the reader a deeper understanding in this subject.Method: The scientific approch we have used in this essay is a qualitative survey method, in order to find out the Auditors opinion and attitude regarding the analysis model and whether the stakeholders? confidence in the financial information has increased as a result of its introduction.

In the beginning of the 21th century several successful companies filed for bankruptcy. These bankruptcies have been known as large accounting scandals and the largest scandals did Enron and Worldcom stand for. These bankruptcies arose without any warning signal from the Auditors about the companies? financial problems and their inability to continue as a going concern. The bankruptcies damaged the reputation of Auditors and broad criticism has developed at the Auditors? inability to discover companies? financial problems and their unwillingness to reveal a going concern opinion in the audit report.

The aim of this paper is to examine the capacity for ethical reasoning of Swedish certi-fied Auditors in the five largest accounting firms in Stockholm, and also how ethics courses affect the Auditors' ability to ethically statement. To calculate the Auditors ability to ethical statement, questionnaire has been used. The questionnaire is based on a psychological instrument, the so-called Defining Issues Test. At the beginning of the questionnaire some questions are asked about the ethics courses. From the questionnaire a calculation was made of an average index called p-score (Principled score).

In today?s larger companies internal auditing is a common concept. For about twenty years ago companies? use of internal auditing took a turn from having been something popular to becoming more notorious. In this thesis we examine what might have caused that turn, We do this by looking at the vision and way of working for about twenty years ago and how the view of the area is today.

AbstractTitle: Accounting and money laundering, a study on how Auditors apply the law on money launderingDate:  May 29th 2013University: Mälardalens UniversityInstitution: School of economy, society and technologyLevel: Bachelor thesis in business economy, 15 creditsAuthors: Pavle Adasevic 910731 Oskar Hallberg 900508Advisor: Kent TrosanderKeywords: Money laundering, Law of money laundering, Auditor, ABLThe main issue:In 2009 a new law on money laundering was introduced. The new law aims to strengthen the monitoring and reporting of money laundering. In 2011 11,464 reported suspicions of money laundering, only four of them where from audits, how come there so few reports from the Auditors?Purpose: The Purpose of the study is to show how audits apply the new money laundering law in their work.Method: The study was based upon qualitative method. Secondary data was taken from literature, articles and reports.

In our study the purpose was to examine the influence of Continuing Professional Education on small and medium sized auditing- and accounting practices. The study also aims to analyze possible similarities and differences in how small and medium sized auditing and accounting practices are affected of the requirements regarding Continuing Professional Education. In order to fulfill our purpose in the study we conducted interviews with Auditors and accounting consultants on small and medium sized auditing- and accounting practices. Totally did we conduct seven interviews with four Auditors and three accounting consultants. The majority of Auditors and accounting consultants we interviewed are satisfied with the current requirements on Continuing Professional Education and think they contribute to the increase of quality and status of the work tasks performed by Auditors and accounting consultants.

Background: Small- and medium- sized businesses have during a long time had difficulties in raising long-term funding from external financiers, a reason for this is that these companies may have more information about their own business than the bank has. One way to reduce this problem is to hire a certified public auditor or a certified accounting consultant. Much has changed in recent years in the accounting profession. Mandatory audit has been abolished for small- and medium-sized businesses, which has led to major changes. Auditors are now not mandatory for these companies, which opens up the market for accounting consultant´s.

AbstractIntroduction: It has during the latest years occurred several large business scandals both abroad and in Sweden where Auditors have been involved. The need for stabile conditions and well functioning professional codes of ethics for companies, especially auditing firms have been growing during the latest years. FAR has seen it as their task to define the meaning of the Swedish term ?god revisorssed?. This is specified through FAR?s nine professional codes of ethics, which came out in a new edition in 2003.

In 2010 mandatory audit was revoked for small and medium sized companies in Sweden. At the same time the authorization for accounting consultants was established with the aim of raising the knowledge and status of the profession. Even though The Swedish Companies Registration Office has discovered more errors in the accounting after the mandatory audit was eliminated, it especially concerns those companies who does not have neither an auditor or an accounting consultant. One of the reasons often mentioned to be audited is the Auditors role when it comes to lending decisions. Our empirical studie show that the Auditors most important function, being unbiased, is not what is of greatest importance for the credit institutions.Instead it was professional skills, and for small and medium enterprises (SME) it was consulting they requested the most.

As the media attention society on the world climate change, interest in the environment and social impact has increased. This has in turn made even more companies choose to maintain a sustainability report that contains the three aspects of economic, environment and social impact. The demand for sustainability reports has increased among stakeholders. It has made the companies that establish this form of reports experienced economic benefits. The sustainability report than became a useful way to compete among businesses.

The modern auditor is, because of an increased complexity, dependent on the use of experts. Simultaneously different scandals have occurred where the auditor in fact have been using experts. Although the auditor is using an expert, the auditor alone is responsible for the statement that the expert makes. Research simultaneously indicates that the auditor?s use of experts is a difficult task.