Determining factors in modified audit reports: evidence from Portuguese municipalities

Abstract

Factors influencing audit reports have been widely studied in the private sector, but few studies have sought to assess the reasons for modified reports or qualified opinions in the public sector. The objective of our work is to analyse the determining factors that influence municipalities’ audit reports. For this, we analysed three dimensions: factors related to the characteristics of the municipality, factors related to the characteristics of the auditor, and political factors. Our conclusions demonstrate that financial aspects, excluding debt, do not significantly influence an auditor's opinion. However, the size of the audit firm and emphasis of matter in the audit report do affect the likelihood of a qualified opinion. Nevertheless, there is no relationship between differing political affiliations of the executive and deliberative bodies and the type of audit report or audit opinion. We found no relationship between a modified report and the studied variables.

Keywords

• Audit
• Municipalities
• Audit Report
• Political Factors