Auditor’s Competences: an empirical study on the perception of auditees of companies registered on the CVM

Abstract

This study aimed examining the perception of auditee in relation to the competences of the independent auditors listed in the literature. To achieve this objective, the first step was developing a structure with forty competencies of the auditor, grouped into: intellectual skills, personal skills, interpersonal and communication skills, organizational and business management skills. A questionnaire was constructed based on the competences contained on the elaborate structure and sent to employees of publicly traded companies registered on the Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM). The results revealed that the perception of auditee in relation to the auditor's competences, considering the average was above 3 (scale 1-5), ranging from 3.03 for “lateral thinking” and 3.98 “loyalty” and “ethical behavior”. Moreover, the perception of the auditee who had contact with auditors of higher levels (Partner and Manager) was higher and statistically significant, considering the mean, than perception of those who had contact with auditors at lower levels (Trainee/Assistant, Semi-Senior and Senior/Supervisor). Finally, for the most of competences investigated were not significant differences of perception between auditees who had contact with Big Four auditors only, and those who had contact with non-Big Four auditors.