<b>The perception of the auditors regarding the use of red flags in the major audit firms in Brazil</b>doi: 10.4025/enfoque.v27i2.6172

Abstract

The organizational environment is increasingly susceptible to fraud and financial scandals. One way of promotinggreater transparency and confidence in financial statements is the use of red flags. Thus, this studyaims to investigate the perception of professionals from the largest audit firms affiliated with IBRACON on theuse of red flags as identifiers of the degree of risk for fraud in financial statements. To achieve the proposedobjective, a multiple-case study was conducted from a descriptive perspective, employing a qualitative-quantitativeapproach to the problem. The data were obtained through questionnaires, which attempted to classifythe degrees of risk as "maximum", "high", "moderate" "low" and "no risk", using 45 red flags, defined aswarning signals that assist in mapping a fraudulent environment. As a result, the following were obtained:"moderate" degree of risk represents one fifth of the warning signs reviewed, while "low" degree of risk is lessthan 1.0%, the "no risk" degree of risk was not identified, "high" degree risk represented 58.0% of analyzedwarning signs, followed by the "maximum" degree of risk with 18.0%. It was also discovered that even with theimplementation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the risk of fraud is still worrying in the view of respondents, raisingeyebrows due to the high costs for companies and stock market. Accordingly, there is the importance of mapping the fraudulent environment by means of red flags with the objective of managing and combating therisk of fraud.