Key audit matters in audit reports of selected public interest entities

Abstract

The main purpose of the article is to categorize key audit matters (KAM) of a financial statement and to determine the frequency of their occurrence. The research method is based on analyzing annual consolidated financial statements (annual reports) and the reports of the independent auditor, which were published in the last 12-month period available as at the day of examination (the periods mainly ended December 31, 2017, and March 31, 2018). Deductive and inductive reasoning, using analysis and synthesis methods, were used to formulate the results. The research was performed for 156 companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The analysis covered all companies from the following ten sector indices (WIG): construction, IT, real estate, food, utilities, oil & gas, mining, energy, automotive and chemicals. Targeting the scope of the research to all entities listed within the ten sector indices (WIG), and conducting the analysis based on the latest market data, demonstrates the originality and usefulness of the article.