The Importance Of Inherent Risk Factors: Auditors‘ Perceptions

Abstract

This research project investigated auditors' perceptions of the importance of inherent risk factors in assessing inherent risk for accounts receivable and inventory. Sixty‐eight auditors completed a questionnaire listing 42 inherent risk factors and six control risk factors. The auditors were required to: identify whether each factor was an inherent risk factor; indicate whether the factor affected their assessment of inherent risk at the financial statement or account balance (class of transactions) level; indicate whether the factor was associated with high or low inherent risk; and assess how important the inherent risk factor was in their assessment of inherent risk. In general, the auditors perceived variables pertaining to the characteristics of management and the history of errors to be the major determinants of inherent risk.