GOING CONCERN AUDIT REPORTING IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Abstract

Purpose: This paper deals with going concern audit reporting in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The research objectives are to determine whether, in conditions of increased economic uncertainty, auditors issue this type of audit report more frequently, whether the bankruptcy of a company can be predicted based on a going concern audit report, and whether companies that receive this type of audit report engage in audit opinion shopping.
Methodology: The research was conducted on a sample of audit reports of 187 companies referring to the period from 2017 to 2021. Content analysis method was used.
Results: The average rate of going concern audit reports was 19.2%. Observed by year, the rate of going concern audit reports ranges from 18.1% to 19.9%. All companies that received a going concern audit report in the considered period one or more times are still operating. In 17.5% of cases, companies replaced the auditor after receiving a going concern audit opinion, while in 16.4% of cases, companies replaced the auditor even though they did not receive a going concern audit opinion.
Conclusion: The increase in economic uncertainty during the coronavirus pandemic led to only a slight increase in the rate of going concern audit reports. This type of audit report cannot serve as a predictor of the company’s bankruptcy. Companies that receive a going concern audit report do not engage in audit opinion shopping in order to avoid receiving the same type of audit report in the following year.