The enduring importance of professional skepticism

摘要

When you think of the audit of the future, what words come to mind? Big data, artificial intelligence, virtual workforce, blockchain, professional skepticism? If professional skepticism didn't make your short list, it should. Professional skepticism is a foundation of the auditing profession that we need to maintain and evolve to support the audit of the future. Professional skepticism has always been used to validate information through probing questions, critical assessment of evidence, and attention to red flags and inconsistencies. The auditor's use of professional skepticism will need to evolve with the use of technological advancements by the profession and by clients. Skepticism will need to be applied to all stages of the audit process, and the auditor will need to be trained to find risks and potential errors that technology-based tools have missed.