Title: Fraud and going-concern assessments during COVID-19: perception of Fijian auditors

Authors: Jyotika Devi; Sereana Guiwasa; Shiva Shivani; Salesh Kumar Nand; Avinesh Singh; Pravika Devi; Mala Devi; Dipeeka Lata; Mohammed Riaz Azam

Addresses: Department of Accounting and Finance, The University of Fiji, Saweni, Lautoka, Fiji ' Department of Accounting and Finance, The University of Fiji, Saweni, Lautoka, Fiji ' Department of Accounting and Finance, The University of Fiji, Saweni, Lautoka, Fiji ' Department of Accounting and Finance, The University of Fiji, Saweni, Lautoka, Fiji ' Department of Accounting and Finance, The University of Fiji, Saweni, Lautoka, Fiji ' Department of Accounting and Finance, The University of Fiji, Saweni, Lautoka, Fiji ' Department of Accounting and Finance, The University of Fiji, Saweni, Lautoka, Fiji ' Department of Accounting and Finance, The University of Fiji, Saweni, Lautoka, Fiji ' Department of Accounting and Finance, The University of Fiji, Saweni, Lautoka, Fiji

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to describe in a qualitative way, how Fijian auditors perceive the effects of COVID-19 on fraud and going-concern assessments during audit engagements. The data was analysed based on the responses of 12 professional auditors in Fiji. The findings reveal that auditing during COVID-19 involved a high level of data manipulation and financial hardship by many audit clients. Additionally, the findings suggest that auditors tend to apply a high degree of professional scepticism and judgement due to the uncertainty created by the pandemic. They also evaluate comprehensively the ability of the audit clients to operate indefinitely for the next 12 months before issuing an audit opinion. This study provides a preliminary impression of Fijian auditors' perception of the effect of COVID-19 on fraud and going-concern assessments.

Keywords: COVID-19; fraud; going-concern; uncertainty; auditors; audit opinion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCA.2023.131252

International Journal of Critical Accounting, 2023 Vol.13 No.2, pp.151 - 164

Received: 02 Mar 2022
Accepted: 25 Feb 2023
Published online: 01 Jun 2023 *

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