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A Proposal to Replace ‘True and Fair View’ With ‘Acceptable Risk of Material Misstatement’

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  • Wally Smieliauskas
  • Russell Craig
  • Joel Amernic

Abstract

This article examines argumentation factors which affect the truth of an audit opinion. We propose that the auditor's report be revised to replace the words ‘true and fair view’ with ‘acceptable risk of material misstatement’. This would better align the communication of auditors with the characteristics of accounting information upon which they report. Adoption of the wording ‘acceptable risk of material misstatement’ will facilitate a better appreciation by users of financial statements of the accounting estimates in financial statements.

Suggested Citation

  • Wally Smieliauskas & Russell Craig & Joel Amernic, 2008. "A Proposal to Replace ‘True and Fair View’ With ‘Acceptable Risk of Material Misstatement’," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 44(3), pages 225-250, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:abacus:v:44:y:2008:i:3:p:225-250
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6281.2008.00261.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Houghton, Keith A., 1987. "True and fair view: An empirical study of connotative meaning," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 12(2), pages 143-152, March.
    2. David Alexander & Eva Jermakowicz, 2006. "A true and fair view of the principles/rules debate," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 42(2), pages 132-164, June.
    3. Philip M. Linsley & Michael J. Lawrence, 2007. "Risk reporting by the largest UK companies: readability and lack of obfuscation," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 20(4), pages 620-627, July.
    4. Rich, J. S. & Solomon, I. & Trotman, K. T., 1997. "The audit review process: A characterization from the persuasion perspective," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 22(5), pages 481-505, July.
    5. Hines, Ruth D., 1988. "Financial accounting: In communicating reality, we construct reality," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 13(3), pages 251-261, April.
    6. Frank L. Clarke, 2006. "Introduction: true and fair—anachronism or quality criterion par excellence?," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 42(2), pages 129-131, June.
    7. Norreklit, Hanne, 2003. "The Balanced Scorecard: what is the score? A rhetorical analysis of the Balanced Scorecard," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 28(6), pages 591-619, August.
    8. Paul Rosenfield, 2008. "Prospects: A Missing Piece of Current Selling Price Reporting," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 44(1), pages 48-60, March.
    9. Reiter, Sara Ann & Williams, Paul F., 2004. "The Philosophy and Rhetoric of Auditor Independence Concepts," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(3), pages 355-376, July.
    10. Benston, George J., 2006. "Fair-value accounting: A cautionary tale from Enron," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 465-484.
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    Cited by:

    1. Pranil Prasad & Parmod Chand, 2017. "The Changing Face of the Auditor's Report: Implications for Suppliers and Users of Financial Statements," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 27(4), pages 348-367, December.
    2. Lionel Escaffre & Aymen Abbadi, 2016. "Le Rapport D'Audit Comme Un Signal Potentiel À La Disposition Des Pme Françaises : Proposition D'Un Design De Recherche," Post-Print hal-01900824, HAL.
    3. Wally Smieliauskas & Russell Craig & Joel Amernic, 2010. "Auditing, Reasoning Systems, Reporting Frameworks, and Accounting Policy Risk: A Response to Alexander," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 46(4), pages 455-463, December.

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