The Impact of Audited Financial Statements on Credit Risk Assessment in the Banking System of Kosovo (Period 2014–2018)

The main goal of the present research is to address the role and importance of audited financial statements in increasing the efficiency of credit risk management in the banking system of Kosovo. In addition, the research will help users understand the financial statement assurance process and the audit process work for a proper assessment of credit risk by banks. The research is treated in sections as below: the first section includes a review of literature (theoretical and empirical review) related to theoretical concepts regarding the importance and development of financial statement audit at financial institutions, in region and beyond. The second section includes a general overview of the relationship between audit of financial statements of clients that establish financial relations with banks and credit risk management. The third section presents the results of the survey and the confirmation of the formulated hypotheses. The last part of the paper presents conclusions and recommendations that have arisen from our study. The main method during our research has been the use of qualitative/quantitative analysis, which has been carried out during various techniques, among which the main ones are the survey interviews & internal observation of processes based on our own professional experience in the banking channels. The paper aspires to provide a better understanding of challenges in assuring qualitative accounting information for decision-making, as well as presents the basis for further study of this issue in the future. The results of the study aim at adding the value to regulatory bodies’ documents such as politics/strategies/instructions and also setting new rules in regard to credit risk management.