Conclusions
This study surveyed views of Jordanian auditors over the relative importance of 20 fraud risk
factors as indicators of the possibility of financial statement fraud, and the modifications to audit
programmes necessary in the presence of each of these factors. In doing so, views were surveyed
from Jordanian auditors with experience in risk analysis and audit programme design who work for
the 12 largest audit firms in Jordan, 10 of whom have affiliations with international audit firms.
Results showed that almost all fraud risk factors selected were only slightly important or
even unimportant as indicators of possible fraud, with the most important related to the
management style, such as previous fraud allegations and/or violations of laws, and intentional
audit scope restrictions. The least important risk factors were the difficulties and problems in the
client’s financial performance. The perceived importance of the suggested modifications of audit
programmes was largely related to the perceived importance of the risk factor itself. In summary, it
can be argued that audit firms in Jordan meet the requirements of ISA no. 240 in considering fraud
risk factors and responding to their existence to only a limited degree. These findings are relatively
similar to the findings of other studies conducted in Jordan about the consideration of other risks in
auditing (e.g. Abdullatif & Al-Khadash 2010, on consideration of business risks; Thnaibat &
Shunnaq 2006, on assessment of the internal audit function by external auditors).
Factors such as ownership of most shares by senior executive management members, weak
internal control and accounting systems, weak monitoring by those charged with governance, and
the existence of significant abnormal transactions or transactions with related parties were all seen
as having relatively low importance. This might be interpreted as a result of these issues being
common in the Jordanian business environment. These findings must be given more consideration,
given that such factors may create a pressure and an incentive for managers to commit fraud.
Factor analysis showed that the fraud risk factors used in the study can be classified into
four distinct groups, with the most significant group being the effects of poor management and
governance of the client.