business activity (Neu & Green, 2006).
The international professional standard (IFAC,
2010: §290.6), with implicit reference to the
individual, states that independence requires the
following:
(a) Independence of Mind – the state of mind that
permits the expression of a conclusion
without being affected by influences that
compromise professional judgment, thereby
allowing an individual to act with integrity
and exercise objectivity and professional
skepticism.
(b) Independence in Appearance – the avoidance
of facts and circumstances that are so
significant that a reasonable and informed
third party would be likely to conclude,
weighing all the specific facts and
circumstances, that a firm’s, or a member
of the audit team’s, integrity, objectivity
or professional skepticism has been
compromised.