Risk assessment—Auditors use their knowledge of
the business, the industry and the environment in
which the company operates to identify and assess
the risks that could lead to a material misstatement in
the financial statements. Those risks often involve a
high degree of judgement and require a significant
level of knowledge and experience by the auditor,
particularly on large and complex engagements. This
requires a good understanding of the business and its
risks, which is typically built up over a number of
years as part of the audit firm’s and auditor's
knowledge. It also means that the auditors need to be
well informed about the industry and wider
environment in which the company operates, and
about what its competitors, customers, suppliers
and—where relevant—regulators are doing.