While this definition motivates
a large body of research, it portrays auditing as a binary process, with the auditor’s role reduced to the simple detection and
reporting of “black and white” GAAP violations. While there is no doubt that auditors are charged with assuring that the
financial statements are free of material misstatements, we believe that this characterization understates the benefits of high
audit quality, which extend well beyond the simple detection and reporting of GAAP violations to assuring financial reporting
quality. In particular, we expect high quality auditors to consider not only whether the client’s accounting choices are in
technical compliance with GAAP, but also how faithfully the financial statements reflect the firm’s underlying economics