Determinants and quality of audits and reviews of small charities financial statements

Abstract

Using a random sample of 500 Australian small charities, we first identified the determinants for the 56 charities disclosing audit/review reports (53 audits and three reviews) from the 110 voluntarily lodging annual reports. Sequential logistic regression showed that lodging charities are larger, rely more on government grants and use accrual accounting, while factors explaining the disclosure of audit/review reports are charities' deductible gift recipient status, organizational age, and again the use of accrual accounting. Second, for the 53 audit engagements identified, we examined audit quality using five measures and identified significant concerns, including only 34% fully complying with the reporting requirements of Australian/International Auditing Standard 700. Third, tracing the 500 charities from 2014 to 2018, plus 100 more of the largest public-interest small charities, little change was identified in provision of audits versus reviews. The implications of our findings for charities, audit firms, regulators and standard-setters were considered.