Auditors report Marianne Grove Ditlevsen Aarhus School of Business Tartu 2000

Auditors' report2 At their annual general meeting, all companies have to appoint auditors who are responsible for reporting to the shareholders on whether the accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act and the appropriate accounting standards, and whether the accounts give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company (and of the group, if relevant) and of the profit. (Laidler & Donaghy 1998: 35)

Tartu 2000 Auditors' report3 Format and content of audit reports An identification of the reports addressee(s) An identification of the financial statements audited Separate sections dealing with: Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors The basis of the auditors opinion The auditors opinion on the financial statements The signatures of the auditors The date of the audit report (Pendlebury & Groves 1999: 96)

Tartu 2000 Auditors' report4 Assignment Where do you find the basic elements in the auditors reports? How are they expressed linguistically? Please contrast your findings for each report!

Tartu 2000 Auditors' report5 Die Buchführung und der Jahresabschluß entsprechen / Der Konzernabschluß entspricht nach meiner / unserer pflicht- gemäßen Prüfung den gesetzlichen Vorschriften. Der Jahres- abschluß / Konzernabschluß vermittelt unter Beachtung der Grundsätze ordnungsmäßiger Buchführung ein den tatsäch- lichen Verhältnissen entsprechendes Bild der Vermögens-, Finanz- und Ertragslage der Kapitalgesellschaft / des Kon- zerns. Der Lagebericht / Konzernlagebericht steht im Ein- klang mit dem Jahresabschluß / Konzernabschluß. (From: HGB 322(1))

Tartu 2000 Auditors' report6 Small group discussion Which translation strategy would be appropriate? Please take into consideration the pros and cons of the discussed strategies!

Tartu 2000 Auditors' report7 At first glance the auditors report, in view of its importance, the amount of work involved and the size of the fees incurred, is extremely brief. However, this is because the report itself follow a set formula which does not describe in detail the work involved in reaching the opinion expressed. (Laidler & Donaghy 1998: 35-36)

Tartu 2000 Auditors' report8 Opinion Unqualified opinion Qualified opinion – disagreement Qualified opinion – adverse opinion Qualified opinion – except for limitation of scope Disclaimer of opinion (Pendlebury & Groves 1999: 97)