Auditor independence: an international perspective

Examines the role of professional associations and governments in developing and promulgating standards to foster auditor independence. Presents a survey of countries which showed that many had taken steps to enhance auditor independence. Governments of several countries had implemented professional audit standards sanctioned by their professional accounting associations dealing with auditor independence. In many countries independent auditors may be censured and even expelled from their respective professional associations for violations of their codes of ethics. The survey also showed that cultural differences limit the effectiveness of international reliance on auditor independence.