Abstract

MARTINEZ GARCIA, Francisco Javier; FERNANDEZ LAVIADA, Ana  and  MONTOYA DEL CORTE, Javier. Materiality in Auditing as a Barrier to Financial Reporting Comparability: a Review of the Literature. Contad. Adm [online]. 2007, n.222, pp.21-40. ISSN 0186-1042.

The harmonization of the corporate financial reporting is driven by initiatives such as International Accounting and Financial Reporting Standards (IAS/IFRS) and International Standards on Auditing (ISA). However, the implementation of the harmonization process is hampered by a lack of definitional clarity arising, for example, from the application of the materiality concept in accounting and auditing. The aim of this paper is to show by reviewing the relevant empirical literature that the lack of mandatory guidelines with regard to materiality allows the existence of an ambiguity among auditors and other groups (i.e. producers and users of financial reports). This militates against a full comparability of the financial information disclosed by companies.

Keywords : Materiality; Harmonization; Comparability; Judgments.

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