External Audit During COVID-19 Pandemic, Audit Firms Experience in Medellín (Colombia)

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/empresa/a.14200

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Published: Aug 8, 2024
Issue: Vol. 26 No. 47 (2024)
Section Scientific and technological research article


Keywords: External audit audit practices COVID-19 pandemic; remote audit

Main Article Content

Authors

  Jonathan David Armijo-Perea
Universidad EAFIT
  Diego Armando Jurado-Zambrano
Escuela Superior de Administración Pública-Territorial Antioquia

Abstract

External audit has consolidated as a control tool for organizational decision-making, especially in critical moments
such as the global expansion of COVID-19 that forced this service to adopt new practices. Objective: This research identified the changes in external audit practices due to pandemic restrictions in audit firms in Medellín and their implications for the quality of external audit services from the auditors’ point of view. Methodology: A qualitative approach of descriptive scope was used in which a semi-structured interview protocol was applied to a group of senior auditors, partners or leaders who coordinated external audits in their firms to organizations located in Medellin, Colombia. Key findings: It was found that remote, technology-mediated audits, data analytics, continuous risk assessment, and changing materiality stand out as the most important changes during this critical period. Conclusions: There were also changes in the auditors’ workload and fees; for the future, complete changes are envisioned in how external audits are conducted even in the absence of restrictions such as pandemics.

How to Cite
Armijo-Perea, J. D., & Jurado-Zambrano, D. A. (2024). External Audit During COVID-19 Pandemic, Audit Firms Experience in Medellín (Colombia). Revista Universidad Y Empresa, 26(47), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/empresa/a.14200
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