EXTERNAL AUDIT Definition

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EXTERNAL AUDIT is an audit conducted by an individual or firm that is independent of the company being audited. These independent auditors audit the books of a company generally once per year (see INTERIM AUDIT) after the completion of the companys fiscal year. Their role is to give an opinion of the financials statements reflection of the status and operations of the company being audited. Based on what they witness during the audit they will also produce, for management and board utilization, a management letter. Although a financial statement audit is the most common type of external audit, external auditors may also conduct special purpose audits which might include; performing specific tests and procedures and reporting on the results, a less intensive review, and compilations.

Learn new Accounting Terms

VOLUME is the amount of trading activity, expressed in shares or dollars, experienced by a single security or the entire market within a specified period.

BASE PERIOD is a specified time period under which data is gathered, analyzed and used as a benchmark against which comparative financial or economic data from other periods is measured.

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