The Statutory Auditors and Third Country Auditors Regulations 2016

2.—(1) Standards must ensure that—

(a) A is subject to principles of professional ethics, covering at least A’s public-interest function, A’s integrity and objectivity and A’s professional competence and due care;

(b) in carrying out statutory audit work, A—

(i) maintains professional scepticism throughout the audit;

(ii) maintains professional scepticism in particular when reviewing management estimates relating to fair values, the impairment of assets, provisions and future cash flow relevant to the audited person’s ability to continue as a going concern;

(iii) recognises the possibility of a material misstatement due to facts or behaviour indicating irregularities, including fraud or error,

notwithstanding A’s past experience of honesty and integrity on the part of the audited person’s management and of the persons charged with the governance of the audited person.

(2) In this paragraph “professional scepticism” means an attitude that includes a questioning mind, being alert to conditions which may indicate possible misstatement due to error or fraud and a critical assessment of audit evidence.

(3) Standards must ensure that, during the relevant period A and any other individual in a position to influence the outcome of the statutory audit is independent of the audited person and not involved in the decision-taking of the audited person.

(4) In this paragraph “the relevant period” means—

(a) the period covered by the financial statements to be audited; and

(b) the period during which the statutory audit is carried out.