Reputation risks in audit and communication strategies in crisis situations

Abstract

An analysis of the content of foreign scientific publications on reputation in auditing shows the advantage of articles focusing on the reputation of the external auditor (audit firms) and its potential impact on the quality and credibility of the audit. Reputation risks, especially those that may materialize as a result of audit activities, are rarely discussed in scientific articles. At the same time, despite emphasizing in industry regulations of organizations associating auditors the importance of communication skills as competencies allowing, inter alia, for the effective leveling of reputational risks, in the literature on the subject, there are few publications presenting this area in detail. As shown by the results of the study of publications in the press and social media, the number of mentions of audit activities is increasing, affecting the estimates of potential risks. Thus, the article fills the information gap on audits in the scientific literature regarding the existing strategies of communication in crisis situations, which may be used by auditors in the case of threats related to reputational risks.