Reading the accounts
Audit opinion
The auditor’s formal statement on whether the accounts fairly present the company’s position.
How it works
An unqualified or clean opinion is the normal outcome. A qualified opinion, an emphasis of matter, or a going-concern warning are all significant signals.
Auditors also disclose key audit matters — the areas requiring most judgement — which is a short, useful guide to where the accounting risk sits.
Related terms
Mentioned in
More in Reading the accounts
- Balance sheet
- Assets
- Book value
- Adjusted earnings
- Breakeven
- Accrual accounting
- Capital expenditure
- Accounts receivable
All 51 Reading the accounts terms · The full glossary, 433 terms
Educational reference only. Nothing here is investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell anything, and tax treatment depends on your own circumstances and the country you are in.