Skip to main content
Log in

Die Festlegung von Wesentlichkeitsgrenzen in der deutschen Wirtschaftsprüfungspraxis

  • Wirtschaftsprüfung
  • Published:
Schmalenbachs Zeitschrift für betriebswirtschaftliche Forschung Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Due to recent cases of fraud in financial statements and spectacular corporate failures, the quality of statutory audits is once again under discussion. Audit quality combines, among others, the aspects of reliability and exactness of the audit opinion, which can be modelled by the interacting variables of the audit risk and the materiality threshold being used. The recently published audit standard IDW AuS 250: Audit Materiality raises the question, whether this norm can assure a sufficient audit quality in terms of reliability and exactness of the audit opinion. Based on a analysis of the audit approaches of the Big 5 audit firms, the study at hand addresses this aspect by an empirical examination of how the materiality threshold is assessed in the context of the risk driven audit approach.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Literaturverzeichnis

  • AMTF (1998), Big 5 Audit Materiality Task Force: Status Report and Initial Recommendations, Stand August 1998, online unter http://www.aicpa.org.

  • Ballwieser, Wolfgang (1985), Informationsökonomie, Rechnungslegungstheorie und Bilanzrichtlinie-Gesetz, in: zfbf, 37. Jg., S. 47–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballwieser, Wolfgang (1987a), Auditing in an Agency Setting, in: Bamberg, Günter/Spremann, Klaus (Hrsg.), Agency Theory, Information and Incentives, S. 327–346.

  • Ballwieser, Wolfgang (1987b), Kapitalmarkt, Managementinteressen und die Rolle des Wirtschaftsprüfers, in: Schneider, Dieter (Hrsg.), Kapitalmarkt und Finanzierung, S. 351–362.

  • Boatsman, James R./ Robertson, Jack C. (1974), Policy-Capturing on Selected Materiality Judgments, in: The Accounting Review, Vol. 49, S. 342–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brumfield, Craig A./ Elliott, Robert K./ Jacobson, Peter D. (1983), Business Risk and the Audit Process — Should the Risk of Ligation, Sanctions or an Impaired Reputation Affect the Conduct of an Audit? In: Journal of Accountancy, Vol. 155, S. 60–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, Brian W./ Dirsmith, Mark W. (1992), Early Debt Extinguishment Transactions and Auditor Materiality Judgements — A Bounded Rationality Perspective, in: Accounting, Organizations and Society, Vol. 17, S. 709–732.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, Brian W./ Dirsmith, Mark W./ Gupta, Parveen P. (1994), Materiality Judgements and Audit Firm Culture — Social-Behavorial and Political Perspectives, in: Accounting, Organisations and Society, Vol. 19, S. 355–380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charles, Ian (1990), Materiality — A Factor to Consider, in: Accountancy, Vol. 105, S. 88–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chewning, Gene/ Pany, Kurt/ Wheeler, Stephen (1989), Auditor Reporting Decisions Involving Accounting Principle Changes — Some Evidence on Materiality Thresholds, in: Journal of Accounting Research, Vol. 27, S. 78–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chewning, Eugene G./ Wheeler, Stephen W./ Chan, Kam C. (1998), Evidence on Auditor and Investor Materiality Thresholds Resulting from Equity-For-Debt Swaps, in: Auditing — A Journal of Practice & Theory, Vol. 17, S. 39–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chong, H. Gin (1992), Auditors and Materiality, in: Managerial Audit Journal, Vol. 7, S. 8–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants — CICA (2001), Applying Materiality and Audit Risk Concepts in Conducting an Audit — Draft Guideline, Stand 31. Mai 2001; online unter www.cica.ca/cica/cicawebsite.nsf/public/e_osedpdf2001/$file/e_AudRisk.pdf.

  • Costigan, Michael L./Simon, Daniel T. (1995), Auditor Materiality Judgement and Consistency Modifications — Further Evidence from SFAS 96, in: Advances in Accounting, hrsg. von Philip M. J. Reckers, Vol. 13, S. 207–222.

  • Drumming, Saundra T. (1982), An Examination of the Materiality Judgment Policies of Public Accountants, Diss. University of Wisconsin-Madison.

  • Dyer, Jack L. (1975), Toward the Development of Objective Materiality Norms, in: The Arthur Andersen Chronicle, Vol. 35, S. 38–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, Robert K. (1983), Author’s Response, in: Journal of Accountancy, Vol. 156, S. 104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Estes, Ralph/ Reames, D. D. (1988), Effects of Personal Characteristics on Materiality-Decisions — A Multivariate Analysis, in: Accounting and Business Research, Vol. 18, S. 291–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Firth, Michael (1979), Consensus Views and Judgment Models in Materiality Decisions, in: Accounting, Organizations and Society, Vol. 4, S. 283–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedberg, Alan H./ Strawser, Jerry R./ Cassidy, Judith H. (1989), Factors Affecting Materiality Judgements — A Comparison of „Big Eight“ Accounting Firms’ Materiality Views with the Results of Empirical Research, in: Advances in Accounting, hrsg. von Bill N. Schwartz, Vol. 7, S. 187–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frishkoff, Paul (1970), An Empirical Investigation of the Concept of Materiality in Accounting, in: Journal of Accounting Research, Vol. 8, Supplement, S. 116–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holstrum, Gary L./ Messier, William F. (1982), A Review and Integration of Empirical Research on Materiality, in: Auditing — A Journal of Practice & Theory, Vol. 2, S. 45–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Houben, Michael/Schultze, H. C. (2000), Kontrolle ist gut … Wer überprüft die Wirtschaftsprüfer? Online unter http://www.wdr.de/tv/plusminus/000222_6.html (PlusMinus, Sendung vom 22.2.2000).

  • Icerman, Rhoda C./ Hillison, William A. (1991), Disposition of Audit-Detected Errors — Some Evidence on Evaluative Materiality, in: Auditing — A Journal of Practice & Theory, Vol. 10, S. 22–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iskandar, Takiah M./ Iselin, Errol R. (1996), Industry Type — A Factor in Materiality Judgements and Risk Assessments, in: Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 11, S. 4–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jennings, Marianne M./ Kneer, Dan C./ Reckers, P. M. J. (1987), A Reexamination of the Concept of Materiality — Views of Auditors, Users and Fleers of the Court, in: Auditing — A Journal of Practice & Theory, Vol. 7, S. 104–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung, Maximilian (1997), Zum Konzept der Wesentlichkeit bei Abschlusserstellung und -prüfung — Eine theoretische Untersuchung.

  • Kaplan, Steven/ Reckers, Philip M.J. (1995), Auditors’ Reporting Decisions for Accounting Estimates — The Effect of Assessments of the Risk of Fraudulent Financial Reporting, in: Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 10, S. 27–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiertzner, Lars (1998), A Comparative Investigation of the External Auditors Audit-Planning Efforts on the UK, Germany and Denmark. Paper Presented to the 21st Annual Congress of the European Accounting Association, Antwerps, Belgium.

  • Konrath, Larry F. (1990), Changing Materiality Levels and the Sufficiency of Audit Evidence, in: The Ohio CPA Journal, Vol. 49, S. 42–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krogstad, Jack/ Ettenson, Richard/ Shanteau, James (1984), Context and Experience in Auditors’ Materiality Judgements, in: Auditing — A Journal of Practice & Theory, Vol. 4, S. 54–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leslie, Donald A. (1985), Materiality — The Concept and its Application to Auditing — A Research Study.

  • Leslie, Donald A./Teitlebaum, Albert D./Anderson, Rodney J. (1980), Dollar-Unit Sampling — A Practical Guide for Auditors.

  • Levy, Jeffrey R. (1970), Is it Material? In: Accountancy, Vol. 81, April, S. 296–307.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luber, Thomas (2000), Außer Kontrolle, In: Capital, o. Jg., Heft Nr. 1–2, S. 46–54.

  • Marten, Kai-Uwe (1999), Qualität von Wirtschaftsprüferleistungen.

  • Marten, Kai-Uwe/Quick, Reiner/Ruhnke, Klaus (2001), Wirtschaftsprüfung.

  • Martens, Heiko/Rosenbach (2002), Zahlenkolonne im Verruf, in: Spiegel, Heft 18/2002 vom 29. April 2002, online unter http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/0,1518,druck-193972,00.html.

  • Mayper, Alan G. (1982), Consensus of Auditors’ Materiality Judgements of Internal Accounting Control Weaknesses, in: Journal of Accounting Research, Vol. 20, S. 773–783.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayper, Alan G./ Schroeder Doucet, Mary/ Warren, Carl S. (1989), Auditors’ Materiality Judgements of Internal Accounting Control Weaknesses, in: Auditing — A Journal of Practice & Theory, Vol. 9, S. 72–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKee, Thomas E. (1992), Simple Guidelines for Making Materiality Decisions, in: The Practical Accountant, Vol. 25, S. 73–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Messier, William F. (1983), The Effect of Experience and Firm Type on Materiality-Disclosure Judgements, in: Journal of Accounting Research, Vol. 21, S. 611–618.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moriarity, Shane/ Barron, Hutton F. (1976), Modelling the Materiality Judgement of Audit Partners, in: Journal of Accounting Research, Vol. 14, S. 320–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, Michael H./ Nichols, William D. (1988), Consistency Exceptions — Materiality Judgments and Audit Firm Structure, in: The Accounting Review, Vol. 63, S. 237–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagel, Thomas (1997), Risikoorientierte Abschlussprüfung.

  • O’Glove, Thornton/ Olstein, Robert (1977), How Well Do Accountants Understand Materiality?, in: The Journal of Portfolio Management, Vol. 3, S. 19–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • o.V. (2002), Hindernislauf zum seriösen Testat. Online unter http://www.n-tv.de/3003863.html.

  • Ossadnik, Wolfgang (1993), Grundsatz und Interpretation der „Materiality“ — Eine Untersuchung zur Auslegung ausgewählter Wesentlichkeits-Bestimmungen durch die Rechnungslegungspraxis, in: Die Wirtschaftsprüfung, 46. Jg., S. 617–629.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ossadnik, Wolfgang (1995), Wesentlichkeit als Grundsatz externer Rechnungslegung, in: Die Wirtschaftsprüfung, 48. Jg., S. 33–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pany, Kurt/ Wheeler, Steve (1989), Materiality — An Inter-Industry Comparison of the Magnitude and Stability of Various Quantitative Measures, in: Accounting Horizons, Vol. 3, S. 71–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patillo, James W. (1976), The Concept of Materiality in Financial Accounting, hrsg. von der Financial Executives Research Foundation.

  • Peress, Michael (1990), Materiality Guidelines for Audits of Real Estate Companies, in: CPA Journal, Vol. 60, S. 56–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quick, Reiner (1996), Die Risiken der Jahresabschlussprüfung.

  • Raman, K.K./ van Daniker, Relmond P. (1994), Materiality in Government Auditing, in: Journal of Accountancy, Vol. 177, S. 71–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, Robin W./Sweeney, John T. (1993), Auditor Loss Exposure Factors and Preliminary Materiality Judgements — Evidence from Practice, in: Advances in Accounting, hrsg. von Bill N. Schwartz, Vol. 11, S. 171–183.

  • Rossmanith, Jonas (1998), Der Wesentlichkeits-Grundsatz — Die Konkretisierung für den handelsrechtlichen Jahres- und Konzernabschluß.

  • Spremann, Klaus (1990), Asymmetrische Information, in: Zeitschrift für Betriebswirtschaft, 60. Jg., S. 561–586.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinbart, Paul J. (1987), The Construction of a Rule-Based Expert System as a Method for Studying Materiality Judgements, in: The Accounting Review, Vol. 62, 97–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stibi, Eva-Maria (1995), Prüfungsrisikomodell und Risikoorientierte Abschlussprüfung.

  • Thoennes, H.O. (1994), Der risikoorientierte Prüfungsansatz, in: Rechnungslegung und Prüfung 1994 — Vorträge der Jahre 1991–1993 vor dem Münsteraner Gesprächskreis Rechnungslegung und Prüfung e.V., hrsg. von Jörg Baetge, S. 31–51.

  • Warren, Carl S. (1980), Prüfungsrisiko, in: Der Schweizer Treuhänder, 54. Jg., S. 28–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolz, Matthias (1998), Die Erwartungslücke vor und nach Verabschiedung des KonTraG — Zustandekommen, alte und neue Lösungswege vor dem Hintergrund des Gesetzes zur Kontrolle und Transparenz im Unternehmensbereich, in: Wirtschaftsprüferkammer-Mitteilungen, 37. Jg., S. 122–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolz, Matthias (2003), Wesentlichkeit im Rahmen der Jahresabschlussprüfung.

  • Woolsey, Sam M. (1954), Development of Criteria to Guide the Accountant in Judging Materiality, Vol. 97, S. 167–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woolsey, Sam M. (1973), Approach to Solving the Materiality Problem, in: Journal of Accountancy, Vol. 135, S. 47–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Würtele, Günter (1989), Die Operationalisierung des Grundsatzes der Wesentlichkeit bei Abschlussprüfungen.

  • Wysocki, Klaus v. (1992), Wirtschaftlichkeit von Prüfungen, in: Coenenberg, Adolf G./Wysocki, Klaus v. (Hrsg.), Handwörterbuch der Revision, 2. Aufl., Sp. 2171–2180.

  • Zaeh, Philipp E. (1998), Entscheidungsunterstützung in der Risikoorientierten Abschlußprüfung — Prozeßorientierte Modelle zur EDV-technischen Quantifizierung der Komponenten des Prüfungsrisikos unter besonderer Würdigung der Fuzzy-Logic.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wolz, M. Die Festlegung von Wesentlichkeitsgrenzen in der deutschen Wirtschaftsprüfungspraxis. Schmalenbachs Z betriebswirtsch Forsch 56, 122–145 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03372732

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03372732

JEL-Classification

Keywords

Navigation