However, much progress must still occur before sufficient evidence exists
that supports a joint audit approach and answers the question regarding under which
circumstances a joint audit is superior to a single audit. To move research towards this goal,
our research provided evidence that, generally, two auditors working together issue more
accurate opinion. Our results demonstrate that joint opinions are more conservative and are
indicative of higher quality.
The group used in this empirical study was quite small and culled from the auditing
profession in only Austria and Germany. Although audits in these countries are conducted
in compliance with the principles of the International Standards on Auditing, there is a clear
need for further research using larger, more representative groups and case studies that
cover additional aspects.