Strengthening strategies for professional skepticism public accountants on audit activity

Professional skepticism has been the most important cause of errors in audit. Standard-setters, regulators and researchers advocate reinforcing attitudes of skepticism. This article presents strategies for strengthening the professional skepticism of public accountants in audit activity. A qualitative research, whose key informants were public accountants in audit activity and Secretaries of Study and Research Institutes, was designed. Issuers and researchers have characterized a skeptical professional. Respondents provided educational and supervisory strategies that must be addressed by the University, the Guild of Accountants and Audit Firms. Reinforce the professional skepticism improves audit quality and increases user confidence.