Quality of Financial Audit in the Republic of Moldova: Between Regulation, Independence and Expectations Used

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the quality of financial auditing in the Republic of Moldova in terms of the regulatory framework, the requirements of professional independence and the expectations of the users of the financial statements. The study aims to highlight the main challenges faced by Moldovan auditors and to identify directions for improving audit practices, aligned with international standards. The subject of the research is the quality of audit missions carried out by audit firms and individual auditors in the Republic of Moldova. The analysis methodology is based on the examination of the national and international regulatory framework (ISA, national audit legislation), on the study of the specialized literature and on the comparison with international good practices. Qualitative and interpretive analysis methods are used to assess the degree of compliance and the level of transparency of the financial audit. The results of the study highlight that, although the Republic of Moldova has made considerable progress by harmonizing legislation with EU requirements and by strengthening public audit oversight mechanisms, problems related to auditors' independence, the pressure of low fees and the lack of modern technological resources persist. At the same time, there is a discrepancy between the expectations of the users of the financial statements (investors, state, public) and the perceived quality of the audit. The study concludes that improving the quality of auditing in the Republic of Moldova depends on: strengthening the independence of auditors, promoting professional ethics, increasing the level of digitization of audit processes and intensifying continuous professional training. The implementation of these measures would contribute to increasing the credibility of financial reporting and aligning the audit sector with international quality standards. JEL: M42