Code of Ethics of Independent Auditing within the Scope of International Standards on Auditing: A Study of Independent Auditing Practices in Türkiye

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 10 Sayı: 2, 289 - 299, 19.12.2025

Selçuk Tazegül , Azize Kahramani Koç , Alper Tazegül

https://izlik.org/JA43CM64SL

Öz

This study examines the International Standards on Auditing (ISA) and the Code of Ethics for Independent Auditing in Türkiye based on expert opinions. A qualitative research design was adopted to prioritize the depth of meaning derived from participants' experiences and the data obtained from them. The data were collected through in-person interviews, a common method in qualitative research. Given the extant literature and the study's scope, a semi-structured interview technique was employed, and communication with participants occurred both in-person and online. The participants included academics with publications on the subject, as well as sworn-in certified public accountants and audit professionals from both the public and private sectors who possess practical experience in the field. The findings highlight the unassailable function of independent auditing in ensuring the transparency and reliability of financial statements, as well as its capacity to enhance investor confidence by safeguarding compliance with the International Standards on Auditing. Participants also emphasized that the Code of Ethics constitutes the cornerstone of auditing and is, in some instances, even more critical than technical standards, as the credibility of audit reports cannot be maintained in the absence of ethical conduct. Additional results point to the importance of continuous professional training, digital auditing competencies and strict independence requirements to improve audit quality. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that the implementation of the Code of Ethics within the independent auditing process leads to more reliable and accurate audit outcomes.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Independent Auditing , International Standards on Auditing , Code of Ethics.

Uluslararası Denetim Standartları kapsamında Bağımsız Denetimde Etik İlkeler: Türkiye Bağımsız Denetim Uygulamaları Üzerine Bir Araştırma

https://izlik.org/JA43CM64SL

Öz

Bu çalışma ile Türkiye’de uzman görüşlerine dayalı olarak uluslararası denetim standartları ve bağımsız denetimde etik ilkeler incelenmiştir. Bu çalışmada, katılımcıların tecrübeleri ve bu katılımcılardan elde edilen verilere yönelik anlam derinliğinin ön planda olduğu nitel araştırma yöntemi tercih edilmiştir. Nitel araştırmalarda sık başvurulan görüşme yöntemi kullanılarak araştırma verileri toplanmıştır. İlgili literatür ve çalışmanın içeriği göz önünde bulundurularak yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme yöntemi kullanılan çalışmada yüz yüze ve internet yoluyla iletişim gerçekleştirilmiştir. Katılımcılar, konu ile ilgili çalışmaları olan akademisyen ve alanında deneyim sahibi olan yeminli mali müşavir, kamu ve özel sektör denetim çalışanlarından oluşturulmuştur. Finansal raporların şeffaflığı ve güvenilirliği için bağımsız denetimin ve denetimde etik ilkelerin yadsınamaz rolü araştırmanın en önemli sonuçlarından birisi olarak ortaya çıkmıştır. Bağımsız denetimin uluslararası standartlara uygunluğu sağlayarak yatırımcı güvenini artırdığı çalışmanın ortaya koyduğu diğer önemli bir sonuçtur. Son olarak, bağımsız denetim sürecinde etik ilkelerin varlığı ve uygulanmasının denetimi daha güvenilir ve doğru yapacağı sonucu araştırmada ulaşılan başka bir sonuçtur.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Bağımsız Denetim , Uluslararası Denetim Standartları , Etik İlkeler.

Kaynakça

• Adams, C. A. (2004). The ethical, social and environmental reporting-performance portrayal gap. In Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 17(5), 731–757.
• Akbaba, A. N. B. (2018). Ethics in accounting, professional values, ethics and attitudes, examination within IES 4. The World of Accounting Science, 20, 762-778.
• Alkan, G. İ. (2018). Independent Audit in the light of ethical theories and a research in BIST. The World of Accounting, 20, 129-149.
• Ardelean, A. (2013). Auditors’ Ethics and their Impact on Public Trust. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 92, 55–60.
• Ardillah, K., & Chandra, R. (2022). Auditor independence, auditor ethics, auditor experience, and due professional care on audit quality. Accounting Profession Journal (APAJI), 4(1).
• Aydın, N. (2018). Quantitative research methods: ethnology. International Humanities and Social Science Review, 2(2), 60-71.
• Barlaup, K., Drønen, H. I., & Stuart, I. (2009). Restoring trust in auditing: Ethical discernment and the Adelphia scandal. Managerial Auditing Journal 24(2),183–203. doi:10.1108/02686900910924572.
• Barrainkua, I., & Espinosa-Pike, M. (2018). The influence of auditors’ professionalism on ethical judgement: Differences among practitioners and postgraduate students. Revista de Contabilidad-Spanish Accounting Review, 21(2), 176–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcsar.2017.07.001
• Benkraiem, R., Uyar, A., Kilic, M., & Schneider, F. (2021). Ethical behavior, auditing strength, and tax evasion: A worldwide perspective. Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, 43.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intaccaudtax.2021.100380
• Biçer, A. A. (2012). Auditing SMEs in accordance with ISAs and a research on potential challenges in the case of Turkey [Doctoral dissertation, Marmara University]. İstanbul, Türkiye.
• Bilen, A. & Yılmaz, Y. (2014). Ethics in the accounting profession and studies on ethics. Dicle University Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 2(6), 57-72.
• Çınar, O. & Güney, S. (2012). A study on ethics: accountants’ views in the province of Erzurum. Trends in Business and Economics, 26(2), 91-106. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/ 30380.
• Daher, M., Olivares, H., Carré, D., Jaramillo, A., & Tomicic, A. (2017). Experience and meaning in qualitative research: A conceptual review and a methodological device proposal. In Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung/Forum: Qualitative Social Research 18(3).
• Demir, B. (2015). Ethics in accounting and auditing professions. Journal of Research in Education and Teaching.  4(4), 341-352.
• Demir, E. & Çiftci, Y. (2016). An analysis of auditor independence in accordance with ethical principles: an auditing company’s practice. KMU Journal of Social and Economic Research, 18 (31), 88-97.
• Demir, S., & Kale, M. (2023). Examining the compliance of supervision practices with professional and ethical principles. The Journal of National Education, 52(238), 1219-1258.
• Dinç, Y. & Cengiz, S. (2014). The investigation of error and fraud in auditing from the point of auditor ethics: case of Enron. Journal of Institute of Social Sciences, 5(1), 221-236.
• Espinosa-Pike, M., & Barrainkua, I. (2016). An exploratory study of the pressures and ethical dilemmas in the audit conflict. Revista De Contabilidad, 19(1), 10-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcsar.2014.10.001.
• Evci, S. (2008). Turkish accounting standards (financial reporting) and problems faced in their application. [Master’s dissertation Gazi University], Ankara, Türkiye.
• Everett, J., & Tremblay, M. S. (2014). Ethics and internal audit: moral will and moral skill in a heteronomous field. Critical Perspectives on Accounting, 25(3), 181-196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpa.2013.10.002.
• Falk, H., Lynn, B., Mestelman, S., & Shehata, M. (1999). Auditor independence, self-interested behavior and ethics: some experimental evidence. In Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 18.
• Gerring, J. (2017). Qualitative methods. Annual review of political science, 20(1), 15-36.
• Grbich, C.  (2019). Qualitative data analysis and the use of theory. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education. 
• Gul, F. A., Ng, A. Y., & Tong, M. Y. J. W. (2003). Chinese auditors' ethical behavior in an audit conflict situation. Journal of Business Ethics, 42(4), 379-392.
• Gümrah, Ö. & Yılmaz, B. (2018). Independent auditing and accounting professional ethics: a study on ethical principles approaches of independent auditors. Journal of Selçuk University Social Sciences Vocational School, 21(2), 348-373. https://doi.org/10.29249/selcuksbmyd.457622.
• Haeridistia, N., & Fadjarenie, A. (2019). The effect of independence, professional ethics & auditor experience on audit quality. International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, 8.
• Haven, T. L. & Grootel, L. V. (2019). Preregistering qualitative research. Accountability in research, 26(3), 229-244.
• Hay, D. C. (2017). Audit Fee Research on issues related to ethics. Current Issues in Auditing, 11(2), A1-A22. https://doi.org/10.2308/ciia-51897.
• Karaibrahimoglu, Y. Z., & Cangarli, B. G. (2016). Do auditing and reporting standards affect firms’ ethical behaviours? the moderating role of national culture. Journal Of Business Ethics, 139(1), 55-75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2571-y.
• Kertarajasa, A. Y., Marwa, T., & Wahyudi, T. (2019). The effect of competence, experience, independence, due professional care, and auditor integrity on audit quality with auditor ethics as moderating variable. Journal of Accounting, Finance and Auditing Studies, 5(1), 80–99.
• Kung, F. H., & Huang, C. L. (2013). Auditors’ moral philosophies and ethical beliefs. Management Decision, 51(3), 479–500.
• Kuntari, Y., Chariri, A., & Nurdhiana, N. (2017). The effect of auditor ethics, auditor experience, audit fees and auditor motivation on audit quality. Sriwijaya International Journal of Dynamic Economics and Business, 1(2), 203-218.
• Le Doan Minh Duc, N. T., Yen, H., Thuy, V. H. N., Hung, N. T., & Vu, N. T. (2020). Factors Affecting the Auditor Independence: Approach of the Subject and Framework in Financial Statement Auditing in Vietnam. Journal of Southwest Jiaotong University, 55(4). https://doi.org/10.35741/issn.0258-2724.55.4.23.
• Lightstone, K., & Driscoll, C. (2008). Disclosing elements of disclosure: A test of legitimacy theory and company ethics. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 25(1), 7–21. https://doi.org/10.1002/cjas.50.
• Manap, A., Sasmiyati, R. Y., Edy, N., Buana, L. S. A., & Rachmad, Y. E. (2023). The Role of Auditor Ethics as Moderating Variable in Relationship Between Auditor Accountability and Quality of the Audit. Jurnal EMT KITA, 7(2), 382-388.
• Marcu, N. (2018). Principles and Ethical Values in Public External Audit Activity. In Current Issues in Corporate Social Responsibility (pp. 185-194). Springer, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-70449-4_12.
• Nassaji, H. (2020). Good qualitative research. Language
• Teaching Research, 24(4), 427-431.
• Othman, R., Ishak, I. F., Arif, S. M. M., & Aris, N. A. (2014). Influence of Audit Committee Characteristics on Voluntary Ethics Disclosure. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 145, 330–342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.06.042
• Pflugrath, G., Martinov‐Bennie, N., & Chen, L. (2007). The Impact of Codes of Ethics and Experience on Auditor Judgments. Managerial Auditing Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/02686900710759389.
• Polat, E., Karyağdı, N. G., & Özer, E. Y. (2024). Determining the problems faced by independent auditors when applying auditing standards: A field study. Muhasebe ve Denetime Bakış,24(73),43–60.
• Saadeh, Y., Alsmady, A., Warrad, L. H., Idris, M., & Elrajabi, M. R. (2016). The accounting profession between religious and professional ethical codes. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 7(10), 35-43. https://www.ijbssnet.com/journals/Vol_7_No_10_October_2016/4.pdf.
• Şahin, Y., Uysal, S., Saraç, L., & Gündoğdu, K. (2019). A holistic evaluation of qualitative research course by graduate students and academic staff. Journal of Qualitative Research in Education, 7(4), 1408–1429. https://doi.org/10.14689/issn.2148-2624. 1. 7c.4s.5m
• Sakarya, Ş. & Kara, S. (2010). The regulations to accounting professional ethics in Turkey and a field survey on perception by accountants. KMU Journal of Social and Economic Research, 2010(1), 57-72.
• Samsonova-Taddei, A. & Siddiqui, J. (2016). Regulation and The Promotion of Audit Ethics: Analysis of The Content of The EU’s Policy. Journal of Business Ethics, 139(1), 183-195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2629-x.
• Satava, D., Caldwell, C., & Richards, L. (2006). Ethics and the auditing culture: Rethinking the foundation of accounting and auditing. Journal of Business Ethics, 64(3), 271-284.
• Shafaei Qarekushan, M., Ahmadi, F., Kordlouie, H., Khanmohammadi, M., & Mahmoodiyandastnaee, T. (2024). A Model for the Effect of Emotional Intelligence Components on Auditor's Ethical Judgment by‎ Considering the Personality Trait of Extraversion. International Journal of Finance & Managerial Accounting, 9(33), 113-128.
• Shafer, W. E., & Simmons, R. S. (2011). Effects of organizational ethical culture on the ethical decisions of tax practitioners in mainland China. In Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal 24(5),647–668. doi.org/10.1108/09513571111139139.
• Shaub, M. K. (1994). An Analysis of The Association of Traditional Demographic Variables With The Moral Reasoning of Auditing Students and Auditors. Journal of Accounting Education, 12(1), 1-26. doi.org/10.1016/0748-5751(94)90016-7.
• Sonjaya, Y. (2024). The Influence of Corporate Culture on Audit Practices and Ethics. Golden Ratio of Auditing Research, 4(2), 107 - 124.
• Süklüm, N. (2020). Examining the audit quality in the context of independence principle and ethics. Süleyman Demirel University Visionary Journal, 11(Supplement), 17-28.
• Svanberg, J., & Öhman, P. (2016). Does Ethical Culture in Audit Firms Support Auditor Objectivity? Accounting in Europe, 13(1), 65–79. https://doi.org/10.1080/17449480.2016.1164324
• Tsui, J. S. L. (1996). Auditors’ ethical reasoning: Some audit conflict and cross-cultural evidence. The International Journal of Accounting, 31(1), 121–133.
• Türkcan, M., & Akdoğan, N. (2018). Comparative analysis of ethical standards in international valuation standards with international auditing standards. The World of Accounting Science, 20, 426–439.
• Uzun, Y. (2017). Updated International Standard of Supreme Audit Institutions code of ethics (ISSAI 30) and its application. Journal of Turkish Court of Accounts, 107.
• Yazar, B. B. (2021). Comparison of ethical rules for independent auditors and ethical rules for interest-free financial institutions auditors. International Anatolian Journal of Social Sciences, 5(1), 100–126. https://doi.org/10.47525/ulasbid.840768.
• Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2016). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri (10. edition). Ankara: Seçkin Yayıncılık.
• Ziegenfuss, D. E., & Singhapakdi, A. (1994). Professional values and the ethical perceptions of internal auditors.Managerial Auditing Journal, 9(1),34–44. https://doi.org/10.1108/02686909410050433.