How auditors assess a borrower’s financial viability

Description

Abstract: A CPA evaluates the going concern assumption during a financial statement audit to get a picture of a company’s financial health and viability going forward. This article describes a few items they look for during that assessment, including potential red flags like pending lawsuits and investigations, working capital deficiencies, negative operating cash flow, the loss of a major customer or franchise, loan defaults and debt restructurings. The article notes that audit opinions can offer important clues as to whether companies will continue to operate as going concerns.