跨境审计难题： 高成本低收费之下舞弊风险如何防控？

Core Insights - The article highlights the increasing risk of cross-border fraud in Chinese companies as overseas business expands, with over half of listed companies expected to engage in cross-border operations by 2024, and more than 1,100 companies having over 30% of their revenue from overseas [1][2] Group 1: Cross-Border Business Growth - By 2024, the total revenue from overseas business for A-share listed companies is projected to reach 10.52 trillion yuan, accounting for 17% of total revenue, marking a 61% increase since 2020 [2] - There are 810 companies with over 1 billion yuan in revenue and more than 30% of their income from overseas [2] Group 2: Fraud Detection Challenges - Cross-border fraud is characterized by its concealment and difficulty in verification, often involving fictitious transactions and manipulation of business progress [3] - The complexity of cross-border transactions, including logistics and financial flows, makes it challenging to detect fraud, which can remain unnoticed for extended periods [3] Group 3: Audit Challenges - The auditing industry faces significant challenges in cross-border audits, including high costs and difficulties in obtaining evidence, compliance with varying international standards, and the lack of transparency in overseas subsidiaries [4][5] - The costs associated with cross-border audits are significantly higher than domestic audits, with additional expenses for travel, local legal and accounting services, and compliance with different regulations [6][7] Group 4: Audit Fee Discrepancies - Among the 810 companies with significant overseas revenue, 195 paid less than 1 million yuan for annual audits, raising concerns about the adequacy of audit resources [7][8] - For example, Sanmu Group, with overseas revenue of 4.141 billion yuan, paid only 550,000 yuan for its audit, indicating a mismatch between audit fees and the complexity of cross-border operations [7] Group 5: Recommendations for Improvement - Companies should recognize the importance of adequate audit investment as a means of risk management and ensure that audit fees reflect the complexity of cross-border operations [10][11] - Audit firms need to enhance their capabilities, refuse to take on projects below cost, and invest in technology to improve efficiency [11][12] - Regulatory bodies should strengthen cross-border cooperation, establish differentiated regulatory mechanisms, and enhance transparency in overseas business operations to mitigate audit challenges [12]