vastavusauditit

Vastavusauditit is a Finnish term referring to counter-audits conducted to challenge or verify the results of an initial audit. In corporate governance and public sector oversight, a vastavusaudit fills a role similar to a reverse or supplementary audit, commissioned by stakeholders such as shareholders, regulators, or audit committees when the conclusions of the primary auditor are questioned or require additional scrutiny.

Typically, stakeholders select a second auditor or an expert panel, define scope and objectives, review underlying data, re-perform testing, and compare findings with the original report. The resulting vastavusaudit report may confirm, refine, or contradict the initial conclusions, and is meant to improve accountability and transparency.

Used to address concerns about risk, misstatement, or transparency, vastavusauditit can influence decisions on financial restatements, governance reforms, or procurement compliance. They are sometimes invoked to ensure due diligence in high-stakes environments where audit conclusions have significant implications for stakeholders or policy.

Limitations include cost, time, and potential conflicts of interest, as well as methodological differences that can complicate comparisons. The effectiveness of vastavusauditit depends on independence, access to records, and clear scoping.

Originating in Finnish accounting and governance discourse, the term vastavusauditit is not universally standardized. In international practice, terms such as counter-audit, second-opinion audit, or supplementary audit describe similar processes, though local usage and legal frameworks differ.