Audyt zewnętrzny jako mechanizm nadzoru korporacyjnego

Purpose – The aim of the article is to analyze the position of external audit in the corporate governance system. The aim of the article is also the identification of market concentration of audit services provided to public companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Design/methodology/approach – The content presented in this paper is based on the literature and regulations studies. In the research process the annual reports of public companies were also used. Findings – The analysis of the planned legislative changes indicate that the role of external audit in the system of corporate governance will increase. To a greater extent the process of external audit will involve members of the audit committee. Public companies will be obliged to cyclical changes not only a key auditor but also the audit firm. The study found that only approx. 19% of the units make any change of audit firm for the years 2011/2012 and 2012/2013. It seems that a particularly important, from the corporate governance point of view, is the obligation of auditors to evaluate the reliability of activity report and statement of corporate governance. Originality/value – The article presents the problem of the location of an external audit in the system of corporate governance, which is a relatively rarely presented in Polish literature. The article presents the planned legislative changes concerning external audit.