Now the road to auditor exam will become more flexible, but for whom? : The Swedish audit profession’s view of the re-regulated education requirements to become an authorized auditor

Purpose: The purpose is to describe how the audit profession perceives that the re-regulated education requirement in order to become an authorized auditor will affect the number of authorized auditors. Further, the aim is to compare how smaller and larger audit firms perceive the re-regulation will affect how they educate employees for the auditor exam. The purpose is to answer the research questions below. Methodology: The study has a qualitative research method with an abductive approach. Empirical material is collected through semi-structured interviews with representatives from the audit profession that were able to describe their view of the profession and the re-regulated requirements. Conclusion: The profession is sceptical that the re-regulation would increase the number of authorized auditors, they perceive a single individual will be attracted. To increase the number of authorized auditors, the profession must market itself better and introduce bonuses to keep people in the profession. Smaller firms will probably become dependent on FAR or networking with larger firms. Larger firms do not perceive that they need to do any significant changes in their current education plans. Smaller and larger firms agreed the profession needs more IT experts, and thus, data analytics should include in the auditor exam.