What is the primary purpose of a financial audit?

The primary purpose of a financial audit is to assess the accuracy and fairness of financial statements. This process involves a thorough examination of the company's financial records, transactions, and related internal controls to ensure that the financial statements present a true and fair view of the organization’s financial position and performance. Auditors provide an objective evaluation that helps stakeholders, including investors, creditors, and regulators, to have confidence in the reliability of the financial information presented by the company.

While increasing a company's revenue, ensuring compliance with tax laws, and evaluating employee performance are important aspects of business operations, they do not reflect the core purpose of a financial audit. The audit specifically focuses on verifying the integrity of financial reporting, thereby promoting transparency and accountability within the financial ecosystem.