If ,after the financial statements are authorised and before the audit report is prepared, the directors refuses to provide written represtation, can the auditors resign from the engagement? Also, can the auditors resign if this is the case after the audit report is issued?
Resignation is absolutely a last resort. If the auditor has not yet issued the auditor’s report then the opinion should be modified (most likely qualified except for). The auditor fulfils his appointment by giving an opinion of the financial statements. So it’s too late to resign after signing the auditor’s report. If the auditor doesn’t want to be reappointed he doesn’t stand for reappointment/withdraws his nomination. This is not the same as resignation – which would mean while still in office.