What is a critical factor determining the significance of a self-interest threat?

The significance of a self-interest threat is primarily determined by the materiality of the financial interest involved. When auditors or their firms possess a financial interest in the audited entity, the magnitude of that interest can significantly impact their objectivity and impartiality. If the financial interest is material, it poses a greater risk that the auditor's judgment may be clouded due to their self-interest, which can compromise the integrity of the audit findings.

Materiality is a fundamental concept in auditing that relates to the significance of transactions, balances, or disclosures. A material financial interest can lead the auditor to make biased decisions or overlook critical issues that arise during the audit process. Therefore, understanding the materiality of any financial interest is essential in assessing the potential impact of a self-interest threat on the audit's reliability and the auditor's ethical conduct.

The other factors, such as the time since the last audit, the size of the audit team, and the experience of the auditor, while they can influence various aspects of the audit, do not directly determine the critical nature of a self-interest threat in the same way that the materiality of financial interests does. These aspects might affect the overall audit quality, but they are not the primary drivers of the relevance of self-interest concerns