What is one of the overall objectives of an auditor in conducting an audit of financial statements?

The overall objective of an auditor in conducting an audit of financial statements is to obtain reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatements. This objective is central to the auditing process and aligns with the auditor's role in enhancing the credibility of financial reports for users, including investors and regulatory authorities.

Reasonable assurance means that while the auditor cannot guarantee that all misstatements will be found, they will carry out their work to a standard where the risk of undetected misstatements is reduced to an acceptably low level. This involves assessing the risk of material misstatements in the financial statements and designing audit procedures to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to form an opinion on the financial statements as a whole.

This objective underscores the auditor's commitment to professionalism and due diligence, ensuring that stakeholders can trust the integrity of the financial information presented. It is a fundamental principle underpinning the entire audit process, reflecting the need for reliability and accountability in financial reporting.