What potential independence threat is associated with litigation support services estimating outcomes affecting financial statement disclosures?

The correct answer relates to the self-review threat that arises when auditors provide litigation support services that influence the financial statements they are later tasked with auditing. When an auditor becomes involved in estimating outcomes that directly affect financial statement disclosures, they may find themselves evaluating or reviewing their own work. This situation can compromise their objectivity and independence because the auditor could unintentionally favor the conclusions drawn in their earlier assessments when executing the audit.

Self-review threats occur when an auditor is in a position of having to review their previous conclusions or services as part of their current audit work. This conflict of interest can obscure impartial judgment, leading to biased auditing results. Therefore, it is critical for auditors to maintain a clear separation between services that could influence financial reporting and their audit activities to uphold the integrity and reliability of the audit process.