Which of the following statements about professional skepticism is false?

The statement that a belief in the honesty and integrity of management and those charged with governance relieves the auditor of the need to maintain professional skepticism is indeed false. Professional skepticism is fundamental to the auditing process. It involves a mindset that includes a questioning attitude towards contradictory evidence, a critical assessment of audit evidence, and an expectation that management may be biased in their representations.

Assuming that management is honest can lead auditors to overlook significant risks or fail to adequately challenge the information provided to them. Therefore, maintaining a healthy level of skepticism is crucial for auditors to identify any potential misstatements or irregularities, regardless of their perceptions about management's integrity. Without professional skepticism, auditors may become complacent in their evaluations, which can ultimately compromise the quality of the audit.