Auditing and Attestation- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Practice Exam -

What should an auditor do to exercise due professional care?

1. Critically review judgments made by those assisting in the audit

2. Focus on designing audits to detect all illegal acts

3. Ensure all evidence supporting management's assertions is examined

4. Maintain a balance between education and practical experience

The correct answer is: Critically review judgments made by those assisting in the audit

Exercising due professional care entails applying a level of attention and judgment throughout the audit process to ensure that it is conducted according to the established standards. The correct answer discusses the importance of critically reviewing the judgments made by those assisting in the audit. This is crucial because auditors rely on the work of their team members and must ensure that any conclusions drawn are based on sound reasoning and appropriate evidence. By critically reviewing the judgments of others, the auditor can ascertain that the audit findings are valid and adhere to professional standards. This step helps mitigate the risk of oversight and ensures that the auditor's opinion remains objective and well-founded. In essence, this practice safeguards the integrity of the audit process by verifying that all contributions to the audit are of high quality. Other options, while related to the auditing process, do not specifically capture the essence of due professional care as effectively. Focusing solely on detecting illegal acts does not encompass the broader diligence required in auditing. Ensuring that all evidence for management's assertions is examined, while important, is only one part of the overall responsibility of an auditor. Maintaining a balance between education and practical experience is beneficial for an auditor’s development but does not directly relate to exercising due professional care in the context of a specific audit.