What might be the consequence of having auditors with conflicts of interest?

Having auditors with conflicts of interest can lead to significant bias in the audit findings. When auditors have personal or financial interests that could compromise their objectivity, their ability to evaluate the auditee's systems and processes impartially is severely impaired. This bias can manifest in various ways, such as overlooking non-compliance issues, downplaying risks, or favoring outcomes that benefit their interests. As a result, the integrity of the audit process is compromised, which can ultimately lead to flawed assessments and decisions based on inaccurate findings. This highlights the critical importance of ensuring that auditors are free from conflicts of interest to maintain the validity and credibility of the audit process.