Scope by materiality and risk, not curiosity
Use quantitative and qualitative materiality to prioritize financial diligence work.
The move: decide what can change the deal before deciding what to analyze next. Financial due diligence creates more questions than a team can answer. Materiality gives the team a filter. The PCAOB standard is written for audits, but the thinking transfers well: materiality depends on whether a matter could alter the judgment of users, and both quantitative and qualitative factors matter. In a deal, the users are buyers, lenders, investment committee members, and lawyers drafting the agreement. A finding is material when it can change price, debt capacity, closing conditions, purchase agreement mechanics, or trust in the financial information.…
Sign up free — one personalized lesson every day, matched to your role and goals.
Already have an account? Sign in