FINANCIAL AUDIT IN AN ARENA CONTEXT.
                       AN ANALYSIS AT THE MESO-LEVEL

                      Eugeniu Ţurlea, Academy of Economic Studies Bucharest
                     Aurelia Ştefănescu, Academy of Economic Studies Bucharest
                      Mihaela Mocanu, Academy of Economic Studies Bucharest


ABSTRACT: Research has generally focused either on the auditors’ decision-making process at
micro-level or on the financial audit environment at macro-level. The present paper’s contribution
to knowledge consists in filling in this research gap by performing an analysis of the financial audit
environment at meso-level and by pointing out the significance of strategic thinking in managing
financial audit companies. The research method consists in applying to the financial audit field the
so-called “arena concept”, a metaphor that describes in a symbolic manner the location of actions
which influence collective decisions or policies. The main strength of the applied model is that it
structures and represents participants, communication, patterns of interaction, and decision-
making processes. The authors conclude that there is a variety of interactions in the financial audit
field and that each group of participants may change the business dynamics.

Key words: financial audit, arena, interactions, strategic thinking

JEL codes: M42