Audit Under Fire: CARO 2020 Clause-by-Clause – A Chartered Accountant’s Compliance Guide from a Company Secretary’s Perspective is a practical handbook for auditors navigating today’s increasingly challenging regulatory landscape. With the introduction of CARO 2020 and the growing oversight of the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA), an audit report is no longer a routine compliance formality; it is treated as a personal certification, carrying legal and professional consequences. This book offers a detailed clause-by-clause explanation of CARO 2020, highlighting high-risk areas such as related party transactions, loans to directors, deposits, defaults, and internal controls. What makes it unique is its dual perspective: unlike most CARO guides written by auditors, this book is authored by two Company Secretaries, bringing a strong compliance and legal defensibility angle to audit practice. Alongside the analysis, the book provides practical documentation strategies, real examples from NFRA enforcement orders, and ready-to-use checklists to help professionals structure their working papers and defend their judgments when challenged.

Written in a clear, accessible style, the book is equally valuable for practicing Chartered Accountants, audit partners, peer reviewers, and compliance officers who deal with statutory audits, as well as students of CA, CS, and CMA courses preparing for audit roles. Corporate governance professionals will also find it useful in aligning board processes with audit requirements. Earlier, an audit report was seen as the end of an engagement; today, it may be the beginning of a defense. Audit Under Fire equips readers with the knowledge, tools, and mindset to not only comply with audit requirements but also protect their professional signature with confidence.