What is one of the responsibilities of auditors during assessments?

Remaining within the audit scope is a fundamental responsibility of auditors during assessments. The audit scope defines the boundaries and focus areas of the audit, including the processes, departments, or systems being evaluated. Adhering to the audit scope ensures that the audit is conducted systematically and effectively, allowing auditors to collect relevant data and evidence pertaining to their specified objectives.

By sticking to the scope, auditors can maintain clarity and objectivity in their assessments, ensuring that the findings are based on predetermined criteria rather than drifting into extraneous areas that may not align with the audit’s goals. This helps in fulfilling the audit's purpose—evaluating compliance, effectiveness, and opportunities for improvement—without the influence of personal bias or subjective interpretations.

The other options suggest practices that compromise the integrity and objectivity of the audit process. Exercising personal opinions can lead to biased findings, prioritizing subjective findings undermines the evidence-based nature of auditing, and ignoring areas that need more auditing would leave potential issues unaddressed, ultimately impairing the overall effectiveness of the audit.