Final answer:
The auditor is responsible for expressing an opinion on the financial statements, not for taking responsibility for the financial statements themselves, which is the duty of the management. Hence, option (A) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The auditor's responsibility, as expressly stated in the audit report, is to express an opinion on the financial statements. The auditor evaluates the financial statements to determine whether they are free of material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. An auditor's opinion enhances the credibility of financial statements by providing reasonable assurance that they are presented fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with an applicable financial reporting framework.
It is important to note that auditors do not take responsibility for the financial statements themselves. That responsibility rests with management, who are charged with preparing and presenting the financial statements. The auditor's role is to conduct an independent examination and to contribute to the reliability of the financial statements for stakeholders, such as investors, creditors, and regulators.