The external auditor is hired by the independent Audit Committee of the Board of Directors on behalf of the shareholders to present an unbiased and independent evaluation of the fair presentation of financial information by management.

FORBES: Crisis? What Crisis? Don't Blame The Accounting

The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

ENGADGET: Google's Q4 2011 results: $2.71 billion profit, $8.13 billion in revenue, Wall Street disappointed