scholarly journals Audit committees: practices, practitioners and praxis of governance

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 466-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niamh M. Brennan ◽  
Collette E. Kirwan
Keyword(s):  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Practice Theory ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review and critique prior research on audit committees using a practice-theory lens. Research on audit committees has followed the same trajectory as early research on boards of directors, which has been criticised for its singular theoretical perspectives and methodologies that do not capture the complexity of real-world experiences/behaviours. Design/methodology/approach – The authors devise an analytical framework based on practice theory to conduct the review. The authors examine what audit committees should do (i.e. best practice) vs what audit committees actually do (i.e. actual activities in practice – praxis). Attributes of audit committee members, and the relationship dynamics relevant to their role execution (i.e. practitioners), are considered. Findings – Research on boards has found that over-emphasis on agency theory’s monitoring role negatively impacts boards’ effectiveness. The authors invoke other theories in examining what audit committees do in practice. The authors characterise the role of audit committees as oversight not monitoring. The authors question whether, similar to auditing, audit committees are blamist tools or are genuinely orientated towards supporting improvements in organisational management systems. The authors unpack the ritualistic ceremonial behaviours and symbolic endeavours vs substantive engagement by audit committees. The analytical framework also considers the “guardianship circle” around audit committees in the form of the key practitioners and their relationships: audit committee members, auditors and managers. Originality/value – Drawing on the analytical framework, the authors provide directions for further opportunities for research of audit committees.

The Audit Committee Anomaly in South African Local Governance

Politeia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lourens Jacobus Erasmus ◽  
Thabo Matsimela
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Municipal Finance ◽  
Finance Management ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives

Stakeholders of organisations have to rely on the credibility and effectiveness of governance by management and oversight structures, such as the audit committee, to protect their interests. Drawing on the agency theory, the role of the audit committee is globally accepted to be one of oversight and monitoring. In contrast, the Municipal Finance Management Act requires South African municipal audit committees to be independent advisory functions, invoking the institutional theory in terms of symbolic display. In this article the research objective is to argue the anomaly in the Municipal Finance Management Act regarding audit committees' role, given that this deviates from the globally accepted norm. This conceptual article follows an interpretive approach, which includes a document analysis, firstly to establish the prevalence of the audit committee advisory expectation and, secondly, to argue from theoretical perspectives, whether the audit committee as an advisory function, has validity. The findings suggest that legislators should consider amending the Municipal Finance Management Act to reflect audit committee best practice or change the name of the municipal audit committee to that of an advisory committee to avoid misleading local communities in terms of what may be perceived as good governance practice. This article thus informs policymakers of an apparent governance anomaly in South African legislation.

Women directors, family ownership and earnings management in Malaysia

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shamsul Nahar Abdullah ◽  
Ku Nor Izah Ku Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Family Ownership ◽  
Women Directors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Representation Of Women ◽  
Women On Boards ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the representation of women on the boards (WOMBDs) and audit committees is associated with a reduction in the practice of earnings management and whether women are associated with income reducing (conservative) rather than income-increasing (aggressive) earnings management. The authors further argue that family ownership moderates the relationship between the presence of WOMBDs and audit committees and earnings management. Design/methodology/approach The study uses non-finance firms listed on Bursa Malaysia over a period of four years, i.e. from 2008 until 2011. Findings The evidence reveals that the presence of WOMBD or audit committee is not associated with a propensity for earnings management. In addition, the evidence also reveals that family ownership does not interact either with WOMBD or with women on the audit committee (WOMAC) to influence the propensity for earnings management. Nevertheless, the additional analyses show that, while women on boards are not associated with income-decreasing accruals, the presence of women on audit committees leads to income-reducing earnings management. The evidence further reveals that family ownership does not interact with either WOMBD or WOMAC to influence income-decreasing earnings management. Originality/value This study extends prior research on the role of women directors and women audit committee members on earnings management focussing on family ownership. Further, the study also examines the direction of earnings management as opposed to the most prior studies, which mainly focus on the propensity of earnings management.

scholarly journals The effect of financial and non-financial performance on investors’ reactions: The role of corporate governance mechanisms as moderating

2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 47-56
Author(s):  
Intadaviqotul Minakh ◽  
Erwin Saraswati ◽  
Abdul Ghofar
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Institutional Ownership ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Corporate Governance Mechanisms ◽  
The Relationship

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of financial and non-financial performance on investor reactions and the role of corporate governance mechanisms as moderating. The analysis technique used is the moderated regression analysis (MRA). The research population is manufacturing sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). Based on the purposive sampling method, 78 companies were selected as the samples (390 firm-year observations). The results of this study provide empirical evidence that the existence of financial and non-financial performance in a company can increase investor reactions. Institutional ownership plays a role in the relationship between financial performance and investor reactions. Meanwhile, independent commissioners, boards of directors, and audit committees have no role in the relationship between financial performance and investor reactions. And independent commissioners and institutional ownership can moderate the influence of non-financial performance on investor reactions. Meanwhile, the board of directors and audit committee cannot moderate the influence of non-financial performance on investor reactions.

The role of audit committees in mitigating earnings management: evidence from Jordan

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taha Almarayeh ◽  
Modar Abdullatif ◽  
Beatriz Aibar-Guzmán
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Discretionary Accruals ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Institutional Setting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study examines the relationship between audit committees (ACs) and earnings management (EM) in the developing country context of Jordan. In particular, it investigates whether audit committee attributes, including their size, independence, expertise and meetings, are able to restrict discretionary accruals as a proxy for EM.Design/methodology/approachThe generalized least square (GLS) regression was used to study the association between audit committee attributes and discretionary accruals, as a proxy of EM, for a sample of industrial firms listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) during the period 2012–2020. Data were obtained from the firms' annual reports.FindingsThe regression results indicate that audit committee independence is the only audit committee attribute that seems to improve the effectiveness of ACs, in that it is significantly associated with less EM, while other audit committee attributes that were tested do not show statistically significant associations.Research limitations/implicationsIn emerging markets, like Jordan, ACs may not be an efficient monitoring mechanism; therefore, it can be argued that the prediction made by the agency theory about the role of ACs in mitigating opportunistic EM activities does not necessarily apply to all contexts.Practical implicationsA better understanding of audit committee effectiveness in developing countries could help regulators in these countries assess the impact of planned corporate governance (CG) reforms and to better monitor and enhance the performance of ACs.Social implicationsIn a setting characterized by closely held companies, high power distance and low demand for high-quality CG mechanisms, this study contributes to understanding how this business system operates, and how improving CG mechanisms could be successful in such cultures.Originality/valueThis study investigates the under-researched relationship between audit committee characteristics and EM in developing countries. In so doing, it aims to provide new insights into this relationship within the developing context case of Jordan, including if and how the institutional setting influences this relationship.

An investigation of the credibility of and confidence in audit value: evidence from a developing country

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taslima Akther ◽  
Fengju Xu
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Auditor Independence ◽  
Order Type ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Anglo American ◽  
The Global Financial Crisis ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to investigate the factors that enhance the credibility of and confidence in audit value. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 254 institutional investors through a questionnaire survey and were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Findings The findings reveal that the two influential predictors of enhanced credibility and confidence are perceived auditor independence and improved auditor communication. Factors related to auditor–client affiliation, such as restrictions on providing non-audit services, mandatory auditor rotation and the presence of effective audit committees, are identified as creating the perceived independence. Improved auditor communication is linked with improving the audit report and ensuring audit education, thus creating more sophisticated users who better understand the scope and purpose of an audit. Furthermore, independent audit oversight acts as a moderator in the relationship between perceived auditor independence, improved auditor communication and enhanced credibility. Enhanced credibility can lead to greater confidence in audit value. Originality/value In the wake of the global financial crisis and loss of confidence in the role of auditors, this study investigates the factors that can enhance the credibility of and confidence in audit value, especially in a non-Anglo-American setting. This study is unique in terms of methodological development, as it uses a higher-order Type II reflective–formative model using PLS-SEM.

Volunteering drivers and continuation will: the role of engagement

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 405-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Aboramadan ◽  
Abderrahman Hassi ◽  
Hatem Jamil Alharazin ◽  
Khalid Abed Dahleez ◽  
Belal Albashiti
Keyword(s):  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Structural Equations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
And Training ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose As volunteering research in nonprofit organizations is growing significantly, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of volunteering drivers and work engagement on volunteer continuation will. Design/methodology/approach Building on empirical and theoretical perspectives, the authors hypothesized that work engagement mediates the relationship between volunteering drivers and volunteer continuation will. To verify our hypotheses, we examined data collected from 372 active volunteers from Palestinian nonprofit organizations. The authors conducted structural equations modeling (SEM) analyses using the AMOS 24 platform to investigate direct and indirect effects. Findings The results of the study show that work engagement is a significant predictor of volunteer continuation will; mediates the relationship between career driver of volunteering and volunteer continuation will; and mediates the relationship between the protective driver of volunteering and volunteer continuation will. Research limitations/implications The research design limits establishing cause and effect relationships among the examined variables. Practical implications The results of the current study may be of use for nonprofit organizations managers formulating effective recruitment and training policies to retain their volunteers. Originality/value The paper contributes to the limited empirical body of the volunteering research. The study is novel as it is one of the few studies conducted using data coming from a non-western context.

scholarly journals Leases as inhibitors of best practice in service charge management

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-286
Author(s):  
Andrew Derek Holt ◽  
Timothy Stephen Eccles
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Commercial Property ◽  
Code Of Practice ◽  
Service Charge ◽  
Practical Management ◽  
Real Estate Management ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The relationship between the owner and an occupier of a commercial property is determined by the lease, inasmuch as it sets out the legally enforceable duties and obligations of each party. However, it is only that, a legal framework; it is not a practical management handbook on how best to operate the premises and generate an amicable business relationship. The purpose of this paper is to consider the role of the lease in reinforcing and disrupting the generation of best practice within real estate management. Design/methodology/approach The paper examines actual leases to understand the service charge and how data pertinent to it is collected, disseminated and interpreted by both parties in carrying out their activities within and about the property. This is then benchmarked against provisions of the Service Charge Code of Practice. Findings Despite a number of incarnations of a code of practice on service charges during the lifetime of the leases examined, the research finds a troublingly small uptake of its ideas within new leases. Practical implications The findings predict future problems in the practical management of multi-tenanted properties, coupled with a call that leases are written to the Code’s requirements. Originality/value No such lease examination has been undertaken to date.

Institutional influence, cognition and competence of top managers and innovative firms

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaidong Feng ◽  
Qunhong Shen ◽  
Shuming Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Institutional Environments ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Top Managers ◽  
Institutional Influence ◽  
Innovative Firms ◽  
Chinese Transition ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the relationship between the role of entrepreneurs and the innovation investment propensity of Chinese firms. This study is expected to enhance our understanding about the competence building of top management team for innovative development. Design/methodology/approach – The analytical framework draws upon the recent theoretical progress about innovative firms, cognition and competence building of top managers. A horizontal data comparison and four longitudinal case studies of representative firms in the Chinese power equipment industry are implemented. Findings – The cognitive backgrounds of top managers, which have a significant role in directing strategic resource allocation, are found to be influenced by institutional environments. Because the institutional environments which are under the Chinese transition impact different groups of firms in different ways, the relevant practices of these firms lead to dissimilar competence building of top managers. Originality/value – This paper establishes a nexus of “institutional influence–cognition–resource allocation”. Such a nexus highlights the role of cognition of top managers in influencing the strategy-making of firms. So it helps in explaining the conditions for competence building in firms.

Board and audit committee effectiveness in the post-ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations era

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
pp. 1137-1151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Safari
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Aggregate Effect

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the corporate governance literature by examining the aggregate effect of board and audit committee characteristics on earnings management practices, particularly in the period following the introduction of the second edition of the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations. Design/methodology/approach This paper begins by embarking on an extensive review of extant empirical research on boards of directors and audit committees. Then, the paper reports on the use of a quantitative analysis approach to specify the relationship between board and audit committee characteristics (introduced by the ASX Corporate Governance Council) and the level of absolute discretionary accruals as a proxy for earnings management. Findings The findings suggest that greater compliance with board and audit committee principles is linked to lower earnings management, indicating that deliberate structuring of boards and audit committees is an effective approach for enhancing a firm’s financial reporting quality and providing support for the efficacy of the second edition of principles and recommendations related to boards and audit committees suggested by the ASX Corporate Governance Council. Practical implications This study significantly extends the literature and has notable implications for financial reporting regulators, as the findings regarding the monitoring role of boards and audit committees should be beneficial for future revisions of corporate governance principles and recommendations. Originality/value This study focuses on the aggregate effect of board characteristics recommended by the Australian Corporate Governance Council on earnings management practices, and the results support the effectiveness of the board and audit committee characteristics recommended by the ASX Corporate Governance Council. New directions for future improvements to the principles and recommendations are identified.

Preliminary evidence on the relationship between corporate governance attributes and audit committee functionality in Egypt: beyond checking the box

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Abdel-Meguid ◽  
Khaled Samaha ◽  
Khaled Dahawy
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Regulatory Requirements ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Egyptian Stock Exchange

Purpose – This exploratory study aims to provide preliminary evidence regarding the non-audit committee corporate governance determinants of audit committee functionality. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on archival accounting, corporate governance data, and interviews of subjects of the top 100 companies listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange (EGX100). A logistic regression is used to identify the non-audit committee governance attributes that affect the likelihood of of having a functional audit committee. Findings – Board size and board independence, (CEO-chairman duality) are positively (negatively) related to audit committee functionality, suggesting complementary governance relations. On the other hand, the authors document a negative relation between auditor type (Big4) and audit committee functionality indicating a substitutive governance effect. Originality/value – To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that explores the actual functioning of audit committees in Egypt beyond mere regulatory requirements. The study highlights the importance of assuring that the “spirit” of corporate governance laws and regulations is adhered to rather than the mere compliance with their “letter”.

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