Board independence and internal control quality in Egypt: does CEO duality matter?

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hichem Khlif ◽  
Khaled Samaha
Keyword(s):  
Internal Control ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Ceo Duality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
External Auditors ◽  
Control Quality ◽  
Leadership Structure ◽  
Board Leadership Structure ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This paper aims to examine the relationship between board independence and internal control quality (ICQ) in Egypt and investigate whether CEO duality moderates such an association. Design/methodology/approach A survey among external auditors is used to assess ICQ among Egyptian listed firms over the period of 2007-2010. Findings Findings show that board independence does not have a significant positive effect on ICQ. However, when testing for the moderating effect of CEO duality on such a relationship, the authors document that the association becomes positive and significant under combined board leadership structure, whereas it is negative under separated leadership structure. Originality/value The authors’ results demonstrate that CEO duality plays a governance role in weak legal environment like Egypt by strengthening board independence role in increasing ICQ.

Audit committee activity and internal control quality in Egypt

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hichem Khlif ◽  
Khaled Samaha
Keyword(s):  
Internal Control ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Auditors ◽  
Audit Market ◽  
Control Quality ◽  
Big 4 ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between audit committee activity, external auditor’s size and internal control quality (ICQ) in the Egyptian setting. It also explores how external auditor’s size moderates the relationship between audit committee activity and ICQ. Design/methodology/approach – To obtain relevant information about ICQ in Egypt, the authors conducted a survey among external auditors using an internal control checklist. Findings – Results show that audit committee activity has a significant positive effect on ICQ. In addition, Big 4 auditors contribute significantly to the improvement of the ICQ in the Egyptian setting. Finally, the association between audit committee activity and ICQ is more pronounced when an organisation is audited by a Big 4 audit firm. Originality/value – The results this paper demonstrate that Big 4 auditors play a governance role in weak legal environment as exists in Egypt by strengthening the effectiveness of audit committee meetings. The findings also have policy implications for Egyptian standard-setters and other emerging economies characterised by an under-developed and poorly regulated audit market, with respect to the development of internal auditing standards.

scholarly journals Board leadership structure and earnings quality

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chinedu Francis Egbunike ◽  
Augustine N. Odum
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Board Structure ◽  
Executive Directors ◽  
Board Size ◽  
Ceo Duality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Board Leadership ◽  
Leadership Structure ◽  
Board Leadership Structure

Purpose One main concern and issue affecting earnings quality is the extent to which managers manipulate earnings to mislead stakeholders about the underlying economic performance of the company or to influence contractual outcomes that depend on reported accounting numbers. This study builds on prior research and examines empirically the relationship between board leadership structure and earnings quality of manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The purpose of this paper is to specifically focus on four board structure characteristics: board size, composition, proportion of non-executive directors and CEO duality. Design/methodology/approach Data used for this investigation were collected from secondary sources, i.e. annual reports and accounts. The study used the Pooled OLS regression model to examine the effect of the board structure on earnings management for a sample of 45 non-financial listed Nigerian companies (conglomerates, consumer goods and industrial goods firms) for the years 2011 to 2016. Findings Based on the analysis, board size and board composition were positive and significant. However, proportion of non-executive directors was negative and significant; while, CEO duality was positive and statistically significant. It was consequently recommended that audit firms should review their audit business model and become more circumspect of their client, e.g. provide fraud assessment and checks for earnings quality. Boards should not just reflect size but rather the skills and expertise of individuals appointed to the board. Furtherance to this, the effectiveness of boards can be improved by committees and sub-committees allocation of duties. Originality/value Few studies have addressed this area in the country.

scholarly journals Internal Control Personnel’s Experience, Internal Control Weaknesses, and ESG Rating

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8645
Author(s):  
Ja Eun Koo ◽  
Eun Sun Ki
Keyword(s):  
Internal Control ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Length Of Service ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Control Quality ◽  
Efficiency And Effectiveness ◽  
Internal Control Weaknesses ◽  
Accounting Expertise ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Positive Effect

Effective internal control is expected to have a positive effect on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ratings, which are an indicator of corporate sustainability, as it ensures improvements in efficiency and effectiveness in operations, reliable reports, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. However, no matter how well an internal control system is designed, internal control quality deteriorates if internal control (IC) personnel do not understand the firm’s business or lack accounting experience. This study first explores the relationship between ESG ratings and internal control weaknesses (ICWs). We then examine two types of career experience of IC personnel—length of service and accounting experience—and their effect on ICWs. We conduct logit regression analyses using the data of 1876 non-financial listed firms in Korea. The results show that ICW firms have low ESG ratings. We also find that the accounting experience of IC personnel is more closely related to ICWs than the length of service. This implies that the accounting expertise of IC personnel may have a greater effect on internal control quality than the understanding of a firm’s business. Overall, our findings provide evidence that firms must have IC personnel with sufficient accounting expertise for sustainable management.

The relationship between managerial ability, earnings management and internal control quality on audit fees in Iran

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 685-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdi Salehi ◽  
Mahmoud Mousavi Shiri ◽  
Seyedeh Zahra Hossini
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Real Earnings Management ◽  
Managerial Ability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Control Quality ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the relationship between managerial ability, earnings management, internal control quality and audit fees to establish whether or not there is a significant relationship between the variables of managerial ability, earnings management, internal control quality and the audit fees. Design/methodology/approach The study sample includes 190 listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange during 2009–2016. Research hypotheses were tested using the statistical methods of multivariable linear regression and data envelopment analysis pattern. Findings The obtained results indicate that there is a significant and direct relationship between managerial ability and internal control quality as well as real earnings management and internal control quality. Based on the results obtained from the second hypothesis, the authors could claim that there is an inverse and significant relationship managerial ability and audit fees. The third hypothesis also revealed that in companies with lower audit fees, there is a stronger relationship between managerial ability and internal control quality. The results of related tests show no significant relationship between accrual-based earnings management and internal control quality. Originality/value This paper is the first study in Iran whose main focus is on the relationship between managerial ability, earnings management, internal control quality and audit fees.

Internal control quality and voluntary disclosure: does CEO duality matter?

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hichem Khlif ◽  
Khaled Samaha ◽  
Ines Amara
Keyword(s):  
Internal Control ◽  
Voluntary Disclosure ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Structural Power ◽  
Ceo Duality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Reporting ◽  
Control Quality

PurposeThe authors examine the association between internal control quality (ICQ) and voluntary disclosure and test whether chief executive officer (CEO) duality, as a proxy for CEO structural power, moderates such a relationship in an emerging market (Egypt).Design/methodology/approachICQ is measured using a survey of external auditors, while a content analysis approach is used to measure the level of voluntary disclosure in annual reports.FindingsBased on a sample of 512 firm-year observations over the period of 2007–2014, the authors document that ICQ is positively and significantly associated with voluntary disclosure, suggesting that better controls improve corporate reporting policy. In addition, CEO duality moderates the association between ICQ and voluntary disclosure since this positive relationship association becomes insignificant for companies characterised by CEO duality. These results remain stable after controlling for endogeneity (self-selection problem), political instability and industry characteristics.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of the study provide preliminary evidence on the association between ICQ and voluntary disclosure, and how CEO structural power may affect this association. Future empirical investigations may extend this work to cover the relationship between ICQ and other attributes of corporate transparency including earnings quality and accounting conservatism.Practical implicationsThe findings highlight the need for Egyptian regulators to enact new rules obliging firms to communicate information about ICQ or charging auditors to report information about firm's ICQ in their reports. The results also alert policymakers about the adverse effect of combined leadership structure (CEO duality) since it mitigates the positive impact of ICQ on voluntary disclosure.Originality/valueThe authors contribute to internal control literature by exploring the association between ICQ and voluntary disclosure on an emergent unregulated market with respect to internal control disclosure. They also highlight how CEO duality, as a proxy for CEO power, mitigates the beneficial effect of ICQ on corporate reporting policy on the Egyptian stock exchange (EGX).

scholarly journals Corporate governance and firm risk

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudha Mathew ◽  
Salma Ibrahim ◽  
Stuart Archbold
Keyword(s):  
Risk Measures ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Corporate Boards ◽  
Firm Risk ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Board Processes ◽  
Governance Index ◽  
Leadership Structure ◽  
Board Leadership Structure ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to explore the relationship between board governance structure and firm risk. In particular, this study develops a “governance index” based on four aspects of the board: board composition, board leadership structure, board member characteristics and board processes, and it examines how the overall index relates to firm risk. Design/methodology/approach The study is conducted using a sample of 268 UK firms from the FTSE 350 index over the period from 2005 to 2010. An index is constructed to capture the overall governance structure of the firm. Regressions of the index on three risk measures are examined. Findings This study finds that the governance index that aggregates the four sets of board attributes is significantly and negatively related to firm risk. Robustness tests confirm this result. Research limitations/implications A large number of studies have explored the relationship between the attributes of corporate boards and firm performance with mixed results. A much smaller number of studies have looked at board attributes and firm risk, but these have either focused on financial sector firms alone or have included only a single or a limited number of attributes. This study, using a broad agency framework, seeks to extend the work on firm risk and board attributes by both expanding industry sectors examined and using a comprehensive set of board attributes. Originality value The findings have policy and practical implications for investors, regulators and chairmen of boards of governors to the extent that they inform these constituencies about the set of board attributes that are associated with firm risk. This study is the first to use a comprehensive measure of governance and relate it to firm risk.

scholarly journals CEO DUALITY AND FIRM PERFORMANCE IN BRAZIL: EVIDENCE FROM 2008

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcio Alves Amaral-Baptista ◽  
Marcelo Cabús Klotzle ◽  
Maria Angela Campelo de Melo
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Food Processing ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Stewardship Theory ◽  
Ceo Duality ◽  
Leadership Structure ◽  
Systemic Crisis ◽  
Board Leadership Structure ◽  
The Relationship

This research investigates the relationship between CEO duality and the performance of Brazilian firms in 2008. While CEO duality has been the dominant board leadership structure of US corporations, Brazilian firms typically separate the roles of CEO and chairperson. During 2008, some Brazilian firms such as Sadia S/A (a multinational food processing company) adopted a dual leadership structure in an attempt to respond to the global systemic crisis. Using agency and stewardship theory perspectives, we tested our hypotheses with data of Brazilian listed companies. The empirical results indicate that companies where the CEO and chairperson are the same person have significantly higher performance (ROE). We also found a positive association between CEO duality and all other firm performance measures (ROA, ROC, MTBV), although the results were not statistically significant for these.

Board independence and firm performance: evidence from Kuwait

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mejbel Al-Saidi
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Independent Directors ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Ordinary Least Square ◽  
Large Shareholders ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This paper aims to reduce the knowledge gap by using a large sample and different regressions while controlling the endogeneity and causality issues. Design/methodology/approach This study used the ordinary least square (OLS) and two stage least squares (2SLS) regressions to control the endogeneity and causality problems; this estimation strategy allows for comparison of both estimates to identify any inconsistency and biases in the parameters. Findings General speaking, this study found that board independence negatively affected firm performance based on Tobin’s Q only and the relationship between the two variables ran from board independence to firm performance but not vice versa. Originality/value The current independent directors are not adding value to Kuwait’s listed firms. Some directors who represent large shareholders and the conflict between large shareholders and small shareholders could affect the role of independent directors in Kuwait. To best of the researchers’ knowledge, this study is the first to consider board independent after controlling the issues of endogeneity and causality in Kuwait; thus, the results could be useful for Kuwaiti firms, regulators and policymakers.

Comparative analysis of the relationship between internal control weakness and different types of auditor opinions in fraudulent and non-fraudulent firms

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Lari Dashtbayaz ◽  
Mahdi Salehi ◽  
Mahdi Hedayatzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Internal Control ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Statistical Population ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Logit Regression ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Logit Regression Model ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to assess the relationship between internal control weakness and different types of auditor opinions in fraudulent and non-fraudulent firms. The study's main objective is to investigate fraud in business firms and analyze internal controls and types of proposed opinions by the auditor about his desired firm. The outbreak of fraud in firms is of utmost importance to a broad spectrum of society. Internal controls and the auditor's role in preventing and detecting frauds should not be taken for granted. Design/methodology/approach The present study's statistical population includes 179 listed firms on the Stock Exchange selected as the study sample using the systematic elimination method during 2012–2019. As the study's dependent variable (the type of auditor’s opinion), research hypotheses were analyzed using the Logit regression model. Findings The results show that the relationship between internal control weakness and opinion type is significantly different in fraudulent and non-fraudulent firms. Moreover, the relationship between internal control weakness and type of auditor opinion in fraudulent firms and the relationship between internal control weakness and type of auditor opinion in non-fraudulent firms are significant. Originality/value By assessing the related literature, the authors have found no study to directly assess the comparative relationship between internal control weakness and the type of auditor opinion, which can be named as the main objective of the study.

The relationship between board leadership structure and earnings management in Asia-Pacific

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qaiser Rafique Yasser ◽  
Abdullah Al Mamun
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Financial Reporting Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leadership Structure ◽  
Board Leadership Structure ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to review the growing research area of behavioral corporate governance; it explores the relationship between CEO duality attributes and earning management in the context of Asia-Pacific countries. Over time, the use by boards of chief executive officer (CEO) duality has fluctuated, and the scholarly conceptualizations of the phenomenon have become more complex. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses panel data from 330 firm years from Australia, Malaysia, The Philippines and Pakistan by taking a sample of three years from 2011 to 2013. Findings The results of the analysis reveal that the board leadership structure was not associated with firm performance and financial reporting quality. However, female CEOs impacted negatively on firm performance in Malaysia, The Philippines and Pakistan. Further analyses expose that the firm size was negatively related with performance, whereas established firms in Australia had strong reporting quality. However, large boards assured healthier reporting quality in Australia and Malaysia. Practical implications This paper provides empirical evidence that a unitary leadership pattern has no significant impact on companies in the Asia-Pacific, and it would be of interest to regulatory bodies, business practitioners and academic researchers. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature on corporate governance and earnings management by introducing a framework for identifying and analyzing moderating variables that affect the relationship between the leadership structure and a firm’s financial reporting quality.

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