The relationship between political connections, auditor characteristics and auditor narcissism

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jalil Khaksar ◽  
Mahdi Salehi ◽  
Mahmoud Lari DashtBayaz
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Political Connections ◽  
Industry Specialization ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Political Relations ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Auditor Characteristics

Purpose This study aims to assess the relationship between political connections, auditor characteristics (audit quality and industry specialization) and auditors’ intrinsic characteristics (narcissism) in listed firms on the Tehran Stock Exchange. In other words, this paper attempts to answer the question “whether political connections, audit quality and industry specialization contribute to the growth of narcissism and overconfidence of auditors of listed firms on the Tehran Stock Exchange or not.” Design/methodology/approach A multivariate regression model is used for hypothesis testing. The study’s hypotheses were also examined using a sample of 768-year firm listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange during 2013–2018 and by using the multiple regression pattern. Findings The obtained results indicate a negative and significant association between political relations, narcissism and overconfidence. The auditor’s overconfidence will go down by increasing political relations. Moreover, the results show a positive and significant relationship between audit quality, industry specialization and narcissism. On the other hand, to the best of authors’ knowledge, this study measured, for the first time, the severity of political connections by using the exploratory factor analysis of eight variables (long-term liabilities, firm size, financial leverage, export, human resources, major governmental shareholders, board members affiliated to the government and institutional ownership). Originality/value The authors figured out that few studies carried out, so far, in the emergent markets on political connections and their impacts on narcissism and overconfidence of auditors, so this paper aims to assess the effect of such a phenomenon in the emergent markets and contributes to the development of knowledge and science in this field.

scholarly journals The effect of auditor characteristics on tax avoidance of Iranian companies

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdi Salehi ◽  
Hossein Tarighi ◽  
Tahereh Alidoust Shahri
Keyword(s):  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Tax Avoidance ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Industry Specialization ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Auditor Industry Specialization ◽  
Auditor Tenure ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Auditor Characteristics

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between auditor characteristics and the level of tax avoidance in an emerging market. Design/methodology/approach In this regard, the effect of various factors such as auditor tenure, auditor industry specialization, audit reports and audit fees on tax avoidance was examined. The study sample includes listed companies in the Tehran Stock Exchange. The time period of study is six years from 2011 to 2016. Also in this study, firm size, leverage, firm age and auditor size were controlled. Findings The results of this research were determined in four hypotheses. First and second hypotheses that explore the relationship between auditor tenure and auditor industry specialization with tax avoidance were not confirmed. But the results showed a significant relationship between the type of audit opinions and audit fees with tax avoidance. Originality/value The current study investigates the auditor characteristics on tax avoidance in a developing nation of Iran and the results may helpful the developing countries.

The effect of auditor narcissism on audit market competition

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hojat Mohammadi ◽  
Mahdi Salehi ◽  
Meysam Arabzadeh ◽  
Hassan Ghodrati
Keyword(s):  
Financial Markets ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Market Competition ◽  
Competitive Pressure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Audit Market

Purpose This paper aims to assess auditor narcissism’s effect on audit market competition (auditor concentration, clients’ concentration and competitive pressure). Design/methodology/approach This paper’s method is descriptive-correlational based on published information from listed firms on the Tehran Stock Exchange from 2012 to 2018 using a sample of 188 firms (1,310 observations). The method used for hypothesis testing is linear regression using panel data. Findings The results show a negative and significant relationship between auditor narcissism and audit market competition and its indices, including auditor concentration, clients’ concentration and competitive pressure. Moreover, a positive and significant relationship was observed between audit quality and audit market competition and its indices, including auditor concentration, client concentration and competitive pressure. Originality/value To analyzes competition indices in the audit market (auditor concentration, clients’ concentration and competitive pressure). The variable is assessed once more using the exploratory factor analysis of the so-called three variables single variable, named audit market competition. So the central question of the study is investigated within a broader sense. Moreover, as the present study is carried out in the emergent financial markets with extremely competitive audit markets to figure out the effect of auditors’ intrinsic characteristics on such markets’ competitiveness, it can provide useful information in this field.

Corporate political connections, agency costs and audit quality

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arifur Khan ◽  
Dessalegn Getie Mihret ◽  
Mohammad Badrul Muttakin
Keyword(s):  
Agency Costs ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Agency Cost ◽  
Political Connections ◽  
Political Connection ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Big 4 ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The effect of political connections of agency costs has attracted considerable research attention due to the increasing recognition of the fact that political connection influences corporate decisions and outcomes. This paper aims to explore the association between corporate political connections and agency cost and examine whether audit quality moderates this association. Design/methodology/approach A data set of Bangladeshi listed non-financial companies is used. A usable sample of 968 firm-year observations was drawn for the period from 2005 to 2013. Asset utilisation ratio, the interaction of Tobin’s Q and free cash flow and expense ratio are used as alternative proxies for agency costs; membership to Big 4 audit firms or local associates of Big 4 firms is used as a proxy for audit quality. Findings Results show that politically connected firms exhibit higher agency costs than their unconnected counterparts, and audit quality moderates the relationship between political connection and agency costs. The results of this paper suggest the importance of audit quality to mitigate agency problem in an emerging economic setting. Research limitations/implications The findings of this paper could be of interest to regulators wishing to focus regulatory effort on significant issues influencing stock market efficiency. The findings could also inform auditors in directing audit effort through a more complete assessment of risk and determining reasonable levels of audit fees. Finally, results could inform financial statement users to direct investments to firms with lower agency costs. Originality/value To the knowledge of the authors, this study is one of the first to explore the relationship between political connection and agency costs, and the moderating effect of audit quality of this relationship.

The relationship between the companies’ political connections and audit fees

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 1123-1141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdi Salehi
Keyword(s):  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Political Connections ◽  
The Political ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Inverse Effect ◽  
Political Relationships ◽  
Auditor Selection ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the political connections of companies are correlated with auditor selection, audit fees and abnormal audit fees. Design/methodology/approach The research data contains 756 observations of companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange during 2011-2019. In this study, the relationship between companies with political relationships and the selection of a qualified auditor, audit fees and abnormal audit fees are reviewed. The regression used for test the hypotheses. Findings The results of hypotheses testing indicate that there is a positive and significant correlation between the political relationships of companies and certified auditor selection, auditing fees and abnormal audit fees. In addition, the political relationships of companies have a significant and inverse effect on the relationship between institutional ownership and auditing fee and abnormal audit fees. It was also found that there is a positive and significant correlation between companies and political relationships and abnormal audit fees. Originality/value So far several studies conducted on audit fees, however, no study conducted on the relationship of political relationship of the companies with audit fees and the results of the current study may bridge the gap in the current field.

The moderating role of audit quality on the relationship between auditor reporting and earnings management: empirical evidence from Tunisia

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fakhfakh Imen ◽  
Jarboui Anis
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Generalized Least Squares ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Audit Opinion ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Audit Opinions ◽  
Auditor Reporting ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the interrelationship between modified audit opinions and earnings management as measured by discretionary accruals and develop a thorough understanding regarding the moderating effect of audit quality on this relation.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a sample of Tunisian listed firms on the Tunis Stock Exchange during 2006–2013. Four models are developed and tested by using panel logistic and Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) regressions.FindingsThe results show that earnings management increases the likelihood of receiving a modified audit opinions. Then firms receiving modified audit opinions manage earnings more than those receiving clean opinions. It is also discovered that audit quality moderates the relationship between audit opinion and earnings management.Practical implicationsThis paper contributes to the literature of both audit and management studies and represents the first effort to examine the relation between audit opinion and earnings management, with audit quality as a moderating variable.Originality/valueThis study extends existing research on earnings management and audit opinion. Thus, this study has the potential to help stakeholders, board of directors, regulators and auditors, who are related with enhancing the supervision of firms and reducing the opportunities given to managers, to engage in earnings management. It constitutes an addition to previous knowledge about audit opinion in the Tunisian context before and after revolution.

scholarly journals Military Background, Political Connection, Audit Quality And Earning Quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
Arif Widodo, Zaenal Fanani
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Political Connections ◽  
Political Connection ◽  
Military Background ◽  
Earning Quality ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Military ◽  
The Relationship

This research is try to determine the effect of military background and political connections on earning quality with audit quality as a mediator. This research uses a quantitative approach using a sample of mining sector company that listing in Indonesia Stock Exchange in the 2017-2018 periods. The conclusion of this research points out that military background has positive effect on audit quality and political connections negatively affect earning quality. While earning quality not effected by the military background, political connections do not effect audit quality, and earnings quality not effected by audit quality. Likewise, for the hypothesis, mediation of the audit quality has no effect on the relationship of military background and political connections to earnings quality.

The relationship between auditor characteristics and fraud detection

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jalil Khaksar ◽  
Mahdi Salehi ◽  
Mahmoud Lari DashtBayaz
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Fraud Detection ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Multiple Regression Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Auditor Characteristics

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the relationship between the following auditor's characteristics with detecting frauds in the listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange. Design/methodology/approach A multiple regression model is used to test the research hypothesis. The hypothesis was further tested with a sample of 187 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (1,309 observations) from 2012 to 2018 and by using multiple regression models based on panel data and the random-effects model. Findings The results suggest a positive and significant relationship between audit firms' size, auditor rotation, specialization in the industry, the audit market's focus, auditor's independence, audit report lag and renewal of financial statements with fraud detection. The results revealed a significant relationship between the period of auditor tenure, auditor's narcissism, audit fees and the type of auditors' opinion (un-qualified opinion) with fraud detection. Originality/value As the present study is a pioneer in examining this issue in the emerging markets, it provides users, analysts and legal entities with useful information about auditor characteristics that significantly affect the fraud detection of financial statements. The results mitigate the literature gap and improve knowledge in this area.

The effects of audit quality on the costs of capital of firms in Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Coffie ◽  
Ibrahim Bedi ◽  
Mohammed Amidu
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Cost Of Capital ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Of Debt ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Financial Firms ◽  
The Cost

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the effects of audit quality on the cost of capital in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachNon-financial firms listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) as well as non-listed firms from the database of Ghana Club 100 were included in the sample. Series are yearly, covering a sample of 40 firms during the six-year period, 2008-2013. The study employed the positivist research paradigm to establish the relationship between audit quality and the cost of capital.FindingsThere is evidence to suggest that the cost of debt and the overall cost of capital of firms in Ghana can be explained by the quality of the external auditors. The results also show that the large size of the board is associated with low cost of debt.Research limitations/implicationsThe fact that the choice of quality measure is based on firm size only and other measurements of audit quality could not be measured. Future research may examine how other approaches to measuring audit quality affect cost of capital.Practical implicationsThe results significant for those charged with assurance and regulation, as well as lenders and managers of companies.Originality/valueThe authors investigate how external auditing quality affects the cost of capital of firms operating in Ghana.

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.

Busy boards and earnings management – an Australian perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 464-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeut Hong Tham ◽  
Nigar Sultana ◽  
Harjinder Singh ◽  
Ross Taplin
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Resource Dependency ◽  
Resource Dependency Theory ◽  
Dependency Theory ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Multiple Directorships ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess whether multiple directorships have an influence on earnings management for Australian publicly listed firms. This paper attempts to determine whether boards with multiple directorships are effective monitors and are able to constrain earnings management activities. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts resource dependency theory on the relationship between multiple directorships and the extent of earnings management. Data analysis is based on publicly listed firms on Australian Stock Exchange utilising SIRCA database with a final pooled sample of 1,815 firm-year observations from 2008 to 2012. Findings Using different measures of multiple directorships, it is found that firms having board of directors with multiple directorships exhibit lower levels of earnings management. The results validate the applicability of resource dependency theory on the relationship between multiple directorships and the extent of earnings management suggesting that directors with multiple board seats by sharing experiences, skills, information and other resources limit the extent of earnings management by firms. Evidence also suggests that earnings management behaviour is more pronounced in larger firms compared to smaller firms and as predicted, industry audit specialists restrain earnings management activities. Practical implications This study introduces methodological enhancements to the literature as it measures the multiple directorships in a number of different ways. Firms may be encouraged to actively seek board members with diverse backgrounds, international exposure/experience and pertinent skill-sets with multiple board memberships. These benefits will assist firms to determine the optimal board composition that will enable it to function effectively. Originality/value Empirical studies on the association between multiple directorships and earnings management in Australia are scarce and this paper provides an update of the effect of multiple directorships on earnings quality in Australia.

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