Examining the Current Legal Environment Facing the Public Accounting Profession: Recommendations for a Consistent U.S. Policy

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Reinstein ◽  
Carl J. Pacini ◽  
Brian Patrick Green
Keyword(s):  
Global Economy ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Auditor Liability ◽  
The Public ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Public Accounting Firms ◽  
Audit Reports

We examine the recent history and trends of U.S. auditor liability to third parties to help regulators and legislators develop policies to protect and maintain audit quality while limiting auditor liability exposure. Although the United States has yet developed a formal policy to address auditor liability, some European Union member countries and Australia, in varying degrees, support such limitation. Thus, we also explore current EU and Australian policies as examples of potential recommendations to U.S. policy makers. In light of a litigious environment, U.S. Certified Public Accounting firms generally accept potential clients only after analyzing potential risks, dismiss many risky clients, raise their total or hourly fees, spend more time examining attestation evidence, and perform other procedures to reduce their litigation risk. This risk arises largely from the federal and state legal systems, assuming that auditors can better absorb and control losses from misleading financial statements than can financial statement users. While culpable, this litigious environment led to the demise of two large international Certified Public Accounting firms—Arthur Andersen and Laventhol & Horwath. Is the global economy better off having fewer accounting firms with the capacity to perform international audits? A Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s recent Exposure Draft would require auditors of issuers to expand significantly their audit reports beyond current Pass/Fail standards, which could increase audit firms’ disclosures and resultant liabilities. After examining U.S. federal and state statutes plus court decisions regarding auditor liability, we suggest methods to protect the public while allowing audit firms to thrive in these environments.

scholarly journals The Work Environment in Large Audit Firms: Current Perceptions and Possible Improvements

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. A38-A61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana R. Hermanson ◽  
Richard W. Houston ◽  
Chad M. Stefaniak ◽  
Anne M. Wilkins
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Intellectual Stimulation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
The Public ◽  
The People ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Public Accounting Firms

SUMMARY This study examines the work environment in the audit division of large public accounting firms. Based on 18 semi-structured interviews (eight partners and ten staff auditors currently or recently employed by large public accounting firms), we find that the interviewees cite several positive aspects of auditing careers including the people, intellectual stimulation, challenge, and responsibility. However, they also cite significant negatives, including PCAOB regulation, stress, and hours. None of the staff interviewees plans to stay in public accounting long term, and while all of the partners would recommend public accounting to others, most focused only on public accounting as a place to start a career. The findings raise a number of concerns regarding the profession's ability to sustain the quality of its human capital, especially since there are no signs of a radically improved work environment in public accounting that may appeal to Millennials. We conclude by discussing possible improvements in the public accounting work environment that would address the issues raised in the interviews.

scholarly journals Determinasi Kualitas Audit Pada Perusahaan Yang Terdaftar Di Indeks Saham Syariah Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-113
Author(s):  
Nur Rahayu ◽  
◽  
Prayogo P Harto ◽  
Mustafa Kamal ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Model Data ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
The Public ◽  
Discretionary Accrual ◽  
Public Accounting Firms ◽  
Auditor Specialization

This research aims to examine empirically the influence of the size of the public accounting firms, auditor specialization industry, the size of the audit committee, and audit delay on audit quality. The population of this research is the companies listed in the ISSI. The data are analyzed by using a multiple linear regression. Proxy measurements for audit quality are using discretionary accrual Kazsnik model. Data analysis shows that the size of the public accounting firms, auditor specialization industry, and audit delay influence the audit quality.

An Analysis of Cross-Sectional Differences in Big and Non-Big Public Accounting Firms' Audit Programs

2006 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Blokdijk ◽  
Fred Drieenhuizen ◽  
Dan A. Simunic ◽  
Michael T. Stein
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Big 5 ◽  
Public Accounting Firms ◽  
Audit Approach ◽  
Control Risk

A significant body of prior research has shown that audits by the Big 5 (now Big 4) public accounting firms are quality differentiated relative to non-Big 5 audits. This result can be derived analytically by assuming that Big 5 and non-Big 5 firms face different loss functions for “audit failures” and is consistent with a variety of empirical evidence from studies of audit fees, auditor changes, and the stock price reaction to audited earnings. However, there is no existing evidence (of which we are aware) concerning the underlying production differences between Big 5 and non-Big 5 audits. As a result, existing empirical evidence cannot distinguish between the possibility that Big 5 audits are simply perceived to be different (e.g., by investors) or actually differ in how they are produced. Our research objective is to identify the production characteristics of audit engagements that may explain the differences in expected audit quality between Big 5 and non-Big 5 firms. In this archival study, we examine the total audit effort and the allocation of effort to four audit phases—planning, (control) risk assessment, substantive testing, and completion—for a cross-section sample of 113 audits of Dutch companies in 1998/99 by 14 public accounting firms. We find that, after controlling for client characteristics: (1) both types of auditors exert about the same amount of total audit effort; (2) Big 5 auditors allocate relatively more effort to planning and (control) risk assessment, and relatively less to substantive testing and completion; and (3) client size, use of the business-risk-based audit approach, and reliance on client internal controls affect audit hours differently for the two auditor types. We conclude that the Big 5 firms actually produce a higher audit quality level, and that this quality difference is related to how audit hours are deployed in a more contextual and less procedural audit approach.

A Theoretical Framework of the Relationship between Public Accounting Firms and Their Auditors

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Dreike Almer ◽  
Julia L. Higgs ◽  
Karen L. Hooks
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
The Public ◽  
Sociology Of Professions ◽  
Rich Description ◽  
Public Accounting Firms ◽  
Current Article ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Significant Attention

The behavior of auditors in the context of their employment by public accounting firms has received significant attention in the accounting literature. The current article extends this literature by providing a framework that identifies what auditing professionals contribute and receive as a result of their work efforts, as well as related influences. Using agency theory modified with fundamental ideas from the sociology of professions literature, we develop a model of the auditor-public accounting firm employment relationship. This framework is grounded in a timely, contextually rich description of the public accounting work environment, and the pressures and incentives faced by auditors. Propositions for future research are suggested that arise from understanding the auditor-firm relationship.

scholarly journals The Influence of Reputation of Public Accounting Firms on the Integrity of Financial Statements with Corporate Governance as the Moderating Variable

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nera Marinda Machdar ◽  
Dade Nurdiniah
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Institutional Ownership ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Accounting Firm ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Accounting Firms

This research aimed to determine the effect of the reputation of the public accounting firm on the integrity of financial statements by including leverage and firm size as the control variables. This research also investigated the effects of corporate governance moderation that was proxied by the independent commissioner, institutional ownership, and audit committee in strengthening or weakening the reputation of the public accounting firms on the integrity of the financial statements. The population was manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2013-2015. The sample utilized the purposive sampling method and resulted in 34 manufacturing firms, so the total observations were 102 firms in all observed years. This research performed statistical data processing with EVIEWS 8. There are two main findings of this research. First, the reputation of public accounting firm affects the integrity of the financial statement. Second, corporate governance that utilizes the independent commissioners and institutional ownership strengthen the effect of the reputation of the public accounting firm on the integrity of the financial statement. However, corporate governance using audit committee weakens the reputation of the public accounting firm on the integrity of financial statements.

Comments by the Auditing Standards Committee of the Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association on the PCAOB Rulemaking Docket Matter No. 31: PCAOB Release No. 2010-005, Application of the “Failure to Supervise” Provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Solicitation of Comment on Rulemaking Concepts

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. C11-C15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Brazel ◽  
James Bierstaker ◽  
Paul Caster ◽  
Brad Reed
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Exposure Period ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Accounting Firm ◽  
The Public ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Public Company ◽  
Auditing Standards ◽  
Supervision Practices

SUMMARY: Recently, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB” or “Board”) issued a release to address, in two ways, issues relating to the responsibilities of a registered public accounting firm and its supervisory personnel with respect to supervision. First, the release reminds registered firms and associated persons of, and highlights the scope of, Section 105(c)(6) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“the Act”), which authorizes the Board to impose sanctions on registered public accounting firms and their supervisory personnel for failing to supervise reasonably an associated person who has violated certain laws, rules, or standards. Second, the release discusses and seeks comment on conceptual approaches to rulemaking that might complement the application of Section 105(c)(6) and, through increased accountability, lead to improved supervision practices and, consequently, improved audit quality. The PCAOB provided for a 91-day exposure period (from August 5, 2010, to November 3, 2010) for interested parties to examine and provide comments on the conceptual approaches to rulemaking that might complement the application of Section 105(c)(6). The Auditing Standards Committee of the Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association provided the comments in the letter below to the PCAOB on the PCAOB Release No. 2010-005, Application of the “Failure to Supervise” Provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Solicitation of Comment on Rulemaking Concepts.

scholarly journals Pengaruh Tekanan Ketaatan, Pengetahuan, Dan Pengalaman Auditor Terhadap Audit Judgment

InFestasi ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 169
Author(s):  
Lambok Tampubolon
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Significant Positive Effect ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
The Public ◽  
Audit Judgment ◽  
Public Accounting Firms ◽  
Positive Effect

<p><em>This research is quantitative research. The data used in this study is primary data by distributing questionnaires to public accounting firms domiciled in DKI Jakarta. The population in this study were auditors who worked in the Public Accounting Office. Questionnaires were distributed as many as 130 questionnaires and data that could be processed as many as 100 questionnaires. Data is processed using the help of SPSS 23. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of auditor compliance, knowledge and experience on audit judgment. From a sample of 17 public accounting firms in DKI Jakarta, this study shows that: (1) obedience pressure has a significant positive effect on audit judgment, (2) knowledge has a significant positive effect on judgment audits, and (3) auditor experience has no effect on judgment audit.</em></p>

scholarly journals Exploring Changing Requirements of Financial Statement Audit Reports via a Morphogenetic Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-55
Author(s):  
Ying Deng ◽  
Graham Bowrey ◽  
Greg Jones
Keyword(s):  
Financial Statement ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
The Public ◽  
Financial Statement Audit ◽  
Audit Regulation ◽  
Financial Audit ◽  
Proposed Regulation ◽  
Audit Reports ◽  
The Impact

There has been an ongoing concern with the quality of financial audit reports issued by registered public accounting firms in relation to financial accountability and transparency of the financial statements. In July 2009 the Public Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) released a concept paper outlining changes to the requirements of financial audit activities such as the inclusion of the engagement partner’s signature on the financial audit reports. The aim of these new requirements was to improve the accountability of engagement partners as well as enhance the perception of transparency of the audit reports. However, the contribution and effectiveness of these requirements to improve accountability and transparency of audit reports for various stakeholders relying on the audited financial information is questionable. This study explores the impact and effectiveness of changes to auditing regulation and processes through the application of Archer’s (1995) morphogenetic approach which is based on social conditioning, social interaction, and social elaboration where the structural influences provides the environment for agents to differentiate themselves. In addition, this study demonstrates how proposed regulation changes mould the qualities of audit regulation, the profession and the auditor whose perspectives deserved to be noticed from the dominant constituencies structured by the propositions of a morphogenetic analysis.

scholarly journals Pengaruh Pengalaman Auditor, Time Budget Pressure dan Ukuran Kantor Akuntan Publik Terhadap Audit Report LAG Pada Auditor Kantor Akuntan Publik Di Kota Surabaya

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 80
Author(s):  
Dewi Sutjahyani
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Time Budget ◽  
Audit Report ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Audit Planning ◽  
Public Accounting Firms ◽  
Inspection Tasks ◽  
Time Budget Pressure

The job of the auditor is to provide useful information, therefore when the audited report is delayed it will reduce the use value of the financial statements presented. Therefore, it is important to identify and have a deeper look at several factors related to the occurrence of audit report lag. Thus, it is necessary to study whether these factors significantly influence the audit report lag. This is important because the audit report lag phenomenon can reduce client interest and affect the reputation of auditors and public accounting firms where auditors work. Hypothesis 1 in this study is rejected, this means that the experience of auditors does not significantly affect the Audit Report Tag. work and the number of inspection tasks. The experience variable does not have a significant effect because audit quality is not determined by the length of work and the number of audit tasks. Hypothesis 2, namely that time budget pressure has an effect on audit report lag, is rejected. Time budget pressure is vital in the process of completing an audit report. In this case the time budget pressure does not have a significant effect because the budget pressure is determined when planning to determine the audit task but the implementation of the audit can be different influenced by the existing situation. For example during a pandemic, uncontrollable situations lead to leeway in the completion of audited reports. So that the existing time budget pressure must be adjusted. The hypothesis in this study is accepted, this is because the size of KAP basically determines the level of efficiency and effectiveness of each auditor's task. In medium and large KAPs, there is usually a structured system and maturity from the audit planning process to the audit. This is because large public accounting firms usually try to maintain quality and reputation to keep their clients interested

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