The Effects of Corporate Governance Experience and Financial-Reporting and Audit Knowledge on Audit Committee Members' Judgments

2001 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Todd DeZoort ◽  
Steven E. Salterio
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Committee Member ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Corporate Management ◽  
Senior Member ◽  
Conflict Situations ◽  
Ability Tests ◽  
Board Director

Interest in audit committees as part of overall corporate governance has increased dramatically in recent years, with a specific emphasis on member independence, experience, and knowledge. This paper reports the results of a study investigating whether audit committee members' corporate governance experience and financial-reporting and audit knowledge affect their judgments in auditor-corporate management conflict situations. A sample of 68 audit committee members completed an accounting policy dispute case and several knowledge and ability tests. The results indicate that, as expected, greater independent director experience and greater audit knowledge was associated with higher audit committee member support for an auditor who advocated a “substance over form” approach in the dispute with client management. Conversely, concurrent experience as a board director and a senior member of management was associated with increased support for management. Collectively, these findings have a number of implications for practice and research. The results provide justification for calls that audit committees be composed completely of independent directors. The results also support auditor concerns that varying knowledge levels lead to systematic differences in audit committee member judgments in disputes between auditors and management.

Fraudulent Financial Reporting: Consideration of Industry Traits and Corporate Governance Mechanisms

2000 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark S. Beasley ◽  
Joseph V. Carcello ◽  
Dana R. Hermanson ◽  
Paul D. Lapides
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Financial Statement Fraud ◽  
Governance Mechanisms

This paper provides insight into financial statement fraud instances investigated during the late 1980s through the 1990s within three volatile industries—technology, health care, and financial services—and highlights important corporate governance differences between fraud companies and no-fraud benchmarks on an industry-by-industry basis. The fraud techniques used vary substantially across industries, with revenue frauds most common in technology companies and asset frauds and misappropriations most common in financial-services firms. For each of these three industries, the sample fraud companies have very weak governance mechanisms relative to no-fraud industry benchmarks. Consistent with prior research, the fraud companies in the technology and financial-services industries have fewer audit committees, while fraud companies in all three industries have less independent audit committees and less independent boards. In addition, this study provides initial evidence that the fraud companies in the technology and health-care industries have fewer audit committee meetings, and fraud companies in all three industries have less internal audit support. This study of more current financial statement fraud instances contributes by updating our understanding of fraud techniques and risk factors in three key industries. Auditors should consider the industry context as they evaluate the risk of financial fraud, and they should compare clients' governance mechanisms to relevant no-fraud industry benchmarks.

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.

Optimizing good Corporate Governance Mechanism to Improve Performance: Case in Indonesia’s Manufacturing Companies

2020 ◽  
pp. 097215092091987
Author(s):  
Ilham Hidayah Napitupulu ◽  
Anggiat Situngkir ◽  
Ferry Hendro Basuki ◽  
Widyo Nugroho
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Managerial Ownership ◽  
Company Performance ◽  
Governance Mechanism ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Good Corporate Governance

The application of good corporate governance (GCG) aims to improve company performance. In implementing GCG, a mechanism is needed, namely a procedure and a clear relationship between the decision-maker and the party overseeing the decision. The mechanism of GCG can be measured by the numbers of board of directors, independent board of commissioners, audit committees, and also managerial ownership. This research is conducted at manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, with a total sample of 52 companies determined by purposive sampling technique. Data are analyzed by using multiple regression analysis with statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) tools. The findings show that the board of directors and independent commissioners have an influence on company performance, while audit committees and managerial ownership do not affect the company’s performance. The company’s performance is improved by the existence of an independent board of commissioners that provides guidance and direction as well as supervision to the company management. Meanwhile, the audit committee has no influence, because the audit committee is only responsible for assisting the board of commissioners in monitoring the financial reporting process by the management to improve the credibility of financial statements, and managerial ownership does not affect the company’s performance because the number of management shares is quite low, because of which the management cannot influence the decisions taken at the general meeting of shareholders to improve the company’s financial performance. Thus, if the GCG mechanism goes well, then the company’s performance will increase.

Audit Committee Member Support for Proposed Audit Adjustments: Pre-SOX versus Post-SOX Judgments

2008 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Todd DeZoort ◽  
Dana R. Hermanson ◽  
Richard W. Houston
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Committee Member ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Reporting Accuracy ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Public Company

This study examines differences in audit committee member judgments before the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (“pre-SOX”) versus after the act was passed (“post-SOX”) as well as audit committee member perceptions of the effects of SOX. Based on experimental materials administered to 372 public company audit committee members (131 pre-SOX from DeZoort et al. [2003a] and 241 post-SOX), we find that audit committee support for an auditor-proposed adjustment is significantly higher in the post-SOX period. Additional analyses reveal that the effect of SOX differs between audit committee members who are CPAs versus non-CPAs. Specifically, the greater audit committee member support for the proposed adjustment post-SOX is attributable to members who are CPAs. In general, audit committee members in the post-SOX period feel more responsible for resolving the accounting issue, perceive that audit committee members have greater expertise to evaluate the accounting issue, and also are more concerned with reporting accuracy and a need for conservative financial reporting than those in the pre-SOX period. We also find that post-SOX respondents who support the auditor's proposed adjustment have more favorable views of the benefits of SOX, and they believe more strongly that audit committees in the post-SOX period are more conservative and have more power than they did pre-SOX. We discuss implications and avenues for future research.

scholarly journals Non-executive directors and the changing nature of audit committees: Evidence from UK audit committee chairmen

2004 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 108-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Windram ◽  
Jihe Song
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Committee Member ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Executive Directors ◽  
Committee Chairman ◽  
Corporate Governance Reforms ◽  
Governance Reforms

In this paper we provide a descriptive summary of a postal survey of FT 500 UK company audit committee chairman on the operations of UK audit committees. The survey represents an “insider view” of the activities of audit committees and the characteristics of non-executive directors and contributes to the continuing debate on corporate governance reforms. In particular we report on company boards and their composition, audit committee chairman and their outside directorships, financial literacy and remuneration and various aspects of audit committee activity. Our survey shows that UK audit committees and corporate boards have undergone many changes in the last decade since the last comprehensive survey reported in Collier (1992). Our study on the current level of activity within major UK corporate audit committees deepens understanding of the roles and characteristics of non-executive directors and the operation of UK audit committees. In particular our survey shows that there is a significant shift in audit committee activities from the traditional financial reporting role to a greater focus on internal control and risk management. Independence is overwhelmingly seen as the most significant attribute of an audit committee member. Lack of time is perceived to be the greatest impediment to audit committee effectiveness but pressure from executives and an unclear remit are surprisingly prevalent problems even after ten years of corporate governance reforms.

scholarly journals Audit committee gender diversity and financial reporting: evidence from restatements

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javad Oradi ◽  
Javad Izadi
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Female Directors ◽  
Financial Restatements ◽  
Financial Expert

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the association between gender diversity on the audit committees and the incidence of financial restatements. Design/methodology/approach Using a sample of 683 firm-year observations from Iranian listed companies for the period 2013 to 2017, this paper uses a logistic regression model to examine a research hypothesis related to the association between the presence of female members on the audit committee and the incidence of financial restatements. Findings After controlling for other restatement-related factors, the authors find that the presence of at least one female member on audit committees reduces the likelihood of the incidence of financial restatements. Robustness tests also confirmed this result. Moreover, the additional analyses show that independent and financial expert female members on audit committees are more strongly associated with a reduction in financial restatements. Further, the results suggest that the presence of female members on the audit committee can increase the likelihood of hiring higher quality auditors. Generally, the findings are consistent with the literature on gender diversity which suggests that women perform better in a monitoring role, are more conservative and make more ethical decisions. Practical implications The findings of this study could help with the understanding of broader participation of female directors on company boards and subgroups such as the audit committee, and of the improvement in corporate governance. Moreover, the findings can be of particular interest to monitoring authorities and policy makers in developing countries and send positive signals to them regarding the recommendation or requirement of gender diversity as a part of corporate governance mechanisms. Originality/value The present study contributes to the extant literature by providing empirical evidence on the effect of audit committee gender diversity on financial restatements. Furthermore, this study provides evidence on the more effective oversight and greater ability of independent and financial expert female directors, which has been significantly disregarded in the previous studies.

scholarly journals Characteristics Of Diligent Audit Committees

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Braswell ◽  
Roger B. Daniels ◽  
Mark Landis ◽  
Chun-Chia (Amy) Chang
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Committee Member ◽  
Agency Cost ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Efficiency Gains ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Financial Expertise ◽  
Composition Characteristics

The mounting attention given to audit committees following a series of corporate financial reporting failures has resulted in numerous provisions within Sarbanes Oxley Act (SOX hereafter) of 2002. The SOX addresses aspects of the audit committee, including its authority and composition characteristics, but the requirement for minimum meeting frequency for the audit committee member was absent from the final SOX provision despite the recommendations of regulators. Since audit committee activity, or degree of audit committee diligence, is determined by the audit committee itself, we investigate various firm-level and governance attributes that likely influence audit committees choice to meet more often than anticipated. After analyzing a sample of 2,715 firm-year observations spanning fiscal years 1998-2003, we find that audit committee diligence is positively associated with audit committee attributes such as financial expertise, but negatively association with audit committee tenure, suggesting that efficiency gains are enjoyed by audit committees as they become more familiar with firm-specific reporting issues. We also document positive associations between audit committee diligence and both governance and agency cost variables. Finally, we document a significant increase in audit committee diligence in the years following the implementation of the SOX 2002 provisions.

Does Audit Firm Tenure Matter to Audit Committee Members? Evidence from an Accounting Dispute

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice E. Rummell ◽  
F. Todd DeZoort ◽  
Dana R. Hermanson
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Committee Member ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Big 4 ◽  
Analyst Expectations ◽  
Public Company ◽  
Management Experience ◽  
Support Relation

SYNOPSIS This study examines the effects of Big 4 audit firm tenure on audit committee member support for the auditor in an auditor/management dispute over a subjective accounting issue. One hundred eighteen U.S. public company audit committee members participated in an experiment with audit firm tenure (short/long) manipulated randomly between subjects. The results indicate that participants in the long audit firm tenure group provide more support for the auditor in the dispute than participants in the short tenure group. Audit committee support for the auditor is positively related to audit committee member experience and CPA status, as well as perceived management pressure to meet analyst expectations, but negatively related to perceived management experience in financial reporting. Finally, audit committee members' perceptions of audit firm reliability (i.e., credibility and dependability) mediate the audit firm tenure-auditor support relation. Overall, our results suggest enhanced audit committee support for longer-tenured auditors.

Did the 1999 NYSE and NASDAQ Listing Standard Changes on Audit Committee Composition Benefit Investors?

2017 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 187-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seil Kim ◽  
April Klein
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Financial Reporting Quality ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Independent Audit

ABSTRACT In December 1999, the SEC instituted a new listing standard for NYSE and NASDAQ firms. Listed firms were now required to maintain fully independent audit committees with at least three members. In July 2002, the U.S. Congress legislated these standards through the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Our research question is whether all investors benefited from the 1999 new rule. Using both an event study and a difference-in-differences methodology, we find no evidence of higher market value or better financial reporting quality resulting from this rule.

scholarly journals Impact of Corporate Governance on Financial Performance: Karachi Stock Exchange, Pakistan

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aon Waqas Awan ◽  
Javed Ahmed Jamali
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Profit Margin ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Board Size ◽  
Good Decision ◽  
Return On Equity ◽  
The Impact

The aim of the research is to understand the impact of corporate governance on financial performance of listed companies on Karachi Stock Exchange Pakistan. Data was collected from forty two companies from different sectors like, insurance, banking, investment banking, and sugar industries. Study includes variables like profit margin & return on equity as a dependent (profitability) and board size, audit committee, annual general meetings & chief executive office (corporate governance). Using Pooled OLS, the result of the study proved those board size and audit committees have positive relationship with Profit margin and Return on Equity, if any independent variable changes it also stimulus the positively changing impact on Return on Equity (ROE) and Audit Committee (AC). This research offers imminent guidelines to the policy and decision makers in any type of firms to take good decision to set their firms hierarchy system.

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