Short-Term Accruals and the Pricing and Production of Audit Services

2010 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 221-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caren Schelleman ◽  
W. Robert Knechel
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Profit Margin ◽  
Work Effort ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Audit Pricing ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Unique Data

SUMMARY: This study investigates how risk associated with increased levels of accruals that might be indicative of earnings management affects the pricing and production of audit services. Francis and Krishnan (1999) suggest that auditors can deal with the risk of earnings management in five ways: (1) screen out high-risk clients; (2) charge a premium to riskier clients; (3) increase audit effort; (4) negotiate adjustments to the financial statements; and/or (5) report more conservatively (e.g., by issuing a modified report). Using a unique data set, the current study investigates two of these options: charging a fee premium and increasing audit effort. Based on previous research on audit pricing and production, we construct models for audit fees, total audit effort, labor mix (extent of experienced auditor effort), and engagement profit margin including an accruals measure that could indicate earnings management. We test these models on a sample of 119 audit engagements from one Big 6 audit firm in The Netherlands. We find that signed short-term accruals are associated with a significant increase in audit fees as well as total effort, but not with experience mix or profit margin. However, we find secondary evidence that auditors utilize more supervisors, assistants and support personnel and earn smaller profits (returns) when a client has higher levels of short-term accruals. Taken together, these results suggest that auditors are responsive to high levels of short-term accruals that may be indicative of earnings management, and will increase their work effort even if they are unable to recoup all of the related costs.

Fee Discounting and Audit Quality Following Audit Firm and Audit Partner Changes: Chinese Evidence

2014 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 1517-1546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hua-Wei Huang ◽  
K Raghunandan ◽  
Ting-Chiao Huang ◽  
Jeng-Ren Chiou
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Audit Fee ◽  
Significant Attention

ABSTRACT Issues related to low-balling of initial year audit fees and the resultant impact on audit quality have received significant attention from regulators in many countries. Using 9,684 observations from China during the years 2002–2011, we find that there is a significant initial year audit fee discount following an audit firm change when both of the signing audit partners are different from the prior year. The evidence is mixed if one or both of the signing partners from the prior year also moves with the client to the new audit firm. We find evidence of audit fee discounting in our analysis of fee levels, but not in our analysis of changes in audit fees from the prior year. Sanctions for problem audits and greater earnings management are more likely when there is an audit firm change that involves two new signing partners together with initial year audit fee discounting.

scholarly journals A Test of Audit Pricing in the Small-Client Segment: A Comment

1995 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willie E. Gist
Keyword(s):  
Product Differentiation ◽  
Firm Size ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Price Premium ◽  
Audit Pricing ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Size Classes ◽  
Audit Market ◽  
Second Tier ◽  
The U.S

This study is the second to provide a richer test of the association between auditor size and audit fees by using three audit firm size classes in the small-client segment of the U.S. audit market. The finding of a Big 8 (now Big 6) price premium is consistent with Francis and Simon [1]. However, this price premium exists only with respect to local/regional firms. Francis und Simon showed that the Big 8 price premium exists with respect to both second-tier and local/regional firms. The present study also provides evidence of a second-tier price premium over local/regional firms. The results imply product differentiation to both Big 8 and second-tier firms. Plausible reasons for differences in results between the two studies are given.

scholarly journals Analisis Kinerja Keuangan dengan Menggunakan Metode Common Size pada PT. Holcim Indonesia Tbk

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-159
Author(s):  
Riri Rifardi ◽  
R. Deni Muhammad Danial ◽  
Dicky Jhoansyah
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Balance Sheet ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Profit Margin ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Descriptive Research ◽  
Income Statement ◽  
Net Profit ◽  
Margin Of Safety ◽  
The Common

Financial statements are used as a tool to find out how the financial performance of the company and can produce useful conclusions. This study aims to determine the financial performance of PT. Holcim Indonesia Tbk, which headlined the 2013-2017 balance sheet and income statement using the common size method. The research method applied in this study is to use descriptive research with a quantitative approach. The results of research conducted indicate the current assets of PT. Holcim Indonesia Tbk is not comparable with the short-term liabilities that are borne by the company, this shows the low liquidity of the company, from solvency, the company uses the capital on the assets of most of the liabilities owned, thus decreasing the level of company sovability and can make a low margin of safety for creditor. Judging from the income statement, it shows that the marketing strategy of the company is not good, as seen from the increase in cost of goods sold and making the gross profit margin decrease. For the company's ability to generate profits, the company's net profit margin from year to year has decreased to a loss in 2016-2017. This shows that financial performance has deteriorated because the company's profitability has always declined to the point of loss. Keywords: Financial Performance, Financial Statements, Common Size Method.

scholarly journals Audit Fees and Financial Performance of Deposit Taking Saccos in North RIFT, Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 15-27
Author(s):  
Dorris Serem ◽  
Dr. Rashid Fwamba ◽  
Dr. Alala Benedict
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Auditor Independence ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Firm Experience ◽  
The Impact

The collapse of Deposit-Taking SACCOS and financial institutions in Kenya has caught the attention of the public and supervisory agencies to query the quality of audit. SACCO Societies Regulatory Authority on its inspection report indicated that SACCOs have been implicated in maladministration, scams and fraudulent dealings that led to their eventual collapse. SASRA also revoked licenses and rejected audited financial statements of some Deposit Taking SACCOs between 2013 to 2017.These financial scandals have been traced to poor audit quality. The study aimed to test the impact of audit quality on financial performance of Deposit-Taking SACCOs in North Rift Region, Kenya. The study sought to establish the influence of audit fees on financial performance; determine the influence of audit firm tenure on financial performance; establish the influence of auditor independence on financial performance and to determine the influence of audit firm experience on financial performance of Deposit-Taking SACCOs in North Rift Region, Kenya. This study was based on Agency theory, Role theory and the Concept of audit expectation gap, and Stakeholders’ theory. This research adopted descriptive cross-sectional research design. The target population for the study was 266 staff of all the 16 registered Deposit-Taking SACCOs in North Rift Region, Kenya. The sample size was 48 respondents comprising of chief executive officers, finance officers and internal auditors of the Deposit-Taking SACCOs selected using purposive sampling method. Primary and secondary data was used. Questionnaires collected primary data while audited annual financial statements of SACCOs provided secondary data. Inferential and descriptive statistics was used in analyzing data through SPSS version 25. It emerged that audit fees, audit firm tenure and audit firm experience have a significant positive influence on financial performance of Deposit-Taking SACCOs in North Rift Region, Kenya. Auditor independence had an insignificant positive influence on financial performance of Deposit-Taking SACCOs in North Rift Region, Kenya. The study concluded that audit quality has a positive noteworthy impact on financial performance of Deposit-Taking SACCOs in Kenya. The study recommends that regulatory authorities should formulate strict rules on audit fee charges and oversee the implementation of the same. Also, SASRA should ensure DT-SACCOs implement auditor rotation in compliance with auditing regulations and standards. DT-SACCOs to consider auditor’s professional competence and experience before initiating any audit engagement. Finally, DT-SACCOs and auditors should reinforce the professional code of ethics in regard to auditor independence in terms of familiarity between auditor and the client that may lead audit work into jeopardy.

scholarly journals Rent-To-Own Agreements: Purchases Or Rentals?

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael H. Anderson ◽  
Raymond Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Font Size ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Unique Data ◽  
High Interest ◽  
Financially Distressed ◽  
Credit Check ◽  
Small Periodic ◽  
Common Perception

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The rent-to-own (RTO) business has emerged as an important component of the retailing sector. By offering immediate access to household goods for a small periodic fee without a credit check or down payment, RTO has strong appeal to low income and financially distressed consumers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>A common perception of RTO is that they are disguised, high-interest installment agreements as most consumers eventually acquire the contracted merchandise by making all scheduled payments. We examine the nature of these agreements by using a unique data set of more than 350 thousand transactions drawn from 100 RTO stores in 46 states. Our main result, derived from an analysis of disposition and duration, is that RTO agreements are more frequently used for short-term needs rather than as a method of acquisition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Legislative and legal efforts to classify RTO agreements as primarily installment contracts cannot be justified by their pattern of use in the marketplace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

The Effect of Supply Chain Knowledge Spillovers on Audit Pricing

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jengfang Chen ◽  
Hsihui Chang ◽  
Hsin-Chi Chen ◽  
Sungsoo Kim
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Knowledge Spillovers ◽  
National Level ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Audit Pricing ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Office Level

ABSTRACT We present evidence on the effect of audit firms' supply chain knowledge spillover on audit pricing. Analyzing data from Audit Analytics and Compustat for the seven-year period from 2003 to 2009, we find that audit firms' supply chain knowledge has a negative effect on audit fees. Specifically, an audit firm with more supply chain knowledge charges lower audit fees to its clients when the firm also audits its clients' major buyers. In addition, we find that the fee discount is greater when the audit firm possesses major buyer-related supply chain knowledge at the office level compared to the national level. Our findings are consistent, albeit weaker, to an expanded sample of companies that voluntarily disclose their major buyers. Data Availability: The data are publicly available.

CEO Turnover and the Engagement Quality Reviewer’s Audit Effort

2021 ◽  
pp. 0148558X2110549
Author(s):  
Yoo Chan Kim ◽  
Jongkyum Kim ◽  
Inshik Seol
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Review Process ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Ceo Turnover ◽  
Detailed Data ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Audit Risk ◽  
Shed Light

Previous literature on the engagement quality (EQ) review argues that EQ reviewers should provide more efforts into the review process when fieldwork auditors’ judgments and conclusions on the financial statements are potentially biased. Little empirical study has been done, however, partly due to the confidentiality of the detailed data on EQ reviewers’ audit hours. The purpose of the article is to shed light on the existing literature by conducting an empirical investigation using a unique actual data set available in Korea. The results show that the EQ review hours are positively associated with CEO turnovers, a proxy for the audit risk, which supports the prediction of the theory on the EQ review. Additional analyses show that such results are stronger under (a) the upward earnings management and (b) the forced CEO turnover. The article extends the existing literature on the EQ review process and enhances the understanding of the engagement-level quality control in the volatile audit environment by providing empirical evidence to the analytic discussions on the EQ review.

Asymmetric Monitoring of Quarterly Financial Statements by Big 4 Auditors and the SEC's Timely Review Requirement

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Callaway Dee ◽  
Ayalew Lulseged ◽  
Tianming Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Seasoned Equity Offerings ◽  
Open Market ◽  
Equity Offerings ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Quarterly Earnings ◽  
Big 4 ◽  
Timely Review

We investigate if Big 4 firms are asymmetrically more effective than non-Big 4 firms in monitoring income-increasing vs. income-decreasing quarterly earnings management. We also study the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) 2000 requirement that audit firm reviews of quarterly financial statements be completed prior to their filing with the SEC ("timely reviews"). We find Big 4 firms are more effective than non-Big 4 firms in curbing income-increasing earnings management around seasoned equity offerings (SEOs), but not income-decreasing earnings management around open market repurchases (OMRs). In the post-2000 period, after the SEC's mandate for timely reviews began, we find income-increasing earnings management around SEOs declined significantly, and this decline is primarily driven by the clients of Big 4 firms. We provide evidence that timely quarterly reviews improve earnings quality, especially when companies have incentives to engage in income-increasing accruals and are reviewed by Big 4 firms.

Client Risk Management: A Pecking Order Analysis of Auditor Response to Upward Earnings Management Risk

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gopal V. Krishnan ◽  
Lili Sun ◽  
Qian Wang ◽  
Rong Yang
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Risk Management Strategy ◽  
Audit Pricing ◽  
Pecking Order ◽  
Order Analysis ◽  
Auditor Resignation ◽  
Client Risk

SUMMARY: This study examines Big N auditors' client risk management strategy in response to the risk of upward (i.e., income-increasing) earnings management in the post-SOX era. Specifically, we empirically study the relation between clients' signed discretionary accruals and subsequent audit pricing and auditor resignation decisions. We find that audit fees and resignations are positively associated with the risk of upward earnings management. We document a pecking order of auditor responses and find that auditors are more likely to respond in the order of charging higher abnormal audit fees if the trade-off between upward earnings management risk and return is within an acceptable level, and then resign if the risk is more severe and exceeds the auditors' tolerance level. Our results are robust to alternative accruals measures, controlling for clients' internal control quality and corporate governance characteristics.

scholarly journals Audit Office Size, Audit Quality, and Audit Pricing

2010 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong-Hag Choi ◽  
Chansog (Francis) Kim ◽  
Jeong-Bon Kim ◽  
Yoonseok Zang
Keyword(s):  
Firm Size ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
National Level ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Specific Factor ◽  
Audit Pricing ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Industry Leadership ◽  
Office Size ◽  
Office Level

SUMMARY: Using a large sample of U.S. audit client firms over the period 2000–2005, this paper investigates whether and how the size of a local practice office within an audit firm (hereafter, office size) is a significant, engagement-specific factor determining audit quality and audit fees over and beyond audit firm size at the national level and auditor industry leadership at the city or office level. For our empirical tests, audit quality is measured by unsigned abnormal accruals, and the office size is measured in two different ways: one based on the number of audit clients in each office and the other based on a total of audit fees earned by each office. Our results show that the office size has significantly positive relations with both audit quality and audit fees, even after controlling for national-level audit firm size and office-level industry expertise. These positive relations support the view that large local offices provide higher-quality audits compared with small local offices, and that such quality differences are priced in the market for audit services.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document