scholarly journals Do Auditing Standards Matter?

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. A1-A16 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Robert Knechel
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Common Denominator ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Economic Role ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Auditing Standards ◽  
Potential Demand ◽  
Information Advantage ◽  
Professional Expert

SUMMARY Properly understanding the economic role of auditing standards is an important step toward improving both audit effectiveness and efficiency. In this essay, I observe that auditing standards are most important when an auditor may have an incentive to under-audit. While this conclusion may not come as a surprise, the conditions under which standards may, or may not, have a desirable effect on audit quality are less obvious. More specifically, I present a number of observations about what standards can do: Standards can (1) compensate for the lack of observability of the audit outcome by focusing on the audit process; (2) partially mitigate the information advantage possessed by the auditor as a professional expert that might motivate the auditor to under-audit; (3) counterbalance the diversity of demand across multiple stakeholders that might drive the audit to the lowest common denominator and create a market based on adverse selection; and (4) provide a benchmark that facilitates the calibration of an auditor's legal liability in the event of a substandard audit. However, I also present a number of observations about what standards should not try to do: Standards should not (1) discourage the use of judgment by auditors; (2) limit the potential demand for economically valuable alternative levels of assurance; (3) lead to excessive procedural routine or standardization in the conduct of the audit; and (4) be set based on an enforcement agenda. In the end, standards overreach may undermine the economic value of the audit to many stakeholders and lead to fee pressure for audit firms. Hopefully, these insights can inform future debates about the level and types of standards that are appropriate for the auditing profession.

Does the Disclosure of PCAOB Inspection Findings Increase Audit Firms' Litigation Exposure?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brant E. Christensen ◽  
Nathan G. Lundstrom ◽  
Nathan J. Newton
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Legal Action ◽  
Litigation Risk ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Auditing Standards ◽  
Triggering Events ◽  
Public Signal

We examine whether PCAOB inspection reports increase auditors' litigation risk. We find that inspection reports with audit deficiencies are positively associated with the number of lawsuits subsequently filed against the inspected auditor. These results are strongest when client-level lawsuit triggering events have already occurred and when PCAOB inspection content is arguably more persuasive. Importantly, these results pertain exclusively to triennially inspected audit firms for which the set of other publicly available signals of audit quality is limited. Furthermore, we do not argue that inspection reports in isolation trigger lawsuits. Instead, once events such as restatement announcements or bankruptcies create the potential for legal action against the auditor, inspection reports provide a public signal about past noncompliance with auditing standards. This signal likely increases lawyers' perceived strength of case against the auditor before the lawsuit is filed and before lawyers have access to the audit workpapers.

scholarly journals Does Engagement Partners’ Effort Affect Audit Quality? With a Focus on the Effects of Internal Control System

Risks ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 225
Author(s):  
Suyon Kim
Keyword(s):  
Internal Control ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Client Characteristics ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Audit Reports ◽  
It Departments ◽  
Audit Team

An audit team includes engagement partners, CPAs, and staff. Among them, partners play a vital role in performing tasks that require expertise and experience, such as analyzing and understanding the industry, and supervising the overall audit process. In detail, the partners establish an audit plan, determine the overall audit time, provide the audit input ratio of the engagement team, and review the audit reports. This study examines for association between the partner’s audit hour ratio and audit quality depending on the client firms’ characteristics. Although the role of partners is important, the information about partner audit hours is limited. However, the Korean government requires audit firms to disclose the partner hour information in the audit report starting in the 2014 fiscal year. By the disclosure, it is possible to examine the association between partner audit hours and audit quality. In this study, the information on partner audit hour is hand-collected from the firms’ business reports. Using 6340 observations from 2014 to 2017, the partner audit hour ratio is associated with audit quality, under the characteristics of client firms. Firms’ risks are adopted for client characteristics, and we focused on the operation of internal control. The internal control operation level is measured by the following: (1) the ratio of internal control personnel and (2) experience of the internal control personnel in the accounting and IT departments. The result suggests that for the firms where internal control is not effectively operated, partners make more effort to enhance audit quality.

scholarly journals Determinants of Audit Quality in Indonesia Supreme Audit Institution: A Conceptual Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2(I)) ◽  
pp. 38-41
Author(s):  
Khoirul Aswar ◽  
Fahmi Givari Akbar ◽  
Noegrahini Lastiningsih
Keyword(s):  
Attribution Theory ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Public Institution ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Internal Auditor ◽  
Internal Auditors ◽  
Audit Failure ◽  
The Public ◽  
Audit Firms

This research is based on the problem of poor audit practices by the Big Four audit firms and the mid-tier audit firms in UK in 2018/2019 cycle, which is indicated as audit failure. This resulted in sanctions and fines that increased significantly from the previous year. Problems related to audit quality are also experienced by government internal auditors in Indonesia. This is due to several factors such as the quality of government internal auditor resources that are still below the lowest service standards as a public institution, lack of available apparatus and low competency, and limited budget. The purposes of this study are to determine the extent of audit quality produced by government internal auditors at the Principal Inspectorate of Indonesia’s Supreme Audit Institution. Based on attribution theory, this study has several objectives, namely to determine the effect of competence, independence, and motivation on audit quality. Therefore, the contribution of this research can be the object of consideration and evaluation for Indonesia’s Supreme Audit Institution auditors regarding the audit process and audit results in the public or government sector, an information for Principal Inspectorate of Indonesia’s Supreme Audit Institution as an effort to maintain and improve the quality of government internal audits, and an information for the public in overseeing the audit quality of the management and responsibility of state finances.

scholarly journals ANALISIS IMPLEMENTASI AUDIT PERBANKAN SYARIAH DI INDONESIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Puja Lestari ◽  
Dewi Susilowati ◽  
Wahyudin Wahyudin
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Commercial Bank ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Islamic Banking ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Unit Of Analysis ◽  
Reporting Requirements ◽  
Auditing Standards ◽  
Privately Owned

This study aims to analyze the suitability of audit practices in Islamic Banking with existing auditing standards in Indonesia. The unit of analysis in this study is the state-owned Sharia Commercial Bank, namely PT. Bank Syariah Mandiri and privately owned, namely PT. Bank Muamalat Indonesia Tbk. This research uses qualitative methods, using case studies. Data collection was obtained by conducting interviews and analyzing annual reports from 2015 to 2017. The results showed that the audit framework, audit scope, audit quality, audit charter, audit process, and reporting requirements conform to appropriate auditing standards in Indonesia. This study found facts related to sharia auditing in terms of qualified human resources in terms of knowledge of sharia auditing and principles.

scholarly journals If auditors are like Belgian beers, which style would you prefer?

2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (9) ◽  
pp. 341-347
Author(s):  
Herman van Brenk ◽  
Liesbeth Bruynseels
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Black Box ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Internal Working ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Auditing Standards ◽  
Zoom In ◽  
Audit Team

Recent research by Francis, Pinnuck, and Watanabe (2014) has shown that financial reporting outcomes are influenced by the audit firm’s unique audit style. They argue that audit firm styles are driven by their “unique set of internal working rules that guide the auditor’s application of accounting and auditing standards” (Francis, Pinnuck & Watanabe, 2014). In our discussion, we zoom in on this study and call for further research on the factors that determine audit styles. Specifically, we emphasize the importance of extending this research from the audit firm level to the level of the audit office, audit team, and individual auditor. We conclude with the notion that intense collaboration between audit firms and academia is instrumental in opening the black box of audit styles to extend our knowledge on the root causes and drivers of audit quality.

Audit Quality in the Post-SOX Audit Environment: What Your Auditing Students Must Know about the PCAOB Inspection Process

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. A17-A25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard R. Riley ◽  
J. Gregory Jenkins ◽  
Pamela Y. Roush ◽  
Jay C. Thibodeau
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Panel Discussion ◽  
Case Material ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Education Committee ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Auditing Standards ◽  
Question And Answer ◽  
Inspection Process

SUMMARY: At the American Accounting Association’s (AAA) Auditing Section Midyear Meeting in January 2007, the Education Committee organized a panel to discuss the educational issues that have surfaced as a result of the PCAOB inspection process. The discussion focused on changes that have occurred in the audit environment, particularly concerning audit documentation and the audit process, as a result of the PCAOB auditing standards and feedback to the firms from the PCAOB inspection process. The goal was to provide a forum for panelists to interact with educators, to develop suggestions to help prepare students for their careers in the post-Sarbanes-Oxley auditing environment. In this paper, we first provide an overview of the PCAOB inspection process and then provide a report on the actual panel discussion, which included a spirited question-and-answer session with the audience. We also incorporate the results of follow-up interviews with the three panelists that occurred in April 2008. Finally, we provide case material and other resources to assist professors as they incorporate the panelists’ suggestions related to PCAOB inspection issues in the classroom.

scholarly journals The perceived association between audit rotation and audit quality: evidence from the UAE

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-377
Author(s):  
John Kalimilo Malagila ◽  
Ganga Bhavani ◽  
Christian Tabi Amponsah
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Auditor Independence ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Developing Economy ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Audit Firms

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the perceived association between audit rotation (AR) and audit quality (AQ) using respondents from a sample of audit firms operating in a developing economy, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The paper addresses the following research question: How do UAE auditors perceive the association between various forms of AR and AQ?Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected perception data from a sample of UAE auditors using a questionnaire, and applied several non-parametric statistical techniques to analyze the data, and to answer five exploratory research questions on the perceived association between various forms of AR and AQ.FindingsThe findings suggest that the UAE auditors in our sample did not perceive the association between individual types of AR and AQ as significantly different, and that AR in general is essential for AQ improvement and enhances trust in the audit process. Similarly, we find more support for the perception that medium audit tenure is associated with a lower impairment effect on auditor independence. Furthermore, we find no significant differences in perception based on gender, but younger/less experienced professionals and professionals in self-employed practices and small audit firms (compared to other demographics) significantly perceived AR enforceability and AT length to be associated with AQ. Our findings help to enrich our understanding of the perceived AR-AQ association in a relatively new context and less researched audit area in a developing economy.Originality/valueAlthough lively debates on the question of AR and AQ within the accounting, finance, investment professions and in the financial media continue, there has been relatively limited knowledge and a dearth of empirical studies on this question in most developing economies. Being the first attempt in the country – the UAE, this study contributes towards addressing this gap in empirical knowledge by exploring the perceived association between various forms of AR and AQ in a developing economy.

scholarly journals An analysis of auditors’ perceptions towards artificial intelligence and its contribution to audit quality

Accounting ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 755-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Albawwat ◽  
Yaser Al Frijat
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Perceived Ease Of Use ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Significant Difference

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems have significantly changed the audit process; nevertheless, the AI revolution opponents view this growth as a step-back as many auditors will fail to adapt to this new environment and will drop behind. Our descriptive study examines the perceived ease of use, usefulness, and contribution to the audit quality of different AI’s types. To address local audit firms concerns about their readiness to use AI systems in auditing processes and to advance auditing research, we examine whether perceived ease of use, usefulness, and contribution to audit quality vary by AI systems type (Assisted, Augmented, and Autonomous). An online questionnaire was used to collect data from 124 auditors representing local audit firms in Jordan. Our results indicate that auditors perceive Assisted and Augmented AI systems as ease of use in auditing while perceiving Autonomous AI systems as complicated to use. Besides, Auditors are underestimating Autonomous AI systems’ capabilities and perceived it as not useful for auditing. The results also reveal a significant difference between the perceived contribution to audit quality by the three AI systems types. This study contributes to the existing literature on AI and auditing by developing and testing a measure for AI systems’ perceived contribution to audit quality. This study also provides empirical evidence on how Jordan local firms auditors perceive AI use in auditing.

scholarly journals The implications, applications, and benefits of emerging technologies in audit

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (02) ◽  
pp. 36-44
Author(s):  
Riley Carpenter ◽  
◽  
Dale McGregor ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Emerging Technologies ◽  
Emerging Technology ◽  
Large Datasets ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Business Operations ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Prior Literature ◽  
Audit Technology

Technological innovation has given rise to the possibility of implementing emerging technologies to potentially improve business operations. Audit firms, as businesses, could utilise emerging technologies to address several challenges the audit profession currently faces. This paper performs a qualitative analysis of prior literature concerning the potential implications and applications of the use of emerging technology in the audit process and the benefits audit firms can realise from using emerging technology. Using emerging audit technology in the audit process could automate many repetitive, mundane tasks and assist with performing analytical reviews on large datasets, thereby improving audit quality and efficiency. This paper adds value firstly by highlighting the potential for technological innovation within the audit process and how this innovation could supplement the traditional audit processes and procedures audit firms currently use and secondly, by incorporating emerging technologies into the audit process and highlighting key benefits that can be derived by shifting away from manual processes.

scholarly journals Audit quality indicators: perceptions of junior-level auditors

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 949-980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veena L. Brown ◽  
Jodi L. Gissel ◽  
Daniel Gordon Neely
Keyword(s):  
Quality Indicators ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Public Company ◽  
Prior Literature ◽  
And Gender

Purpose In an effort to develop an audit quality (AQ) framework specific to the US audit market, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) recently issued a concept release proposing 28 audit quality indicators (AQIs) along three dimensions: audit professionals, audit process and audit results. Using AQIs initially proposed by the PCAOB, as well as AQIs suggested by prior literature, the authors solicit perceptions from junior-level (senior and staff) auditors to investigate the current state of practice along many of the AQIs relating to audit professionals and audit process. Design/methodology/approach In the study, 78 junior-level auditors responded to the survey. Findings An analysis of the responses suggests auditors engage in activities and audit firms promote conditions that at times improve, and at other times, reduce audit quality. The authors find that individual auditors’ perceptions differ across experience level, gender and audit firm size for certain AQIs. Practical implications The study is useful to the PCAOB because it provides insights to help assess the value of potential AQIs in differentiating AQ. The study is also useful to other regulators because it describes audit staff and seniors’ perceptions of apparent firm and auditor compliance with accounting and auditing standards. Practitioners should find this information useful in helping to identify possible root causes of audit deficiencies, a challenge put forth to firms by the PCAOB. Originality/value This study provides academia with evidence on AQ from practicing auditors, which informs existing and future research along. The study complements existing work by showing how individual auditor characteristics (experience and gender) at the junior levels may impact AQ in practice

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