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.

How a Shared Auditor Affects Firm-Pair Comparability: Implications of Both Firm and Individual Audit Styles

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 133-160
Author(s):  
Lili Jiu ◽  
Bin Liu ◽  
Yuanyuan Liu
Keyword(s):  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Professional Judgment ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Personal Style ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Market Participants ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Audit Reports ◽  
Practical Implications

SUMMARY In this study, we examine the roles of audit firms and individual auditors in improving financial statement comparability. We conduct the study in the Chinese setting, in which the identities of signing auditors are revealed in audit reports and accounting standards are principle based. After controlling for audit firm style, we find that firm pairs with shared signing auditors have incrementally greater comparability. Our results indicate that individual auditors exhibit their own personal style in implementing accounting standards and exercising professional judgment in the audit process. Overall, our study underscores the association between individual auditors and comparability, with practical implications for market participants and policymakers.

scholarly journals The Effect of Independence and Integrity on Audit Quality: Is There A Moderating Role for E-Audit?

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diza Dianeke Budi Prabowo ◽  
Dwi Suhartini
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Auditor Independence ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Audit Reports ◽  
The Impact

The financial statements must be reliable and become a benchmark in considering an audit decision on the financial statements. In order for this to be achieved, independence and integrity is required in carrying out the audit process. E-Audit helps overcome challenges in the industrial revolution 4.0 and prevent fraud. This research aims of testing and analyzing the role of e-audit in moderating the impact of auditor independence and integrity on audit quality. The data was collected through a questionnaire distributed to auditors at Public Accounting Firms in Surabaya. There are 36 respondents involved. The data were analyzed using SmartPLS. The results showed that auditor independence positively effect audit quality, auditor integrity positively effect audit quality; e-audit does non moderate the effect of auditor independence on audit quality; ande-Audit negatively moderates the effect of auditor integrity on audit quality. The practical implication of this research is that when determining high audit quality, independent auditors should at least increase their independence and integrity so that the resulting audit reports are of high quality and can be a reference for decision makers.

Hiring Auditors with a Part II Quality Control Report: An Opportunity for Increased Earnings Management or Lower Audit Fees?

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-93
Author(s):  
Jared Eutsler ◽  
D. Kip Holderness ◽  
Megan M. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
The Public ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Public Company ◽  
General Demand ◽  
Systemic Quality

ABSTRACT The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's (PCAOB) Part II inspection reports, which disclose systemic quality control issues that auditors fail to remediate, signal poor audit quality for triennially inspected audit firms. Auditors that receive a Part II inspection report typically experience a decrease in clients, which demonstrates a general demand for audit quality. However, some companies hire auditors that receive Part II inspection reports. We examine potential reasons for hiring these audit firms. We find that relative to companies that switch to auditors without Part II reports, companies that switch to auditors with Part II reports have higher discretionary accruals in the first fiscal year after the switch, which indicates lower audit quality and a heightened risk for future fraud. We find no difference in audit fees. Our results suggest that PCAOB Part II inspection reports may signal low-quality auditors to companies that desire low-quality audits. Data Availability: Data are available from the public sources cited in the text.

scholarly journals Higher Academic Qualifications, Professional Training and Operating Performance of Audit Firms

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yahn-Shir Chen ◽  
Chung-Cheng Yang ◽  
Yi-Fang Yang
Keyword(s):  
Internal Control ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Operating Performance ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Multiple Regression Equation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Academic Qualifications

This study examines the association between professional training, higher academic qualifications (educational levels) and operating performance of audit firms in Taiwan. We particularly focus on the curvilinear effects of higher academic qualifications on operating performance. We group the total sample into three categories: national, regional and local audit firms. Based on the theoretical framework in industrial economics, we establish a cross-sectional multiple regression equation to test our hypotheses. Both higher academic qualifications and professional training are positively related to the operating performance of audit firms. Professional training moderates the relation between higher academic qualifications and operating performance. Higher academic qualifications exhibit a curvilinear effect on operating performance with a reverse U-shaped relation for the national audit firms and a U-shaped relation for both regional and local audit firms. Due to data unavailability, some factors affecting the audit quality and operating performance are not included in our analysis, such as auditor teamwork, internal control system, operating policies and auditing procedures of audit firms. The findings that higher academic qualifications are positively associated with the operating performance of audit firms justify the educational policy of establishing institutes or graduate schools in accounting over the past two decades. Furthermore, audit firms skillfully exploit employees with higher academic qualifications to improve their operating performance. We are the first to document the moderating effects of professional training and the curvilinear association between higher academic qualifications and operating performance, contributing knowledge to related literature.

The role of audit quality in firm valuation

2016 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 575-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mishari M. Alfraih
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Accounting Information ◽  
Institutional Setting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Book Value ◽  
Big 4 ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Audit Team

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of audit quality on the value relevance of earnings and book value. Because joint audit is mandated for all Kuwait Stock Exchange-listed firms, it is hypothesized that the higher the quality of the audit team (as measured by the number of Big 4 audit firms in the joint audit team), the higher the value relevance of earnings and book values for equity valuation. Design/methodology/approach Consistent with prior research, the value relevance of earnings and book value is measured by the adjusted R2 derived from the Ohlson’s 1995 regression model. The number of Big 4 audit firms represented on the firm’s audit team is used as a proxy for audit quality. Three tiers of audit quality exist, namely, two non-Big 4 audit firms, one Big 4 and one non-Big 4 audit firms or two Big 4 audit firms. To address this paper’s objective, the association between audit quality and the value relevance of earnings and book value were examined using four approaches. The final sample consists of 1,836 firm-year observations and covers fiscal years from a 12-year period (2002-2013). Findings Taken together, the four approaches used collectively provide empirical evidence that audit quality positively and significantly affects the value relevance of accounting measures to market participants. Importantly, the results reveal significant variations in the value relevance of earnings and book value jointly across the three possible auditor combinations. Research limitations/implications Although using auditor size as a proxy for audit quality is well established in the auditing literature, a limitation of that proxy is that it measures audit quality dichotomously, which implicitly assumes a homogeneous level of audit quality within each group. Practical implications The findings show the importance of high-quality and rigorous external audits in improving the value relevance of accounting information. Originality/value This study contributes to the extent literature on audit quality by exploring the role of audit quality in a unique institutional setting that imposes mandatory joint audits. Although prior studies have investigated the effect of joint audit pair choice on earnings management and audit fee premium, this study is the first to investigate the effect of joint audit pair choice on the value relevance of accounting information.

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 PEOPLE AND AUDIT PROCESS ATTRIBUTES OF AUDIT QUALITY: EVIDENCE FROM MALAYSIA

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
NOOR ADWA SULAIMAN ◽  
SUHAILY SHAHIMI ◽  
RANJIT KAUR NASHTAR SINGH
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Internal Quality ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
External Auditors ◽  
Public Accounting Firms ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Audit Team ◽  
Group 1

This study seeks to add to understanding of the concept and attributes of audit quality from the perspective of those responsible for delivery audit services, the auditors, as a key constituent group in the auditing system. The study surveyed two groups of external auditors (group 1- audit partners and managerial level and, group 2 - senior auditors and junior auditors), as a basis to compare their perceptions on important of auditors and audit process attributes in achieving audit quality in practice. The study was conducted in the form of a survey, with data being gathered via questionnaire. Returned surveys from external auditors yielded a 37% response rate. Overall, top 5 highest rated attributes of audit quality reported to be most important in determining audit quality are: compliance with the International Standard Quality Control (ISCQ) 1, obtaining credible and sufficient audit evidence, technical expertise of audit team, audit work meeting the audit firms’ quality standards, and competency of the audit team. Further analysis shows that the two groups of respondents have differential views on attributes of audit quality in practice. Group 1 perceived attributes of audit quality are related to auditor’s assessment of risk and internal quality review procedures within the audit firm. In comparison, group 2 perceived auditors’ competency and compliance with relevant standards as indicators of audit quality. This study suggests differences in underlying view about attributes audit quality in practice by the two groups of auditors. Public accounting firms might be interested to understand such underlying differences so that efforts in improving audit quality in practice would be focusing on the key attributes that perceived to be important on delivery high-quality audit services. This study is significant by extending the literature on audit quality and also provides useful input to public accounting firms in improving audit quality in practice.

scholarly journals PENGARUH KOMPETENSI, INDEPENDENSI DAN UKURAN AUDITEE TERHADAP KUALITAS AUDIT

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 226
Author(s):  
Dwi Agustina H. ◽  
Made Sudarna ◽  
Unti Ludigdo
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Method ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Accounting System ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Variable Size ◽  
Mental Attitude ◽  
Personal Qualities ◽  
Inspection Tasks ◽  
One Year ◽  
Audit Team

This study examines and analyzes the influence of competence, independence and the size of the auditees on audit quality. Audit quality is defined as the probability that the auditor will both discover and report a breach in the client’s accounting system. Drivers of audit quality-a framework are : culture within the firm, the skills and personal qualities of audit partners and staff, the effectiveness of the audit process, the reliability and usefulness of audit reporting, factors outside the control of auditors. Competence of auditors is adequate professional proficiency to perform inspection tasks and professional proficiency in the preparation of examination report. In this study, the competence dimension of competence using Certified General Accountant (CGA) are leadership, professionalism and professional knowledge. The independence is the mental attitude and appearance that is free from private interference, and external organizations. The independence consisting of: a long relationship with the auditees and the provision of non audit services and the pressure of the auditees, peer review of auditors. Auditee size is total assets and revenue of each county/city in Java. Using the random sampling method, the research tries to collect some inportant information given by respondents. Questionaire is a tool used to measure the variables. The hypotheses were tested with SPSS. The sample of this study is the Chairman of the audit team LKPD 2010 on the BPK RI in Java. Data obtained by spreading 118 and a total of 110 questionnaires are returned and processed feasible. The results partially demonstrate competence and independence affect audit quality, while the size of the auditee does not affect audit quality. Researchers can then add other indicators in the variable size of auditees such as number of population and area, total spending, the number of programs and activities within one year.

Female audit partners and accruals quality: evidence from Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-319
Author(s):  
Gatot Soepriyanto ◽  
Pamela Krisky ◽  
Yanto Indra ◽  
Arfian Zudana
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Risk Tolerance ◽  
Alternative Measure ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Accruals Quality ◽  
Abnormal Accruals ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Audit Reports

PurposeThis study examines the association between accruals quality and gender of the firm's audit engagement partner in Indonesia. Specifically, prior studies provide evidence that gender-based difference in diligence, conservatism and risk tolerance, it is plausible that female auditors may improve audit quality. Indonesia provides a valuable research setting to investigate the issue, as it is mandatory to disclose the identity of the audit partners in the audit reports.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs multivariate regression model to test the hypothesis, which examines the association between accruals quality and audit partners gender. Using a sample of Indonesian publicly listed firms, we run a panel of regression of audit quality measure proxied by abnormal accruals on female auditor variable and firm-specific controls. To triangulate the results, we also conduct sensitivity analysis using high and low category of abnormal accruals, an alternative measure of accruals quality (i.e. Beneish's M score) and propensity score matching (PSM).FindingsWe find that firms with female audit engagement partners are not associated with smaller abnormal accruals, thereby implying that female auditors may not constrain effects on earnings management. In other words, gender is not an important predictor for audit quality in Indonesia.Research limitations/implicationsWe are not able to use broader measures of audit quality such as GAAP violations/restatement, litigation or audit fee. This is because the Indonesian setting somewhat limits us to collect them due to lack of regulatory actions and/or database availability.Practical implicationsThis study will contribute to the regulators (such as Financial Service Authorities/OJK) and professionals, on the effectiveness of female audit partners in improving audit quality. The study can be used as an evidence to support the gender equality in the accounting and audit industry.Social implicationsOur findings suggest that auditor gender does not lead to the improvement of accruals quality in Indonesia. Given the fact that only 14% of firms in our sample audited by female audit partners, it is plausible that the positive traits of female top managers may not transmit to the overall audit process. As such, it is important to encourage more female involvement in top position of auditing and accounting industry is required to advance the profession and its positive impact to the society.Originality/valueThere are no prior studies in Indonesia examining the effect of audit partner gender on accruals quality using archival data. As such, this research will be the first to document such evidence and therefore can improve our understanding on the role of auditor characteristic on audit quality. We also respond to the call from DeFond and Zhang (2014) to push analysis of audit quality to the individual auditor level by examining the gender of audit partner.

The effect of changing fiscal year-ends on audit fees and audit quality

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-382
Author(s):  
Angel Arturo Pacheco Paredes ◽  
Clark Wheatley
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to extend recent research analyzing the effect of auditor busyness on audit quality. Specifically, this study explores the effect on audit quality of a change of fiscal year-end to or from an audit firm’s busy period. Design/methodology/approach Empirical archival. Findings When firms change their fiscal year-end to a period when the auditor is less busy, client firms are rewarded with lower audit fees and auditors are rewarded with a reduction in required effort. This study finds no difference in the level of audit quality after a change in fiscal year-end. Practical implications There are significant implications for audit firms as they may gain cost advantages by successfully promoting off-season fiscal year-ends, and reduce the negative effect on employees associated with “busy season” stress. Similarly, client firms may find that audit costs are reduced when they adopt a less “busy” fiscal year-end. Social implications These results have policy implications for regulators because regulators often dictate the fiscal year-end for certain industries or traded securities. Such dictates may thus introduce inefficiencies into the market for audit services. Originality/value These results should guide regulators in their decisions to dictate fiscal year-ends and firms in their choice of reporting periods.

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