scholarly journals Corporate Governance Mechanisms and Firm Performance in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 446
Author(s):  
Helmi A. Boshnak
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Firm Performance ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Independent Directors ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Concentrated Ownership ◽  
Corporate Governance Mechanisms

This paper examines the impact of corporate governance mechanisms including board size, independence, and meeting frequency, audit committee size and meeting frequency, CEO duality and ownership concentration on the operational, financial and market performance of Saudi listed firms using a contingent theoretical-based framework drawing on agency theory, stewardship theory and resource dependence theory. This study examines 210 listed Saudi Stock Exchange firms over the timeframe 2017 to 2019. The paper applies both a manual content and regression analysis approach. The results show that firm performance deteriorates with board size and independence, audit committee and meeting frequency, and the presence of CEO role duality, while performance improves with board meeting frequency and ownership concentration. Thus, Saudi firms should respond by maintaining smaller boards and more frequent meetings, keeping the Chair and CEO roles separate, and maintaining smaller audit committees with more focused meetings. Further, the appointment of independent directors only makes a meaningful contribution to firm performance where they are truly independent. Finally, more concentrated ownership tends to encourage better firm performance due to the regime of monitoring and discipline concomitant with more powerful shareholders. The implications of this paper are threefold. First, the implementation by Saudi Arabia of the latest corporate governance regulations and IFRS adoption almost certainly impact firm performance markedly. Second, corporate governance regulations should recognize the role of more frequent board meetings and more concentrated ownership in enhancing corporate performance. Third, stakeholders should apply pressure on investee firms to maintain smaller boards, engage genuinely independent directors, separate the role of Chairman and CEO, and maintain smaller audit committees with fewer and more effective meetings. The results should help corporate boards when deciding on the best corporate governance mechanisms to enhance firm performance. Further, the study should provide policy makers with a better understanding of the corporate governance structures required to promote better performance by drawing on existing theories and the empirical modelling, in an emerging economy setting such as Saudi Arabia, a new and broader data set, thereby informing better future policy and protecting shareholders’ interests.

scholarly journals Emerging policies and the effectiveness of corporate governance mechanisms on earning quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-164
Author(s):  
Mohammed Mahdi Obaid ◽  
Muneer Rajab Amrah
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Independent Directors ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Corporate Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Earning Quality ◽  
The Relationship

Current study review extant empirical researches on the relationship between CG and EQ. However, the scope of the reviewed studies was shown to vary, most studies on CG and EQ are specific in focus, with different studies focusing on specific aspects or measures of CG. This study evaluates the role of emerging policies and the effectiveness of corporate governance mechanisms on earning quality within a conceptual framework for the Gulf cooperation council. This study concludes that the majority of companies with big board size, higher board independence, and more frequent meetings have improved EQ. Also, the result indicates companies with big audit committee size, a larger number of independent directors, more audit committee meetings and more experts tend to have an increase in EQ. Finally, this review emerged as a framework suitable for assessing the level of EQ disclosed and the relationship between CG and EQ base on GCC policies.

Determining factors of key audit matter disclosure in Thailand

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 563-584
Author(s):  
Suneerat Wuttichindanon ◽  
Panya Issarawornrawanich
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Independent Directors ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Big 4 ◽  
Corporate Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Determining Factors

Purpose In Southeast Asia, auditors play a crucial role in the quality of financial reports. With the introduction of a new format of auditors’ report that requires disclosure of key audit matters (KAM), the disclosure practice of auditors is, thus, of great interest. Specifically, this study aims to investigate the factors that auditors take into consideration when issuing KAMs. Design/methodology/approach The research design is quantitative, with a focus on the number of KAM disclosures issued by auditors. As existing studies rely on the number of KAM disclosures in the analysis, this current research, thus, uses the quantity of KAM disclosures for comparison purposes. The analysis relies on secondary data and multiple regression analysis is used to establish the association between the number of KAM disclosures and three groups of determining factors, namely, auditor characteristics, corporate governance mechanisms and firm characteristics. Findings The significant determining factors of KAM disclosure include auditor’s litigation risk, firm complexity, profitability and industry type. Firms using a Big 4 audit firm, firms with many subsidiaries and firms in the technology, property and construction and finance industries have higher numbers of KAMs, while highly profitable firms issue lower numbers of KAMs. As for corporate governance mechanisms, the number of KAMs is significantly positively correlated with the number of independent directors (p < 0.10). Originality/value This research includes key corporate governance parties in the examination, including external auditors, independent directors and audit committees. The finding affirms the influence of Big 4 on KAM disclosure in Southeast Asia, while their roles are not significant in Western samples. The result also unearths the monitoring role of independent directors in KAM disclosure. The role of the audit committee in KAM disclosure is insignificant in Thai samples, while the committee role is statistically significant in the Western samples. Variations in the findings between this study and previous research could be attributed to differences in institutional settings between both regions.

scholarly journals The effect of financial and non-financial performance on investors’ reactions: The role of corporate governance mechanisms as moderating

2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 47-56
Author(s):  
Intadaviqotul Minakh ◽  
Erwin Saraswati ◽  
Abdul Ghofar
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Institutional Ownership ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Corporate Governance Mechanisms ◽  
The Relationship

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of financial and non-financial performance on investor reactions and the role of corporate governance mechanisms as moderating. The analysis technique used is the moderated regression analysis (MRA). The research population is manufacturing sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). Based on the purposive sampling method, 78 companies were selected as the samples (390 firm-year observations). The results of this study provide empirical evidence that the existence of financial and non-financial performance in a company can increase investor reactions. Institutional ownership plays a role in the relationship between financial performance and investor reactions. Meanwhile, independent commissioners, boards of directors, and audit committees have no role in the relationship between financial performance and investor reactions. And independent commissioners and institutional ownership can moderate the influence of non-financial performance on investor reactions. Meanwhile, the board of directors and audit committee cannot moderate the influence of non-financial performance on investor reactions.

The effect of characteristics of audit committee and board on corporate profitability in Iran

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdi Salehi ◽  
Mohammad Tahervafaei ◽  
Hossein Tarighi
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Outside Directors ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Governance Mechanisms

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the relationship between the characteristics of the audit committee and the board and profitability among the companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) in Iran. Design/methodology/approach In this study, the companies listed on the TSE during the period from 2010 to 2015 are investigated. The Linear panel regression method is employed for this purpose. The independent variables of the study are composed of some corporate governance mechanisms including audit committee size, audit committee expertise, board size, board independence, chief executive officer (CEO) duality, and institutional ownership. Findings In spite of the fact that there does not exist any significant association between audit committee size and corporate financial performance, the results indicate that there is a positive and significant relationship between audit committee financial expertise and profitability. The authors found that the number of board members cannot affect corporate performance; moreover, duality of CEO role in Iranian companies does not affect company performance. However, the outcomes showed a positive and significant association between the proportion of outside directors on the board (board independence) and profitability at 99 percent confidence level. This implies that the role of non-executive directors in Iran is inconsistent with the stewardship theory. This is due to the fact that independent directors understand the status of business and market better than the board’s executive members. Finally, the results indicated that there is no significant association between institutional owners and Iranian companies’ performance. Practical implications The findings of this study will reveal more than ever the role of corporate governance mechanisms for society and users of financial statements because as tools on the CEO actions, they always have to pay attention to the implementation of corporate principles in the economic entity’ operation. Originality/value This is one of the most important studies that simultaneously examine the impacts of characteristics of the audit committee and the board on profitability in an emerging market, and the results of the study may give strength to Iranian as well other developing countries.

scholarly journals Corporate governance, ownership, company structure and environmental disclosure: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 460-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murya Habbash
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
Iso 26000 ◽  
Main Determinants ◽  
One Year

This study examines the Environmental Disclosure (ED) practices in Saudi Arabia and the potential relationship with Corporate Governance (CG) , ownership and company structure, following the application of the Saudi 2006 CG code in 2007. The study deepens the understanding of ED and its main determinants in one of the largest economies in the Middle East. A self-constructed ED checklist, based on ISO 26000, is used. We employ regression and content analyses to examine a sample of 267 annual reports covering the period 2007-2011. The analysis finds that the average ED has improved following the application of the Saudi 2006 CG code to 30%, more than double the 14.61% found by Al-Janadi et al. (2013) during 2006-2007. The analysis also finds that audit committee effectiveness, role duality, state and institutional ownerships, firm profitability, and industry sensitivity positively affect ED. However, board independence, family ownership, and firm size are found not to be significant determinants, while a negative significant correlation was found with firm leverage. The results imply that CG regulators and stakeholders should acknowledge the importance of active audit committees comprising relevant experts and independent directors, in addition to the role of state and institutional ownership in enhancing ED. The study covers a five-year period, contrary to the majority of ED studies which focus on only one year. The study helps to fill the gap in ED literature in developing countries. Finally, the study provides a recent evaluation for the Saudi CG code recently applied in 2007.

scholarly journals The moderating effect of internal audit on the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and corporate performance among Saudi Arabia listed companies

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebrahim Mohammed Al Matari ◽  
Mahfoudh Hussein Mgammal
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Corporate Performance ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Corporate Governance Mechanisms ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role

<p>This study primarily aimed to assess the internal audit function’s ability to detect and self-report fraud. The paper investigated the moderating role of internal audit on the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and corporate performance (ROA) and the direct effect of corporate governance characteristics and internal audit characteristics on corporate governance of firms listed in the stock market of Saudi Arabia. one hundred and eighty-eight observations obtained from forty-seven Saudi financial firms were used in this study for the years 2014-2017. The study used the FGLS regression to test the variables relationships and to test the moderating effects of internal auditor on the corporate governance characteristics and corporate performance. The obtained empirical results supported a significant positive relationship between non-executive board, audit committee size, audit committee independence and internal audit profession, and corporate performance. Negative significant findings were also observed between the board size, internal audit size and internal audit education, and corporate performance. As for the moderating effects, the results supported a significant moderating role of internal audit size on the size of the board and its relationship with corporate performance. This study extends past studies dedicated to testing the agency theory and resource dependence theory as underpinning theories in examining the relationship between corporate governance and corporate performance. The study is expected to contribute to conceptual and theoretical studies by highlighting issues concerning corporate governance practice in Saudi listed firms. The study focused on the internal audit committee characteristics, corporate governance characteristics and the corporate governance best practices that practitioners can utilized when it comes to the role of internal audit committee.</p>

scholarly journals The relationship between corporate governance and financial performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaid Saidat ◽  
Mauricio Silva ◽  
Claire Seaman
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Firm Performance ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Corporate Performance ◽  
Independent Directors ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Governance Mechanisms ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to attempt to fill a research gap in the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and financial performance of family and non-family firms’ by using a sample of non-financial firms listed on Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) for the period 2009–2015.Design/methodology/approachThis research employs a quantitative method using data that include corporate governance mechanisms, firm characteristics and financial ratios of a sample of Jordanian listed firms in the ASE over the period 2009–2015. The sample covers all companies that have been part of the ASE during the period including both family and non-family firms, part of total of 228 companies listed on the ASE as of 31 December 2015. The study used accounting-based measures such as return on asset (ROA) and market-based measures such as Tobin’sQas proxies for corporate financial performance.FindingsThe study found that board size both in term of Tobin’sQand ROA has a negative relationship with the performance of family firms. In non-family firms, there is no systematic relationship with corporate performance. There is a strong relationship between corporate performance and independent directors in non-family firms. In addition, the authors found some evidence for a relationship between performance and independent directors in family firms. Also, results indicated that ownership concentration has an insignificant correlation with corporate performance and in family firms has a negative and significant correlation with Tobin’sQ. There is a significant relationship between local investors’ ownership and corporate performance as measured by Tobin’sQin family and non-family firms.Originality/valueStudies concerned with the effect of corporate governance on firm performance remains comparatively under-researched in Middle East countries and Jordan in particular (Najib, 2007; Omet, 2004; Marashdeh, 2014). Moreover, studies investigating whether the practice of corporate governance has the same impact on family firm performance are still relatively less well known than those when ownership is distributed widely (non-family firms) (Jaggi, Leung and Gul, 2009; Prencipe and Bar-Yosef, 2011). This research is seeking to fill this current gap in Jordan, which is one of the developing countries with an emerging economics that are very poorly represented in the literature.

scholarly journals Corporate Governance and Auditor Independence in Saudi Arabia: Literature Review and Proposed Conceptual Framework

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Seraj Hamed Bahrawe ◽  
Harashid Haron ◽  
Ali Nawari Bin Hasan
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Auditor Independence ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
External Audit ◽  
Corporate Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Corporate Governance Reforms ◽  
Governance Reforms

<p>This study aimed to propose a theoretical framework that explains the relationship between internal corporate governance mechanisms namely audit committee and board of directors, and auditor independence. It is a descriptive study that explored the Saudi corporate governance reforms and the Saudi auditing market. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has been pursuing corporate governance reforms, as evidenced by the setting up of the Capital Market Authority (CMA) in 2003 and the publication of the Saudi Corporate Governance Code (SCGC) in 2006. In the Saudi Organization for Certified Public Accountants (SOCPA), the accounting standards committee holds the responsibility of developing and reviewing accounting and auditing standards in the country. According to the agency theory, corporate governance mechanisms and external audit have a key role in improving the process of financial reporting. Basing the primary argument on the above premise, this study attempted to achieve the following objectives; 1) to explore the issue of auditor independence, and 2) to determine the extent of the effect of corporate practices in Saudi Arabia on the external audit independence. This conceptual work’s outcomes revealed that the regulatory authorities and the CMA have to expend more efforts to improve the awareness and appreciation level of effective corporate governance practices among major internal mechanisms (audit committee and board of directors) and external mechanisms (external auditors) of corporate governance in Saudi Arabia.</p>

scholarly journals Conceptual Relationship between Corporate Governance and Audit Quality in Shari’ah Compliant Companies Listed on Bursa Malaysia

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nawal Kasim ◽  
Nur Ain Binti Hashim ◽  
Syed Ahmed Salman
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Independent Directors ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Good Corporate Governance ◽  
Corporate Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Audit Fee ◽  
Conceptual Relation ◽  
Conceptual Relationship

The issue of corporate governance has been a focus among researchers after the 1997/98 financial crisis. Many countries have implemented codes and guidelines of corporate governance to promote effective boards overseeing the operations of companies. In the case of Shari’ah compliant companies, boards still play a significant role and are responsible to ensure Shari’ah compliance. This paper reemphasises the conceptual relation between corporate governance mechanisms and audit quality. The corporate governance mechanisms are measured by board size, CEO duality, independent directors, financial experts on the audit committee, and the existence of an internal Shari’ah<em> </em>committee. There are numerous methods to measure audit quality including using audit fee and auditor reputation as proxies. The findings are mixed. This means that there is no consistent relationship between good corporate governance mechanisms and audit quality.

scholarly journals Free Cash Flow And Earnings Management: The Moderating Role Of Governance And Ownership

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Nekhili ◽  
Ines Fakhfakh Ben Amar ◽  
Tawhid Chtioui ◽  
Faten Lakhal
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Cash Flow ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Free Cash Flow ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Corporate Governance Mechanisms

<p class="Default">The purpose of this paper is to analyze the moderating effect of corporate governance and ownership features in lessening earnings management practices in a free cash flow (FCF) situation. A simultaneous equations model is developed to address endogeneity of the FCF variable. Based on a sample of French companies belonging to the SBF 120 index from 2001 to 2010, the results highlight the opportunistic behavior of managers in presence of free cash flows. Particularly, managers engage in earnings management practices that increase reported earnings. Our results also show that corporate governance mechanisms such as audit committee independence and external audit quality, in addition to institutional investors and managerial ownership reduce the extent of earnings management. Corporate governance mechanisms are substitutive in their monitoring role of managers’ behavior to reduce earnings management in presence of a free cash flow problem. </p>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document