scholarly journals Auditor Tenure, Audit Firm Rotation and Audit Quality: A Literature Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamza K. Qawqzeh ◽  
Wan Anisah Endut ◽  
Norfadzilah Rashid ◽  
Razana Juhaida Johari ◽  
Nadiah Abdul Hamid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Auditor Tenure

Clients' Expectations on Audit Judgments: A Note

2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkataraman M. Iyer ◽  
Dasaratha V. Rama
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Relative Power ◽  
Client Perceptions ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Auditor Tenure ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Nonaudit Services ◽  
The Impact

Audited financial statements can be viewed as the product of negotiations between a company's management and its auditor. Relative power of these two parties is a major factor that determines the outcome of the negotiation. This study examines the impact of auditor tenure, importance of a client to an audit partner, nonaudit purchases, and prior audit firm experience of client personnel on client perceptions about their ability to persuade the auditor in the context of an accounting disagreement. We obtained responses to a survey from 124 CPAs in industry who are employed as CEOs, CFOs, controllers, or treasurers. Our results indicate that respondents from companies with short auditor tenures were somewhat more likely to indicate that they could persuade the auditor to accept their (client's) position in case of a disagreement. This finding is consistent with the argument that auditors are susceptible to influence in the early years as they are still in the process of recouping start-up costs, but is not consistent with concerns expressed by legislators and others that long auditor tenures will adversely affect audit quality. Respondents who believed their business was more important for the audit partner were also more likely to believe that they could persuade the auditor. However, the purchase of nonaudit services and prior audit experience were not related to client's perceptions about their ability to persuade the auditor.

Auditor Tenure and the Timeliness of Misstatement Discovery

2017 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zvi Singer ◽  
Jing Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Natural Experiment ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Client Engagement ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Auditor Tenure ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Auditor Change ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Extended Analysis ◽  
Arthur Andersen

ABSTRACT Using the timeliness of misstatement discovery as a proxy for audit quality, we examine the association between audit firm tenure and audit quality in a setting that alleviates the endogeneity problem endemic to this line of research. We find that longer audit firm tenure leads to less timely discovery and correction of misstatements, which is consistent with a negative effect of long auditor tenure on audit quality. In addition, using the non-voluntary auditor change following the demise of Arthur Andersen in 2002 as a natural experiment, we show that the misstatements of its former clients were discovered faster than those of comparable companies that retained their auditors throughout the misstatement. This finding speaks to the benefit of a fresh look by a new auditor. An extended analysis shows that longer auditor tenure also leads to misstatements of greater magnitudes, and that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act has mitigated, but not eliminated, the negative effect of long auditor tenure. Last, we show that the negative association between auditor tenure and timely discovery of misstatements is mainly present in the first ten years of an audit engagement. Our study has implications for regulators who continue to express concern regarding lengthy auditor-client engagement. JEL Classifications: K22; K23; L51; M41; M42; M48.

Audit Firm Tenure and Fraudulent Financial Reporting

2004 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph V. Carcello ◽  
Albert L. Nagy
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Auditor Independence ◽  
Fraudulent Financial Reporting ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Auditor Tenure ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Client Relationship ◽  
Mandatory Audit Firm Rotation ◽  
The U.S

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002) required the U.S. Comptroller General to study the potential effects of requiring mandatory audit firm rotation. The General Accounting Office (GAO) concludes in its recently released study of mandatory audit firm rotation that “mandatory audit firm rotation may not be the most efficient way to strengthen auditor independence” (GAO 2003, Highlights). However, the GAO also suggests that mandatory audit firm rotation could be necessary if the Sarbanes-Oxley Act's requirements do not lead to improved audit quality (GAO 2003, 5). We examine the relation between audit firm tenure and fraudulent financial reporting. Comparing firms cited for fraudulent reporting from 1990 through 2001 with both a matched set of non-fraud firms and with the available population of non-fraud firms, we find that fraudulent financial reporting is more likely to occur in the first three years of the auditor-client relationship. We fail to find any evidence that fraudulent financial reporting is more likely given long auditor tenure. Our results are consistent with the argument that mandatory audit firm rotation could have adverse effects on audit quality.

scholarly journals The relation of auditor tenure to audit quality: Empirical evidence from the German audit market

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Krauß ◽  
Henning Zülch
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Audit Market ◽  
Auditor Tenure ◽  
Client Relationship ◽  
Mandatory Audit Firm Rotation

This study investigates whether and how the length of an auditor-client relationship affects audit quality. Using a sample of 1,071 firm observations of large listed companies for the sample period of 2005 to 2011, the study is one of the first to empirically analyze this auditing issue for the German audit market. The empirical results demonstrate that neither short term nor long term audit firm tenure seems to be a significant factor with regard to audit quality in Germany. In the wake of the ongoing discussion in the European Union regarding the optimal audit tenure length for the quality of the conducted statutory audits, our findings do not support the idea of a mandatory audit firm rotation rule.

Investor Reaction to the Prospect of Mandatory Audit Firm Rotation

2016 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 183-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren C. Reid ◽  
Joseph V. Carcello
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Market Reaction ◽  
Abnormal Returns ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Auditor Tenure ◽  
Big 4 ◽  
Mandatory Audit Firm Rotation

ABSTRACT The PCAOB recently considered implementing mandatory audit firm rotation in hopes of better aligning auditors' interests with investors' interests, suggesting that the PCAOB views long auditor tenure as problematic. However, the accounting profession argues that long tenure actually improves audit quality. This study provides insight into investors' views by evaluating the market's reaction to events related to the potential adoption of rotation that occurred between 2011 and 2013. The results provide some evidence that the market reacts negatively (positively) to events that increased (decreased) the likelihood of rotation, although these results are sensitive to the market index used to calculate abnormal returns. More importantly, particularly given the lack of a U.S.-specific control group, cross-sectional tests provide strong evidence that the market reaction is more negative (positive) on dates that increased (decreased) the likelihood of rotation given longer auditor tenure. Moreover, we also find that the market reaction is more negative (positive) on dates that increased (decreased) the likelihood of rotation given a Big 4 auditor. Data Availability: Data are available from public sources identified in the text.

scholarly journals The effect of audit firm tenure in artificial rotation on audit quality

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 439
Author(s):  
Junaidi Junaidi ◽  
Harun Pamungkas Apriyanto ◽  
Nurdiono Nurdiono ◽  
Eko Suwardi
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Auditor Tenure ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Client Relationship ◽  
Going Concern Opinion ◽  
The Relationship

This study aimed to examine the effect of auditor tenure in artificial rotation on audit quality. Tenure shows the relationship between the audit firms and a client that is measured in years. Artificial rotation of auditor (audit firm) indicates a condition that, conceptually, there has been a change of auditors leading to the auditor relationship with the client to be disconnected, whereas substantive auditor-client relationship is ongoing. Formally, the auditor does not violate the rules and is still able to audit for the same client. Yet, in the long-term, it could affect the audit quality. The longer auditor tenure, the closer auditor-client relationship is. Thus, the auditor accommodates the interests of the client at the client's financial statements, including the practice of discretionary accruals as a proxy for audit quality. The samples were selected by purposive sampling method of the companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange from the year 2002-2010, with multiple linear regression approach. It shows that tenure, and total assets do not affect the quality of the audit while the size of the audit firm, and debt statistically have significant effect on audit quality. Future studies may extend the period of observation, and using other audit quality measures, such as fraud, and the propensity of auditor to issue going concern opinion..

scholarly journals Dinamika Kualitas Audit Di Perbankan Syariah Di Indonesia

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-194
Author(s):  
Riani Riani ◽  
Sepky Mardian
Keyword(s):  
Firm Size ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Maximum Level ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Firm Reputation ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Auditor Tenure ◽  
Independent Audit

This study discusses and understands the competence and independence of auditors on audit quality in sharia banking in Indonesia. While in the discussion the authors analyze the things that are deemed related to the competence and independent audit of auditor tenure or rotation seen through two post-KMK regime and post Act No. 5, Audit firm reputation by looking at audit firm size, audit fees, and auditor competencies determined through background education, certification, experience of work, and frequency of training that followed. The result of the research shows that the limitation of audit tenure does not decrease the quality of audit in sharia banking, the dynamics of audit quality is formed from independent relationship and auditor competence depends on the maximum level of audit

scholarly journals The impact of auditor rotation, audit firm rotation and non-audit services on earnings quality, audit quality and investor perceptions: a literature review

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Velte ◽  
Thomas Loy
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Quality Audit ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Non Audit Services

This literature review evaluates 103 empirical research studies on the link between rotation and non-audit services on the one hand and their influence on earnings quality, audit quality and investor perceptions on the other hand. After the financial crisis 2008/09, regulators all over the world are aware of decreased stakeholder trust in earnings and audit quality. As a reaction, stricter rules on rotation and non-audit services by public interest entities (PIEs) have been implemented (e.g. in the European Union). However, the impact of these regulations on earnings and audit quality is still controversial. We briefly introduce the theoretical, normative and empirical audit framework that comprises an adequate structure of the state-of-the-art of empirical research in this field. We summarize the findings in each research area, while we split our rotation analysis in an audit firm and audit partner rotation and tenure and our dependent variables in earnings quality, audit quality and investor perception measures. Most of the cited studies are linked to earnings-related measures, especially abnormal accruals models. The mixed results can be explained by the different theoretical impacts of agency- and resource-based view. Finally, we will discuss the current limitations of the studies and give useful recommendations for future empirical research activities on this topic.

scholarly journals Auditing quality characteristics and accounting conservatism: an empirical study of the listed companies in Egypt

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 352-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Moustafa Soliman
Keyword(s):  
Firm Size ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
Accounting Conservatism ◽  
Company Size ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Auditor Tenure ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Auditor Specialization

The growing issues on the quality of audit and accounting conservatisms have long been regarded and seemed as a hot debated since both could impact on the capital market efficiency. This study aims to investigate the impact of the audit quality which is characterized by audit firm size, auditor specialization, and auditor tenure on accounting conservatisms in the financial reports of the more active 50 non-financial companies listed at Egyptian stock exchange across four years of period from 2007 to 2010. After controlling for company size, leverage and profitability, the results show that auditing quality characteristics (audit firm size, auditor specialization, and auditor tenure) have significant positive relation with accounting conservatism. On the other hand, no significant relationship is found between company size and accounting conservatism. Based on these results, the study provided recommendations to the interested parties.

Audit firm tenure and perceived audit quality: evidence from CEO incentive contracts

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-337
Author(s):  
Henri Akono
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Performance Measure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Auditor Tenure ◽  
Ceo Pay ◽  
Incentive Contracting ◽  
Compensation Committees

Purpose This paper aims to examine how compensation committees perceive audit quality as indicated by audit firm tenure. Using the contracting weight attached to earnings and cash flows in chief executive officer (CEO) compensation as proxy for the compensation committee’s perception of audit quality, the study examines whether compensation committees perceive performance metric informativeness as being affected by auditor tenure. Design/methodology/approach The paper regresses CEO cash compensation on accounting-based performance metrics and on interactions between auditor tenure and accounting-based performance metrics while controlling for other factors previously shown to affect CEO pay. Auditor tenure is measured using continuous and dichotomous variables. Findings Auditor tenure is associated with a reduced (positive) weight on earnings (operating cash flows), which suggests lower perceived audit quality as tenure lengthens consistent with the auditor closeness argument. This relation is asymmetric, i.e. the negative effect of longer auditor tenure on incentive contracting is more pronounced for positive earnings. The results are robust to using CEO total compensation as the compensation measure, as well as using level and change specifications. Research limitations/implications The inability to control for audit partner tenure in assessing the effect of audit firm tenure on incentive contracting and the potential endogeneity between auditor tenure choice and incentive contracting are the main limitations of this study. Given the lack of information on US audit partner tenure, the study could not control for the audit partner tenure issue. However, the study has attempted to mitigate the endogeneity issue by using a Heckman selection model that includes in the first-stage a regression of auditor tenure on various firm, performance measure and CEO-related governance characteristics, based on existing models (Li et al., 2010). Practical implications Compensation committees view auditor tenure as an indicator of accounting quality in setting CEO pay. Further, long auditor tenure is perceived as detrimental to financial reporting integrity, particularly when earnings numbers suggest positive managerial performance and innovations. Originality/value This study provides empirical evidence that auditor tenure matters in setting executive pay. Further, this study shows evidence on the link between auditor tenure and audit quality from an internal user’s perspective. Prior studies have focused either on external users (investors, creditors) or on the preparer (using measures such as discretionary accruals or meet/beat analysts’ forecasts or forecast guidance).

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