Higher Audit Quality Research Articles

Data on selfـــefficacy and its sources during the COVID-19 crisis: A Saudi auditor's perspective.

Auditors during COVID-19 experienced an unprecedented situation, in which normal audit activities were difficult to conduct. Moreover, COVID-19 forced auditors to introduce a new audit approach, "remote auditing," which was not common in most audit firms and required the adoption of more advanced technologies. Overall, auditors during the COVID-19 pandemic needed both cognitive and technical factors to deliver high-quality audits. Despite these challenges, research on how auditors deal with these issues is limited, presenting an intriguing area of study. This dataset provides insights into Saudi auditors' experience and beliefs regarding audit activities during COVID-19. Through an online survey, researchers collected data from 193 of 417 registered auditors with the Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants (SOCPA). The survey assessed auditors' self-efficacy in conducting audits during the pandemic and explored its sources and potential moderating factors. Specifically, the dataset includes responses to eight items related to self-efficacy, 19 items covering four common sources of self-efficacy (mastery experience, vicarious experience, social persuasion, and physiological/emotional states), and six items assessing virtual audit competency. Additionally, the dataset contains demographic information that is valuable for researchers analyzing the relationship between auditor self-efficacy, its sources, and other influencing factors. Overall, the dataset included in this study may serve a broader audience and be useful in improving several stakeholders' understanding of the effects of COVID-19 on auditors and how auditors assess their ability to adapt to COVID-19 consequences. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by highlighting the need for auditors to adapt to new circumstances and adopt innovative approaches during challenging times, thereby ensuring the delivery of high-quality audits.

Problems and prospects of methodological features of accounting and audit of import operations

In the context of globalization and integration of world markets, import operations occupy an important place in the activities of enterprises, forming a significant part of their economic processes. Effective management of these operations requires accurate and timely accounting and high-quality auditing, which becomes especially relevant in modern conditions. The study of methodological features of accounting and auditing of import operations is a relevant and timely area that helps improve the quality of financial reporting and management decisions. The purpose of the study is to analyze the problems and prospects of methodological features of accounting and audit of import operations, as well as to develop recommendations for their improvement. The study examined the main methodological approaches, existing problems and challenges, and proposed solutions aimed at increasing the efficiency and reliability of accounting and auditing in a global economy. The improvement of methodological approaches to the accounting and auditing of import operations will improve the accuracy and reliability of financial reporting, reduce the risks of non-compliance with regulatory requirements, as well as improve management decision-making and the overall financial stability of companies. The development and implementation of effective accounting and auditing methods that comply with international standards and best practices will minimize financial risks and increase the competitiveness of enterprises in the global market. A study of the problems and prospects of methodological features of accounting and auditing of import operations has revealed a number of key issues that require attention and solutions. The main challenges are the complexity and diversity of regulatory requirements, currency fluctuations, the diversity of imported goods and services, difficulties in assessing and recognizing imported goods, and the lack of qualified specialists.

Intelligent manufacturing, auditor selection and audit quality

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of intelligent manufacturing on audit quality and its underlying mechanism as well as the variation in this influence across different types of organizations.Design/methodology/approachThis research utilizes a difference-in-differences (DID) method to examine how enterprises that apply intelligent manufacturing choose auditors and impact their audit work. The study is based on 15,228 observations of Chinese-listed A-shares from 2011 to 2020.Findings(1) There is a strong correlation between intelligent manufacturing and audit quality. (2) This positive correlation is statistically significant only in state-owned enterprises (SOEs), those that have steady institutional investors and where the roles of the CEO and chairman are distinct. (3) Enterprises that have implemented intelligent manufacturing are more inclined to employ auditors who possess extensive industry expertise. The auditor's industry expertise plays a crucial role in ensuring audit quality. (4) The adoption of intelligent manufacturing also leads to higher audit fees and longer audit delay periods.Practical implicationsThis paper validates the beneficial impact of intelligent manufacturing on improving corporate governance. In addition, it is recommended that managers prioritize the involvement of skilled auditors with specialized knowledge in the industry to ensure the high audit quality and the transparency of information in intelligent manufacturing enterprises.Originality/valueThis study builds upon previous research that has shown the importance of artificial intelligence in enhancing audit procedures. It contributes to the existing body of knowledge by examining how enterprise intelligent manufacturing systems (IMS) enhance audit quality. Additionally, this study provides valuable information on how to improve audit quality in the field of intelligent manufacturing by strategically selecting auditors based on resource dependency theory.

Study on Audit Risk Model Based on Data Mining Algorithm

With the widespread application of modern information technologies such as big data, enterprises have generated a large amount of data in their daily operations. The traditional audit methods have drawbacks such as high cost and high consumption, and can no longer meet the needs of audit work in the digital era. Therefore, it is urgent to adopt audit methods suitable for the digital era to improve audit quality and reduce enterprise Audit risk. For professional auditors in enterprises, it is very important to utilize emerging technologies such as data mining algorithms. The audited enterprise may tamper with its financial statements, and identifying high-quality audit data from massive amounts of data is a huge challenge. Compared to traditional audit methods, data mining algorithms can significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of audit work. For example, the BP neural network, with its powerful nonlinear mapping ability, can capture complex relationships in data; Support vector machines classify data by finding the optimal hyperplane in high-dimensional space and have good generalization ability; random forest reduces overfitting and improves prediction accuracy by integrating multiple decision trees; Association rule algorithms can discover interesting relationships between data items, helping auditors identify potential fraudulent behavior or abnormal transactions. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to accurately evaluate and reduce the audit risk of enterprises, and to build an audit risk model using computer data mining algorithms. This provides necessary reference and guidance for auditors to conduct data analysis and mine valuable data during the audit process of enterprises, thereby improving audit efficiency.

Female lead auditors, audit fees, and audit quality

We investigate whether female lead auditors are associated with higher audit fees and audit quality. We expect female lead auditors to have a significant influence on these audit outcomes for two reasons. First, female auditors are more risk averse and less tolerant of opportunistic behaviours than their male counterparts. Second, lead auditors perform more numerous and varied tasks and spend more time on the audit of a given client than concurring auditors. Our results show that female lead auditors are associated with higher audit quality but not with higher audit fees. However, these results only hold for female lead auditors with low client-specific experience (i.e., in a riskier context). Finally, additional analyses suggest that female lead auditors and female concurring auditors have a different influence on audit fees and audit quality.

A comparative analysis of remote auditing in Albania: How it affects the quality of enterprise auditing

This paper conducts an extensive examination to explore the impact of remote auditing on audit quality. It aims to ascertain whether remote audit processes can match or exceed the standards set by traditional on-site audits. The study encompasses various remote audit methods, advantages, and challenges. The study employs a mixed methods approach, gathering and analyzing data through both quantitative measures and qualitative techniques. This includes surveys directed at audit professionals to glean insights into remote auditing and its effects on audit quality. Survey findings are analyzed according to a balance scorecard. The findings indicate that remote auditing has the potential to deliver high-quality audits but requires robust technological infrastructure, effective communication channels, and rigorous data protection protocols.

The development of the European Union auditing research over the past decade: a systematic literature review and future research opportunities

Purpose The purpose of this study is to provide a systematic review of research development on auditing in the European Union over the past decade and suggest future research directions. Design/methodology/approach Following the PRISMA protocol, the authors systematically reviewed the relevant literature and conducted a qualitative content analysis of 107 studies on auditing in the European Union published between 2012 and 2023. Findings The results indicate increased auditing literature in the European Union from 2012 to August 2023. Around 40% of the papers were focused on six nations: Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK, Sweden and France. Additionally, 35.5% of papers have been published in three major journals: Accounting in Europe, International Journal of Auditing and the European Accounting Review. Moreover, 82.24% of papers used quantitative methods, with a few using qualitative or mixed methods. Also, most of the studies in the sample endorsed the European Union’s auditing reforms, which included implementing a cap on nonaudit fees and enhancing the independence of audit committees. Contrary to this viewpoint, multiple studies have expressed disagreement with enforcing a total prohibition on nonaudit services, as certain services can enhance auditing quality. Similarly, other studies have contested the necessity of mandatory auditor rotation every 10 years, citing the significant additional expenses associated with this practice. Finally, further studies supported the European Union’s decision to make the joint audit voluntary, as it is related to high audit fees and low audit quality. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this research primarily stem from the authors’ choices in selecting the database and defining the criteria for searching the studied papers. Practical implications This paper offers valuable insights into the future research prospects in the European Union’s auditing field. Hence, this analysis can be helpful for researchers and practitioners in developing this field based on future research recommendations and the identified themes. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first study to systematically review the developments of the European Union auditing literature over the past decade.

The influence of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance on management tone manipulation – evidence from China

PurposeThis paper explores the association between directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (D&O insurance) and management tone manipulation.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses data from A-share listed non-financial companies from 2009 to 2021 as its sample for empirical tests. In addition, the study relies on text analysis and the construction of models to investigate the relationship between D&O insurance and management tone manipulation.FindingsThe authors find that the purchase of D&O insurance will lead to management tone manipulation in the “management discussion and analysis” part of companies’ annual reports, and operating risk and agent cost are the two paths for the effect. Further analysis shows that having a male CEO and employing high-quality auditors can weaken the positive impact of D&O insurance on tone manipulation.Originality/valueThis paper provides a new approach for studying the literature related to D&O insurance and management behavior, and the findings enrich our understanding of the influencing factors and the mechanism of management tone manipulation, thus revealing policy implications for further standardization of the terms and system of D&O insurance in China.

The Effect of Auditor Competence and Independence on Audit Quality at AYZ Company

The aim of this research is to see how auditor competence and independence affect audit quality. The background to this research is the importance of audit quality for stakeholders and the role of auditor competence and independence in improving audit quality. Data was collected through auditor reviews from various Public Accounting Firms (KAP). The research results show that the auditor's expertise and independence contribute significantly and positively to audit quality. In addition, the relationship between expertise and independence was also found to strengthen audit quality. This research shows that improving auditor education, training and experience and maintaining auditor independence are critical to producing high-quality audits.

Data on selfـــefficacy and its sources during the COVID-19 crisis: A Saudi auditor’s perspective

Background Auditors during COVID-19 experienced an unprecedented situation where normal audit activities became difficult to conduct. Moreover, COVID-19 forced auditors to introduce a new audit approach, “remote auditing,” which was not common in most audit firms and required the adoption of more advanced technologies. Overall, auditors during COVID-19 needed both cognitive and technical factors to deliver high-quality audits. Despite the challenges, research into how auditors dealt with these issues is limited, presenting an intriguing area of study. Methods This dataset provides insights into the Saudi auditor’s experience and beliefs regarding audit activities during COVID-19. Through an online survey, researchers collected data from 193 out of 417 registered auditors with the Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants (SOCPA). The survey assessed the auditors’ self-efficacy in conducting audits during the pandemic, exploring its sources and potential moderating factors. Specifically, the dataset includes responses on eight items related to self-efficacy, 19 items covering the four common sources of self-efficacy (mastery experience, vicarious experience, social persuasion, and physiological/emotional states), and six items assessing virtual audit competency. Additionally, the dataset contains demographic information valuable for researchers analysing the relationship between auditor self-efficacy, its sources, and other influencing factors. Conclusions Overall, the dataset included in this article may serve a broader audience and be useful in improving several stakeholders’ understanding of the effects of COVID-19 on auditors and how auditors assess their ability to adapt to the COVID-19 consequences. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by highlighting the need for auditors to adapt to new circumstances and adopt innovative approaches during challenging times, thereby ensuring the delivery of high-quality audits.

The Influence Of Audit Fee, Audit Rotation, Audit Tenure, Company Size, Auditor Specialization And Auditor Reputation On Audit Quality In Manufacturing Companies Listed On The Indonesian Stock Exchange In 2020-2022

The aim of this research is to determine the influence of Audit Fees, Audit Rotation, Audit Tenure, Company Size, Auditor Specialization and Auditor Reputation on Audit Quality in manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2020-2022. The method used in this research is quantitative associative method, using secondary data. Based on the research results, it shows that Audit Fees, Audit Tenure and Auditor Specialization partially have no effect on Audit Quality. This shows that audit fees are low and competitive for auditors without reducing auditor quality standards. Audit quality is maintained even though there are changes in the Audit Tenure period. Auditor specialization is reduced, but there is increased training, application of audit standards and use of technology in maintaining effective Audit Quality. Company size partially has a positive and significant effect on Audit Quality. This shows that the auditor has sufficient expertise to handle the high complexity of a large company size, thus providing support for increasing audit quality. Audit Rotation and Auditor Reputation partially have a negative and significant effect on Audit Quality. This shows that a decrease in the frequency of Auditor Rotation can result in a decrease in their objectivity and independence, but auditors have a high perspective and long-term relationship to improve Audit Quality. A decline in auditor reputation can reduce public trust and auditor credibility, but implementing audit standards, strengthening policies and procedures and effective supervision can play a transparent role in maintaining integrity and professionalism by assessing and improving high audit quality standards. Audit Fees, Audit Rotation, Audit Tenure, Company Size, Auditor Specialization and Auditor Reputation simultaneously have a positive and significant effect on Audit Quality. This shows that Audit Fees can ensure auditors work well, Audit Rotation can reduce the risk of fraud, Optimal Audit Tenure does not lose objectivity, Company Size provides resources for comprehensive audits, Auditor Specialization adds value with special skills, Auditor Reputation adds trust and contribute to improving Audit Quality in Manufacturing Companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2020–2022.

Signing auditors’ experience gap and audit quality

This study investigates how interactions between signing auditors with different levels of experience affect audit outcomes. Using the unique data from China, we find that a higher experience gap between signing auditors is associated with higher audit quality, as indicated by lower absolute discretionary accruals and a smaller likelihood of restatements. Further analyses suggest that the positive association between signing auditors' experience gap and audit quality is more pronounced for client firms that are more complex, have weaker corporate governance and higher information asymmetry, are audited by smaller audit firms, and are more economically important to auditors. Our results are robust to alternative research designs, alternative measures of auditor experience and audit quality, and other sensitivity tests. We contribute to the literature on auditor experience and audit team diversity with implications for audit firms’ personnel assignment.

The impact of remote auditing on audit quality: the moderating role of technology readiness

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the impact of remote auditing on audit quality and explore the moderating role of both the client’s and the audit firm’s technology readiness in this interaction.Design/methodology/approachData was collected through a questionnaire survey distributed to 360 audit professionals in Jordan, resulting in 208 valid responses. The data was analysed using SmartPLS – structural equation modelling.FindingsThe results showed that remote auditing significantly and positively affect audit quality. This study found that the technology readiness of both the audit firm and the client greatly influences audit quality. Notably, the technology readiness of the client positively enhances the relationship between remote auditing and audit quality, while the technology readiness of the audit firm does not play such a role.Practical implicationsThe findings are of value to policymakers in terms of the positive impact of remote auditing on audit quality, and the role of technology readiness in this regard. In particular, they allow policymakers and regulators of audit profession to make informed and relevant decisions pertaining to the adoption of remote auditing. The findings also indicate the significance for audit firms and business institutions to pay special attention to developing their technology capabilities to keep abreast of rapid technology advancements, ensuring the maximum benefits for auditing profession, thereby enhancing their efficiency and effectiveness.Originality/valueThe importance of this study lies in its unique contribution to bridging the research gap related to understanding the pivotal role of technology readiness in enhancing the relationship between the use of remote auditing and the achievement of high audit quality.

CEO inside debt and industry specialist auditor

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the effect of executive compensation incentives, specifically CEO inside debt holdings, on the choice of industry specialist auditor.Design/methodology/approachHigh inside debt holdings are expected to constrain excessive managerial risk-taking and align the interests of managers and outside debtholders. The authors hypothesize that reduced debtholders’ expropriation concerns will decrease the demand for high audit quality, measured by industry specialization. The authors investigate a sample of US firms from 2006 to 2018 using OLS regression and use CEO relative leverage to proxy for CEO inside debt holdings. The authors conduct an additional two-stage least squares regression analysis to address potential endogeneity issues.FindingsThe paper finds that firms with higher levels of CEO inside debt tend not to appoint an auditor with industry specialization. This result is consistent with the notion that inside debt mitigates agency conflicts between managers and debtholders, reducing the demand for high-quality audits as a monitoring mechanism. The paper also finds that among firms which are excessively leveraged, those with higher levels of CEO inside debt tend to appoint an industry specialist auditor.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to the literature on agency cost and auditor choice by demonstrating that CEO inside debt has both substitutive and complementary effects on demand for industry specialist auditors.

Auditors’ Sensemaking During Crises: The Case of the COVID‐19 Pandemic in Italian Local Public Administrations

Crises such as COVID‐19 cause uncertainty that intensifies the pressure on public sector auditors, prompting them to question their established practices and routines. At the same time, stakeholders demand higher levels of assurance of public spending during crises. Using sensemaking as a theoretical framework, our paper explores how auditors changed the way they perform auditing activities in response to the uncertainty and instability stemming from the COVID‐19 crisis. Our qualitative survey of auditors of Italian municipalities shows that before the crisis auditors focused on compliance; however, in the face of time and information shortcomings as a result of the crisis, auditors collaborated more with municipalities. After the crisis, in an attempt to reclaim independence, auditors withdrew collaboration. At the same time, they imagined a different future in which they would implement auditing processes in a way that made clear their independence. The paper contributes to the literature on auditing by shedding light on how auditors make sense of their role and the activities performed during the main phases of crises. Moreover, it advances theoretical understanding by elucidating how sensemaking processes are developed throughout the main phases of a crisis. At a practical level, this study may help auditors envisage how to adjust their roles and activities at times of crisis in ways that maintain high audit quality levels.

Audit committee personnel training and stock price crash risk

This study examines whether audit committee personnel training decreases future stock price crash risk. Using a hand-collected Korean sample comprising 2,378 firm-year observations from 2018 to 2022, we find that audit committee personnel training reduces future stock price crash risk by lowering real earnings management and curbing overinvestment. Additionally, our findings are more pronounced for firms with high information reporting opacity, high information asymmetry, audit committee chairs with accounting and financial expertise, and firms audited by high-quality auditors. The findings shed light on the value of training to audit committee personnel.

OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE, FINANCIAL REPORTING QUALITY AND THE ROLE OF AUDIT QUALITY: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY IN VIETNAM

The issues of ownership structure, audit quality, earnings management, and financial reporting quality have garnered increased attention from the public, professionals, and other stakeholders, especially following numerous corporate scandals in Vietnam. Ownership structure is crucial in enhancing financial reporting quality (FRQ) by serving as an effective internal control mechanism. This study explores how different types of ownership affect FRQ and the role of audit quality. Previous literature has investigated the relationships between ownership types, audit quality, and FRQ. This study aims to integrate these variables into a comprehensive model that describes the impact of ownership structure within a company and audit quality on FRQ. The relationships tested include: ownership structure and FRQ, the mediating effect of audit quality on these relationships, and audit quality and FRQ. Analyzing panel data from 112 Vietnamese listed firms on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange from 2011-2021, the results revealed that directors' and family ownership positively affect FRQ by reducing earnings management, while institutional ownership negatively influences FRQ. Managerial ownership was found to have an insignificant impact on FRQ. Audit quality partially mediates these relationships and has a significantly positive impact on FRQ, suggesting that high audit quality deters earnings management. This study recommends enhancing the supervisory and monitoring role of institutional ownership in financial statement preparation.

Partner wealth and audit quality: evidence from the United States

AbstractUsing the market values of audit partners’ houses as a measure of their personal wealth, we find that wealthier U.S. partners provide higher-quality audits, as evidenced by fewer material restatements, fewer material SEC comment letters, and higher audit fees. A battery of falsification tests shows that these findings are not driven by the matching of wealthier partners with clients with higher financial reporting quality. Our additional analyses suggest two explanations: greater personal wealth both incentivizes partners to exert more effort in delivering high-quality audits and reveals partners’ audit competence.

Positive Impact of Audit Quality on Sharia Banks

Sharia banking can thrive by using the company's financial success, which is closely aligned with the audit process. The purpose of the audit task is to acquire evidence and assess it impartially to determine if the audit criteria are satisfied, so ensuring a high-quality audit and preventing fraud. Subsequently, a study was conducted to ascertain the influence of ethical factors and auditor expertise on the level of audit excellence in the financial statements of Islamic banks in Banda Aceh. The research employed a quantitative approach, utilizing the multiple linear regression model for data analysis. The primary data was collected through a questionnaire and processed using IBM Statistics to test statistical hypotheses. The study findings indicate that both ethical factors and audit experience have a favorable influence on the quality of audits conducted by Islamic institutions.

Does audit quality affect the probability that a female auditor has chaired the audit team? Empirical evidence from Italian public HEIs

Purpose: Focusing on Italian public higher education institutions (HEIs), this study examines whether an increase in remarks in unqualified audit reports increases the likelihood that a female auditor has chaired the audit team issuing such reports. Design/methodology/approach: To answer its research question, the paper re-gresses the gender of the audit team chair with, among other factors, the number of remarks in the unqualified audit reports that are assumed to be a measure of audit quality. Findings: The results show that in Italian public HEIs, it is more probable that au-dit reports characterised by high audit quality (i.e., those with more remarks) are issued by audit teams chaired by female auditors. Originality/value: These findings contribute to existing knowledge and have im-plications for practice. They might be explained by the innate qualities of women as well as by environmental factors such as limited litigation risk characterising both the country and the sector investigated. So, they do not contradict either the Institutional Logic perspective or the Ethics of Care Theory, according to which the environment and the aptitude to manage conflict differ between men and women.