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The objective of this research is to analyse the effect of audit fees, audit working period, audit alternation and audit committee on audit quality in Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) listed manufacturing corporation during 2018-2020. Every influence factors is examined by measuring and calculating according to the reference: The audit quality is estimated by dummy variables by Big Four and Non Big Four KAP categories; The audit fee is calculated using the In (fee) formula with audit fee data taken from the professional fee account; The audit tenure is calculated by duration in years of KAP bond with clients; The audit rotation is measured using a dummy variable; The audit committee is measured based on the number of audit committees. This study uses secondary data and documentation methods for data collection as reference. With the purposive sampling method and research population of 193 manufacturing companies, 61 companies are eligible becoming samples according to following requirements: the corporation is recorded on the Indonesian stock exchange, the corporation presents audited reports, the corporation uses the rupiah currency in its reports and the corporation provides the required datasheet during 2018-2020. Procedure of this study is logistic regression to analyse the influence of these factors. This study outcome is about how the audit working period and the audit personel could bring positive impact on the audit quality, while the auditor alternation and the audit fee have no influence on the audit quality.

This study examines a sample of global hedge funds and focuses on analyzing characteristics consistently predictive of being GIPS compliant. Hedge fund data are merged with the CFA Institute’s list of GIPS-compliant firms. The authors find that smaller funds, with less experienced managers and those not denominated in US currency, are more likely to be compliant. They also find that firms with a strong internal control mechanism, defined as having one of the big four accounting firms as an auditor, are more likely to claim compliance. Turning to some core elements of the investor–fund relationship, they find performance fees are lower in firms claiming compliance, but past performance is insignificantly different. Collectively, the results suggest that GIPS compliance is useful to smaller and riskier firms that want to display confidence and transparency in their performance, thus supporting the notion that compliance is an additional certification agent. There is also some evidence to suggest a benefit to the investor in lower fees. Key Findings ▪ The minority number of hedge funds that chose to be compliant prior to the revised GIPS standards of 2020 are typically relatively smaller, have less-experienced managers, and are based in non-US currency. ▪ Compliant firms have smaller performance fees, resulting in a lower overall fee structure, compared to their noncompliant counterparts. ▪ Results are consistent with the notion that funds that chose compliance are those that could benefit from the additional certification it could provide.

O presente estudo tem como objetivo verificar a associação entre as empresas de auditoria independente e as escolhas contábeis. A amostra foi composta por 135 companhias de capital aberto brasileiras, listadas na B3, no período de 2010 a 2017. Foram avaliadas as escolhas contábeis relativas à mensuração de propriedades para investimentos, mensuração dos estoques, taxa de depreciação, método de depreciação, reconhecimento das parcelas do arrendamento mercantil operacional, reconhecimento das compras ou vendas regulares de ativos financeiros, classificação de juros pagos, classificação de dividendos e juros sobre o capital próprio pagos e dividendos e juros sobre o capital próprio recebidos. Essas escolhas foram selecionadas por estarem contidas explicitamente nas normas contábeis e, portanto, serem de fácil identificação nas demonstrações contábeis. Para testar a associação entre as empresas de auditoria e as escolhas contábeis foi utilizado o teste Qui-quadrado. Os resultados apontam a associação da mudança da empresa de auditoria com todas as escolhas contábeis investigadas, exceto a mensuração dos estoques e a classificação dos dividendos e juros sobre o capital próprio pagos. Adicionalmente, verificou-se que o fato de a empresa de auditoria ser uma Big Four está associado à mudança de práticas relativas à mensuração de propriedades para investimentos, mensuração de estoques e classificação de dividendos e juros sobre o capital próprio pagos. As evidências do estudo indicam que a auditoria pode ser um fator relevante para o entendimento das práticas contábeis adotadas pelas empresas.

We contribute to the recent debates on demand and growth regimes in modern finance-dominated capitalism linking them to the post-Keynesian research on macroeconomic policy regimes. We examine the demand and growth regimes, as well as the macroeconomic policy regimes for the big four Eurozone countries, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, for the periods 2001–2009 and 2010–2019. First, our approach supports the usefulness of the identification of demand and growth regimes according to growth contributions of the main demand components and financial balances of the macroeconomic sectors. This allows for an understanding of the demand sources of growth, or stagnation, if there is a lack of demand, of how these sources are financed and of potential financial instabilities and fragilities. Second, when it comes to the macroeconomic policy drivers of demand and growth regimes, as well as their respective changes, we show that the exclusive focus on fiscal policies, as in the previous literature, is too limited and that it is the macroeconomic policy regime which matters here, i.e. the combination of monetary, fiscal and wage policies, as well as the open economy conditions.

This study examines the relationship between female managers' presence in audit firms and audit firms' characteristics. In line with the employment rates obtained from POA, it is observed that gender inequality in the audit sector started from employment. In the research part, 90 audit companies' data that published transparency reports in 2018 were used. It has been determined that there are very few female managers in the sector; in fact, 47 of 90 companies do not have a female partner, board member, or responsible auditor. It is also analyzed that in the older audit firms, the audit firms that earn more revenue and big four firms, the number of female managers is significantly higher than in other firms. The study is essential in revealing that women's employment in the audit sector is a crucial problem and detects the positive relationship between corporate governance and female managers.

This study examines the impact of audit committee (AC) characteristics on audit quality in the Saudi listed firms. In addition, this study is also evaluating the Saudi CG Code amended in 2017. The data for the study is obtained from secondary (annual reports) data. The sample firms are 210 firms listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) over the period of 2017-2019. The audit firm type is used as a proxy for quality in this study. Multiple regression analysis is used to assess the relationship between AC characteristics and audit quality. The regression models show that firms with AC educational background in accounting and finance, and larger firms with higher state and institutional ownership are more likely to engage a big four audit firm, in so doing signalling greater audit quality. The results support agency and institutional theories concerning audit quality. In contrast, firms with more experts on the AC and higher leverage are more likely to select non-big four auditing firms which require lower audit fees. However, the size, number of meetings, and degree of independence of the AC do not significantly affect the level of audit quality. In addition, a combined AC effectiveness score is found to have a negative though insignificant impact on audit quality, contradicting governance regulation and theory expectations that effective ACs should improve audit quality. The results of this study present some key implications for CG regulators and other stakeholders. CG regulators should understand that the simple presence of an AC that meets baseline CG regulatory requirements does not automatically ensure its efficacy or improve auditing process quality. Therefore, boards and shareholders must continue to monitor and review AC decisions, particularly where they relate to auditor engagement, even where committees are, prima facie, deemed effective. The study contributes to the existing body of literature on the role of the audit committee in improving audit quality by addressing the paucity of evidence for emerging economies, and the case of Saudi Arabia in particular. The findings should prove useful for regulators and policy makers, academic researchers, accountants, financial experts, and audit practitioners in the Middle East and wider Arab region, particularly for those countries currently reviewing and setting guidelines for effective audit committees. Moreover, the findings should emphasise the importance of the concept of audit quality and its drivers in a Saudi Arabian corporate setting.Keywords: Audit Quality, Audit Committee Characteristics, Audit Committee Effectiveness, Corporate Governance, Corporate Governance Code, Saudi Arabia.JEL Classifications: G3, M4DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/irmm.11437

Objetivo: O artigo tem por objetivo analisar se a adoção das International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) fortaleceu a relação negativa entre gerenciamento de resultados e boas práticas de governança corporativa, sendo elas: os níveis diferenciados de governança corporativa da B3, a presença de um conselho de administração independente e se a companhia é auditada por uma Big Four. Metodologia: Utilizou-se uma amostra de 92 empresas listadas na B3 no período de 2002-2007 para anteriormente as IFRS e 2010-2015 para o posteriormente as IFRS, sendo os dados coletados nas notas explicativas, formulário de referência e na base de dados Economática®. Para a mensuração da variável dependente gerenciamento de resultados, foi utilizado o modelo proposto por Dechow, Hutton, Kim e Sloan (2012). Resultados: Os resultados da pesquisa sugerem que quando há a presença de um comitê administrativo independente, os níveis de gerenciamento de resultados são menores, sendo essa relação impulsionada pela adoção das IFRS. Não podemos afirmar que as empresas nos níveis mais altos de governança corporativa e auditadas por uma Big Four possuem menor incidência de gerenciamento de resultados após a aplicação das IFRS. Contribuições do Estudo: O trabalho contribui para um melhor entendimento de como variáveis relacionadas com governança podem sim influenciar na qualidade da informação contábil-financeira. Também contribui para a literatura que investiga se as Normas Internacionais de Contabilidade influenciam ou não a qualidade da informação contábil.

Objectives : This study aims to determine the effect of the size of the board of commissioners, the proportion of independent commissioners, family ownership, and audit quality on the level of voluntary disclosure of the company. Design/methodology/approach : An empirical study of 50 companies listed in the Indonesia Sharia Stock Index (ISSI) is conducted using the 2015-2016 annual report. The type of data used is secondary data. The analytical method used in this study is multiple linear regression analysis with SPSS 21. Findings : The results of statistical tests indicate that the size of the board of commissioners and audit quality have a positive and significant effect on the level of voluntary disclosure, while the proportion of independent commissioners and family ownership has no significant effect on the level of voluntary disclosure. Implications : The main implications of the results of this study are the size of the board of commissioners and the audit quality. The size of the board of commissioners has a strong relationship to the level of voluntary disclosure. There is a relationship between the number of the board of commissioners and the national laws that have an impact on monitoring the transparency process and the effectiveness of communication within the company. For audit quality, companies that use Big Four audit firms have an effect on the level of voluntary disclosure since their financial reporting will result in better audit quality with a high level of independence. The results of this study also support that agency theory is able to partially explain the phenomenon of the relationship between corporate governance practices and the level of voluntary disclosure in companies listed in ISSI. Originality/Value : This research is one of the studies that draw a relationship between the size of the board of commissioners and audit quality on the level of voluntary disclosure of companies in Indonesia. This finding provides confidence that the size of the board of commissioners and audit quality complement each other to improve the quality of voluntary disclosure.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand how the new reforms related to key audit matters (KAM) disclosures in Australia may have impacted audit quality by eliciting the perceptions of key stakeholders in the audit and assurance services market.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a qualitative approach and New Institutional Sociology (NIS) to explain how auditors have responded to the KAM reforms. Interviews were conducted with 20 individuals representing identified groups of stakeholders in the market for audit and assurance services in Australia.FindingsThe study finds there is little consensus between some stakeholder groups on whether the KAM reforms may have improved audit quality, based on the perceptions shared. The findings conveyed that the auditors and regulators, standard setters acknowledge that KAM disclosures are either costly and/or time-consuming to implement. The Big Four auditors indicate these reforms led to changes mainly around internal consultations and independent reviews, whereas the non-Big Four auditors highlighted increased interactions with audit clients.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies to examine the perceived post-implementation impacts on audit quality of the KAM reforms (ISA 701) after the initial two years of implementation and how auditors have responded, explored through the lens of institutional logic.

Objective: The paper presents the issue of non-financial information assurance and identifies the practices of companies operating in Europe in this regard. Methodology/research approach: The research is based on a literature review and analysis of a sample of 935 companies whose non-financial reports, prepared according to the GRI guidelines, are available from the GRI Sustainability Disclosure Database. In particular, we analyze how many companies had their non-financial information verified in 2017 and their previous practice in this regard (since 2005), as well as their structure according to the assuror type, the assurance standard used, the engagement type, and the assurance scope. Findings: Nearly half of the companies had their non-financial information independently and externally verified, including 34 Eastern European companies (30%) and 426 from Western Europe (52%). Most of the entities which provide assurance are so-called Big Four audit companies, mainly Deloitte and E&Y, which use the ISAE 3000 standard for this purpose. The most common engagement type is limited engagement. Limitations: The study is descriptive, which results from the nature of the data collected and the large disparity between companies using assurance in Western and Eastern Europe. Originality/value: The Article broadens accounting knowledge, in particular, on non-financial reporting. It indicates the need to take steps towards the wider use of non-financial information assurance in Eastern Europe.

This study aims to prove the effect of audit committee characteristics on the quality of financial statements and prove that audit quality affects and strengthens the relationship between audit committee characteristics and the quality of financial statements.The population of this study was non-financial companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The selection sample was done by purposive sampling method based on inclusion criteria. Hypothesis testing in this research used linear regression analysis.The results showed that there was no association between the audit committee characteristics with persistence, predictability, the number of the audit committee expertise, and the number of the audit committee meeting. Furthermore, the commissioner independent had an effect on conservatism. The number of the audit committee expertise and the number of the audit committee meeting with the financial report timeline were correlated. In addition, big four as moderation had an association with the audit committee meeting number and conservatism, which had a big impact on strengthening the correlation between the number of the audit committee meeting and conservatism.

This paper proposes a behavioural framework to complement professional accounting firms’ measures for managing conflicts of interest. Following an empirical examination of the process through which conflicts of interest affect accounting professionals’ decision-making, we develop guidance for practitioners that will enable them to incorporate behavioural interventions while establishing the context, assessing, treating, controlling and monitoring conflicts of interest. The interventions are aimed at strengthening accounting professionals’ independence in fact by increasing the professionals’ expectation that compliant decision-making will result in positive outcomes, increasing their perception that making compliant decisions is less difficult than making the alternative decisions, facilitating the formation of highly ethical judgements and lowering their propensity to disengage. The data were collected through a quasi-experiment with 105 professionals from the Big Four accounting firms in the UK. Our work offers practical implications for professional accountants, executive directors, regulatory bodies, executive training and academic research. Other professions facing the ramifications of conflicts of interest (e.g. law, engineering, medicine and architecture) may also use the proposed framework to improve their ethics policies and corporate governance codes for managing conflicts of interest.

SYNOPSIS In this study, we investigate whether individual auditors are associated with the comparability of their clients' financial statements, based on a sample of Chinese companies audited by ten large audit firms. We demonstrate that individual auditors have an incremental effect on comparability, beyond the office-level effect. We also find that the style of individual auditors is stronger when they are affiliated with Big 4 audit firms (compared to non-Big 4 large audit firms) and when they are industry experts. In addition, two possible channels of enhanced comparability are identified: (1) clients' accounting flexibility, which provides opportunities for auditors to exert influences; and (2) individual auditors' characteristics, such as age, position, and academic degree, which affect auditors' abilities to exert influence. Our results are robust to alternative comparability and industry expertise measures, to various sampling methods, and to corrections for potential endogeneity problems. JEL Classifications: M41; M42.

This study aims to examine the effect of financial distress on audit report lag and how the size of CPA Firm moderate the effect between financial distress and audit report lag. This study was held at manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2017-2019. The final sample there were 318 observations, with a purposive sampling method. The variable financial distress is measured by the Altman Z Score proxy, which is the best model for measuring the state of financial distress being experienced by the company. The size of CPA Firm is measured by dummy variables, given a value of 1 if it is a Big Four CPA Firm and 0 if it is not a Big Four CPA Firm. This study use multiple linear regression to analyze the data. Based on the results of the analysis found that financial distress has negative and significant effect on audit report lag. It means that the smaller the Z Score of a company (which means the company is experiencing financial distress), the longer the financial statement audit process will be. This negative relationship between financial distress is strengthened by the size of CPA Firm.

PurposeDrawing on theories pertaining to knowledge sharing, ageing at work and human resource practices for ageing workers, this article explores knowledge sharing challenges arising from the interaction between an increasingly ageing workforce and younger employees.Design/methodology/approachContextually, the authors focus on China, where the pace of demographic transformations offers a unique opportunity to investigate knowledge sharing practices in their socio-economic context. Empirically, the authors analyse knowledge sharing behaviours and practices of retail banking professionals in a Chinese big four bank.FindingsThe encouragement of knowledge sharing between younger and older workers should be incorporated into organisations' human resource strategies. The availability of development, maintenance, utilisation and accommodative human resource practices signals to older workers that they are valuable and are worth investing in.Originality/valueThe authors’ contribution to theory and practice is twofold: starting with the identification of perceived knowledge sharing challenges, the authors’ analysis offers important contextually grounded insights into what types of managerial practices are relevant in eliciting successful knowledge sharing within organisations faced with an ageing workforce.

This research was aimed to examine the effect determinant factors of stock return, from the corporate value, corporate performance and growth opportunities. In addition, this research purpose also to find the role of KAP size in moderated relations between the other determinant factors and stock return. This research covers several a family company listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). Role of corporate value proxied by Price Earning Ratio (PER), corporate performance proxied by Return On Asset (ROA), and growth opportunities proxied by Investment Opportunity Set (IOS). KAP size proxied by dummy variabel, score 1 for company that using the big four accountant public and 0 for company that using non the big four accountant public. Stock return proxied by actual return. Variables on this research are be measured by regression analysis and Moderated Regresion Analysis (MRA). Based on the results of the research showed PER, ROA, and IOS had significant effect of the simultaneous on Stock Return. ROA and IOS had significant effect of the parsial on Stock Return. But PER had no significant effect of the parsial on Stock Return. On the results of KAP size able to moderating variable in the relations corporate performance on stock return. But no able to moderating variable in the relations corporate value and growth opportunities on Stock Return

We examine the heterogeneity of experts in a credence goods setting. In our analytical model, clients are uncertain about how much effort experts need to provide to solve their problem, which is either simple or difficult. Experts have varying degrees of expertise. Less qualified experts are equally effective at solving simple problems but less effective at solving difficult ones. We show that clients pay a fee premium to more qualified experts, even for simple problems. This premium increases with the probability that the client has a difficult problem. We empirically test the model predictions in the context of partner industry expertise for the U.S. operations of the Big Four audit firms. We find, consistent with the model, a positive association between partner industry specialization and audit fees, even for simple audits, and a negative association between partner specialization and the client’s probability of restatements only for difficult audits. The industry specialization premium is higher in industries with higher proportions of difficult audits. Consistent with credence good agency issues, the specialization premium for simple audits is mitigated when information asymmetry between client and auditor is lower.

Fashion as a process in which individuals, institution or society interpret underlying social values using available technology to create specific physical or non-physical forms. Globally, the fashion industry is estimated at about $1.2 trillion. A fashion capital is such society with lots of impact on the fashion industry. There are four main global fashion capitals: New York, Paris, Milan and London. New York has the largest retail sales in the United States with more than $15 billion annual sales. Paris arguably remains the fashion capital of the world since it houses the two global largest luxury and fashion groups, kering and Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE. The fashion industry in Milan has about 6000 active enterprises catering for about 37,500 employees. The value chain generated by it accounts for one fifth of the entire Milanese wealth and fashion-related manufacturing accounted for 15% of the whole manufacturing in Milan in 2013. The fashion industry in the UK was worth approximately ￡21 billion in 2012. In Nigeria however, the fashion industry is still in infancy and without proper market structures. Currently, the aggregate of productions and retails is worth about N 2 Trillion. Entrants into the industry are overcoming the lack of structure by creating their own business formation within the corporate context of the Nigerian trade scene. Consequently, there was a 29% increase in the contribution of textile, apparel and footwear production to the GDP in Q1 2014 over Q1 2013. This report concluded the big four fashion capitals which have had longer historical presence and enjoy stable structures for their fashion industries to thrive. The Nigerian fashion industry however is emerging with huge prospects for growth especially in its luxury subsection. Nigeria needs to pay attention to provision of retail structures and includes its fashion industry in government policy legislation for sustained growth and development in her fashion industry.

Corporations increasingly engage in innovative ‘tax planning strategies’ by shifting profits between jurisdictions. In response, states try to curtail such profit shifting activities while at the same time attempting to retain and attract multinational corporations. We aim to open up this dichotomy between states and corporations and argue that a wealth defence industry of professional service firms plays a crucial role as facilitators. We investigate the subsidiary structure of 27,000 MNCs and show that clients of the Big Four accountancy firms show systematically higher levels of aggressive tax planning strategies than clients of smaller accountancy firms. We specify this effect for three distinct strategies and also uncover marked differences across countries. As such we provide empirical evidence for the systematic involvement of auditors as facilitators in corporate wealth defence.

O relatório de auditoria é o resultado do trabalho do auditor independente, no qual expressa uma opinião sobre as demonstrações contábeis da companhia. Dito isso, o presente estudo teve como objetivo geral: analisar os relatórios de auditoria sobre as demonstrações contábeis das companhias listadas na B3 referentes ao exercício de 2019. Classificou-se o estudo como um levantamento de dados para fins exploratórios e descritivos (survey) na área de conhecimento da Auditoria. O objeto de estudo são os relatórios de auditoria independente sobre as demonstrações contábeis das empresas de capital aberto com ações negociadas na B3 referentes ao exercício de 2019 emitido até março de 2020, cuja totalidade desses relatórios refere-se a 403. Verificou-se que a maioria dos relatórios com opinião não modificada e com opinião com ressalva foram emitidos por firmas Big Four. Por outro lado, as abstenções de opinião foram emitidas, em sua maior parte, por firmas não Big Four. Destaca-se também que 230 das 403 companhias auditadas são dos setores Financeiro, de Consumo Cíclico e de Bens Industriais. Entretanto, apenas os setores de Comunicações, Saúde, Tecnologia da Informação e Outros foram os únicos nos quais não houve a emissão de opinião modificada. As investigações de autoridades públicas, a exclusão do ICMS da base de cálculo do PIS e COFINS e as incertezas relativas à continuidade operacional motivaram uma parcela considerável das ressalvas. Além disso, a recuperação judicial e as incertezas relativas à continuidade operacional foram as bases para abstenção de opinião mais frequentes.Palavras-chave: Relatório de auditoria; Demonstrações contábeis; Companhias abertas; Opinião.

Amaç – Bu çalışmanın amacı, bağımsız denetim raporlarında yer alan Kilit Denetim Konuları paragrafının açıklama getirdiği konuların sayısı ile denetlenen işletmenin veya denetçinin/denetim kuruluşunun özellikleri arasında anlamlı bir ilişki olup olmadığını araştırmaktır. Yöntem – Borsa İstanbul (BIST) İmalat Sanayiinde faaliyet göstermekte olan 171 işletmenin 2017- 2019 yıllarına ait bağımsız denetim raporlarında yer alan 513 Kilit Denetim Konuları paragrafı incelenmiştir. Bulgular – Çalışmanın bulguları; denetim firmasının 4 büyüklerden biri olması, denetlenen işletmenin sürekliliği hakkında belirsizlik olması ve cari yılda bir önceki denetim firmasının değiştirilmiş olması durumlarında bağımsız denetim raporunda daha az sayıda kilit denetim konusu raporlandığını göstermiştir. Tartışma – KDK paragrafları, denetçilere, itibar kaygısı, ekonomik kaygı ve dava maliyeti gibi yeni sorumluluklar yüklemektedir. İlgili standartta açıkça ifade edildiği gibi, KDK’lar denetçinin mesleki muhakemesi ile ilişkili olması sebebiyle elde edilen araştırma bulguları, denetlenen işletmenin finansal risk durumunun yanı sıra, temelde denetim şirketi ve denetçinin özelliklerinin kilit denetim konuları üzerindeki etkisi hakkında bilgi vermektedir Purpose – The purpose of this research is to research whether there is a significant relationship between the properties of an audited company or auditor/auditing firm and issues that are explained by the paragraph of Key Audit Matters in independent audit reports. Design/methodology/approach – For that purpose, scrutinized 513 Key Audit Matters paragraph in independent audit reports of 171 companies operating in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) Manufacturing Industry for the period of 2017-2019. Findings – For research findings, less key audit issues were reported in independent audit reports in case of being auditing firm one of the four greats; uncertainty on the continuity of audited company; changed the previous auditing firm in the current year. Discussion – The KAM paragraphs impose new responsibilities on auditors, such as reputational concerns, economic concerns, and litigation costs. As clearly stated in the relevant standard, KAMs provide information about the research findings obtained as they are related to the professional judgment of the auditor, the financial risk status of the audited entity, as well as the effect of the characteristics of the audit company and the auditor on key audit issues.

Interaction between various internal and external corporate governance mechanism in reducing earning management must be analyzed deeply. Based on this case, this study aims to analyze the effect of the effective audit committee and the interaction between the audit committee with the qualified external auditor in reducing earning management. Audit committee is measured by forming a score from the number of members formed an audit committee and the number of audit committee’s meetings in one year, while audit quality from external auditor is measured based on the auditor’s industry specialization, auditor’s reputation and audit tenure. The sample of this study was obtained through purposive sampling method so that 93 samples of non-financial company in Indonesia was obtained. A linear-multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis of this study. The result of this study indicate that the audit committee has a negative effect on earning management, the interaction between the audit committee and industry specialist auditor has no effect on earning management, the interaction between the audit committee and Big Four auditor has a negative effect on earning management and the interaction between the audit committee and auditor tenure has no effect on earning management.

Purpose – Within the framework of Resource-Based View (RBV) we evaluated the relationship between corporate culture and superior business performance in a sample of 62 Latin American firms traded on the NYSE.Design/methodology/approach – Data retrieved from 20-F forms and the CRSP database, covering the period 2011-2016, was submitted to multiple linear regression with robust errors and random effects. Findings – Our results revealed that i) the 7 Latin American countries represented in the sample displayed a very similar mix of corporate culture, with a slight predominance of the competitive type, ii) less indebted and larger firms attained higher levels of superior business performance, and iii) auditing by one of the Big Four was associated with better performance in firms with competitive and creative culture. In the multiple regression analysis, creative culture was the best explanatory factor of superior corporate performance. Thus, we conclude that a culture with an emphasis on innovation generates competitive advantage.Originality/value – The organizations should make efforts to understand and manage the dynamics of corporate culture, harnessing their own dominant culture in the quest for superior corporate performance. As posited by RBV, our results show that investment in creative and innovative culture is particularly favorable to the creation of competitive advantage and, consequently, business performance.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the human-like intelligence given to systems and demonstrated by machines in doing tasks associated with human intelligence. AI systems can therefore, think like humans, act like humans, think rationally or act rationally. AI systems are not only more powerful and more useful than ordinary computers, but they also solve complex emerging human problems. These systems can be used in areas such as medicine, to conduct guided surgery; transportation, for autonomous vehicle control; face recognition; speech recognition; decision making in agriculture, manufacturing and housing. The present study is a review of the AI technology trend. A search was conducted on literature, technology magazines, and other internet sources. A discussion is presented on how AI systems have been widely applied in the developed world and the extent these systems are being embraced in other countries like China to spar development. Thereafter, this paper discusses the extent to which AI has been applied in the specific areas that relate to the Kenyan Big Four Agenda. The contribution of this paper is a framework that the Kenya Government can adapt in the application AI’s world transforming technologies to achieve its development agenda. We discuss the challenges that hinder full application of the AI technology and present the way forward.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of auditor reputation (big four and non-big four) and auditing learning (with audit learning and without audit learning) on the trust of users of financial statements. Testing the influence of the auditor's reputation and learning will show a halo effect on users of financial statements. The research method used was an experiment. Participants were 102 students. Data analysis was performed with the two-way Anova test. The results showed a halo effect so that the auditor's reputation and audit learning affected the users of financial statements.

Risky investments under incomplete information (i.e. about future behaviour, future state of the world) characterize international institution enlargements. In clubs, a logic of lowest common denom...

This article focuses on a transformational gender-inclusion project in a large global consulting firm based in Australia. It describes the historical context of what is known as the “big four” and ...

This study begins with the problem of auditor performance on the Big Four Public Accounting Firm and requires an improvement in audit quality due to a decreased audit quality assessment on the Big Four Public Accounting Firm. Problem related to audit quality is also experienced by government internal auditors. This is due to several factors such as the minimum standards set by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (FDSA) that have not been met by government internal auditors, auditor staff with accounting education backgrounds are still very few, auditors have not applied the Government Internal Oversight Apparatus (GIOE) code of ethics and so forth. The aims of this study to determine the extent of the audit quality produced by the government's internal auditors at the FDSA of Java island Representatives. Through the theory of behaviorism, this study has four objectives is to find out the implementation of professional accounting ethics, auditor competence, integrity, professional commitment on audit quality. Therefore, this study contributes to FDSA of Java Provinces to carry out the functions and duties of government internal auditor based on the GIOE codes and ethics and standards.

In the context of assessing the impact of IT concern on financial audit missions, the purpose of this paper is to investigate how new Big Data technologies shape the auditor profession, the methods and tools used. Motivation: technology has put its mark on all fields of activity and professionals tend, step by step, to experiment within auditing by testing new technologies; taking into account the hypothesis of large-scale adoption of modern technologies offered by IT, Big Data development and Data Analytics (BDA) represent a highly interesting case, on which the author pleads for debating. The two qualitative and fundamental research methods, together with the critical observation that consisted in manual selections of the online publications of the professional bodies in audit and accounting, the specialized literature and discussions with IT and audit Big Four specialists support the analysis of Big Data impact, completing previous specialized papers, given the fact that the need for (extended) documentation in this regard is further pointed out. The results of this investigation propose Data Analytics, Hadoop, NoSQL as Big Data top technologies applicable on financial audit missions, in order to simplify audit procedures, improve the organizational performance and reduce the level of risk.

This article provides a concise review of the three books, Disruption in the Audit Market: The Future of the Big Four (ISBN: 978–0367–220‐66‐2), Financial Failures & Scandals: From Enron to Carillion (ISBN 978–036‐7,220‐73‐0), by Prof. Krish Bhaskar and Prof. John Flower, together with Mr. Rod Sellers, and The Future of Auditing (ISBN: 978–0367–220‐66‐2) by Prof. David Hay.

PurposeThis paper compares and contrasts graduate accountant skills and employers' expectations in South East Asia (SEA).Design/methodology/approachWe analyse the employers' expectation performance gap (EPG) in three countries – Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam – to provide a reflection on current professional accounting development in SEA. The study relies on data derived from multiple sources including job advertisements, CIMA “ready for business” project, Glassdoor website and other secondary data sources.FindingsThe findings indicate that over recent decades, the changing nature of the economy, state, and interest of the business sector (including the “Big Four”) have led to the wider adoption of professional accountancy qualifications. The findings suggest that graduates should be equipped with active learning activities such as project-based and work-integrated training to fill the expectation gaps between local university educators and employers.Research limitations/implicationsDrawing upon a literature review of professional accounting education, we use the results of the documentations and secondary analysis to describe the performance expectation gap of accounting education in SEA.Originality/valueThe study indicates a large discrepancy between the teachings in accounting education and employer requirements in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia and propose different methods to fill this employability gap in South East Asia.

In this study, there are objectives intended to discuss corporate governance disclosures given by the board of commissioners (BOC), independent commissioners (BOC_IND), audit committee (AC), internal audit (IA) and the big four KAP for using fraud in finance. The population in this study is non-bank financial sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2016-2018. The sampling technique used purposive sampling of 108 companies. The data analysis method uses logistic regression models by taking into account the feasibility test (goodness of fit test) through the Hosmer and Lameshow tests, testing the model simultaneously using the Omnibus Model Coefficient Test, and testing the hypothesis through the variable values in the equation. The results showed the board of commissioners (BOC) and large KAP four had a positive and significant influence on indications of fraud in financial reporting. Whereas the independent commissioner variable (BOC_IND) has a negative and significant effect on fraud indications. The audit committee (AC) and internal audit (IA) variables have no influence on fraud indications in financial reporting. Keywords : corporate governance, fraud and financial reporting.

PurposeThe study aims at examining whether or not poor macro-economic conditions can lead auditors to change their risk management policies when performing an audit.Design/methodology/approachThe present study is based on a questionnaire distributed to auditors working at the branches of the big four audit firms in Egypt over two rounds under different economic conditions. The responses in each of the two rounds were analyzed to identify any similarities or differences in auditors' behavior when performing analytical procedures under different economic conditions.FindingsAuditors appear to alter their risk management strategies during challenging economic times. The present study results suggest that auditors increase their dependence on non-financial data and information as supporting evidence when assessing audit risk during times of economic difficulties. The findings also show that when the macro-economic trends are declining, audit firms tend to assign the performance of analytical procedures to more experienced audit personnel (i.e. senior auditors, audit managers and partners) with less of this work being done by the audit staff.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study is based on a sample of 40 respondents. It is recommended for future research to use a larger sample size as results may differ for a greater sample. The present research did not consider the effect of auditors' specialization in a certain industry on the audit judgment during an audit engagement. Future research would examine the impact of auditors' industry specialization on audit judgments during periods of unfavorable economic conditions. The present study is based on a survey that aims at capturing auditors' perception. Further research would use other research techniques (e.g. laboratory experiment) to examine the effect of the general economic conditions on auditors' assessment of audit risk.Practical implicationsAuditors need to give sufficient attention to the analyses of non-financial information of their audit clients during the performance of the analytical procedures under unstable economic conditions rather than depending solely on financial information. Moreover, audit firms could use a much richer labor mix for audit teams through increasing their reliance on experienced senior auditors, audit managers and partners during periods of deteriorating macro-economic conditions to mitigate risk and improve audit judgment.Originality/valueThis study adds to the scarce literature in developing countries investigating the influence of external economic factors on the audit process. The present research provides information to practitioners and educators about risk management policies that could be considered in case of performing analytical procedures during an audit conducted under poor economic conditions.

Objective – This study aims to determine the effect of institutional ownership, managerial ownership, board size and debt on the selection of public accounting firms in mining sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). Design/methodology – This study uses big four and non-big four public accounting firms classification as a proxy of the quality of the firm that will be selected by the company. It utilizes 120 observations during the 2015-2017 period. The analysis technique used is logistic regression. Results – The results showed that the size of the board of commissioners affected the election of qualified public accountant. While institutional ownership, managerial and debt holdings have no effect on the selection of qualified public accounting firms.

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the impact of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption on audit and non-audit fees in the UK setting. The study investigates whether UK firms adopting IFRS for the first time or reporting under IFRS, in general, are being charged higher audit and non-audit fees and whether this impact is conditional on audit firm size and tenure.Design/methodology/approachUsing empirical data for UK listed firms from 2003-2007, the paper uses a regression model that explains audit and non-audit fees by independent variables measuring auditors’ and auditees’ characteristics including IFRS adoption and reporting. Additional regressions with interaction terms were performed to test the hypothetical conditional impact of auditor size and audit firm tenure on the above-mentioned association.FindingsAudit and non-audit fees increase significantly for companies adopting IFRS for the first time and this increase is persistent during later years. In addition, results suggest that both Big four and non-Big four auditors charge higher audit and non-audit fees to their clients adopting or reporting under IFRS in a similar manner. Furthermore, findings indicate that audit firms increase audit and non-audit fees for old and new clients using IFRS which suggests no low-balling effect is detected.Research limitations/implicationsResults reported in this study provide insights to regulators in jurisdictions similar to the UK regarding the cost of IFRS adoption which includes higher audit and non-audit fees imposed by both Big four and non-Big four audit firms. In addition, this study argues, to some extent, against the notion that auditors may charge lower fees in the early years of the audit engagement to win new audit clients.Originality/valueTo the best of the knowledge, the findings are unique at two levels. First, the paper provides evidence on the cost of using IFRS in the UK jurisdiction which was not explored by previous research. Second, the paper investigates the potential conditional effect of auditor size and audit tenure on the association between IFRS adoption and auditors’ fees.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine whether institutional investors monitoring attenuate (exacerbate) weaker earnings persistence in politically connected firms (PCFs). In addition, it investigates whether earnings persistence do vary according to different types of political connections.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs earnings persistence as measure of earnings quality and ordinary least squares (OLS) model to examine: (1) the moderating effect of institutional investors’ ownership on the association between earnings persistence and PCFs and (2) the association between different types of political connections and earnings persistence.FindingsThis study finds that institutional investors' ownership attenuates weaker earnings quality in PCFs, indicating effective monitoring. However, stronger earnings persistence is associated with PCFs with longer political ties, audited by big four audit firm and with higher CEO power.Originality/valueThis study reveals the lower earnings persistence in PCFs can be attenuated by institutional investors monitoring. However, findings also suggest that earnings persistence in PCFs is affected by duration of political ties, big four audit firm and CEO power. This suggests that PCFs should not be viewed as a homogeneous group of firms.

PurposeThis study aims to explore how commercial and professional management instruments are combined in accounting firms.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a qualitative study based on 30 semi-structured interviews with partners from 30 different accounting firms (sole practitioners to Big Four) in Germany. The study mainly draws from the literature on the management of accounting firms.FindingsThe findings of this study indicate that professional and commercial management instruments structure the use of time by accountants. In these management instruments, professional and commercial goals are interwoven by three mechanisms revealed in this study and named as ambivalence, assimilation and integration. The authors further identify the managerial aspects of professional instruments.Originality/valueThis paper offers three mechanisms that combine commercial and professional goals in the management of accounting firms. The authors thereby contribute to the literature on the management of accounting firms by analysing these mechanisms that enable the pursuit of both goals simultaneously. Further, the authors argue that the minimum organisation, defined by regulators, of accounting firms is an essential infrastructure for the commercialisation of accounting.

Purpose: The mechanism of dual attestation system is to enhance audit quality through bonding legal liability of two signing partners. However, an intense debate regarding the retention or abolition of dual attestation system was discussed in recent years, because the amended Accountant Act have disputes over auditor's legal liabilities attributed to the Bardon and Rebar frauds. This study thus examines the audit quality of dual attestation system by exploring whether auditor locality and auditor tenure can affect audit quality simultaneously. Design/methodology/approach: This study investigates whether auditor locality and auditor tenure can affect audit quality simultaneously, using a regression model to examine my research issues. The sample is restricted to Taiwan's public listed companies of Big Four audit from 2002-2013 because data collection involves significant manual effort in reading individual auditor information of Big Four and searching lead/concurring auditor-client distance of Big Four. Financial data is obtained from Taiwan Economic Journal database (TEJ). Finding: I present evidence that audit quality is affected by auditor locality and auditor tenure, and differential portfolio of auditor locality and auditor tenure have different effects on audit quality under the dual attestation system. Research limitations/implications: This study has three limitations. First, the sample is limited to the clients of PwC, Deloitte, EY and KPMG because the required information for practice offices of lead and concurring auditors is only available for Big 4. Second, although discretionary accruals is a noisy proxy for audit quality and it does not necessarily reflect actual audit quality, it is widely used in the literature to provide rich insights into audit quality. Three, sample size is limited because of insufficient data to compute discretionary accruals. Originality/value: This investigation extends previous research on audit quality by examining the geographic proximity and auditor-client relationship. Furthermore, this study contributes to the debate regarding the retention or abolition of dual attestation system.

Purpose A survey is here systematically conducted to analyse auditors’ perceptions of dysfunctional auditing behaviour (DAB). As a result of many accounting scandals and litigations faced by audit firms, this paper aims to assess whether factors leading to DAB are embedded in audit firms’ practices. Design/methodology/approach The sample used in this study comprises auditors at all levels of employment with the big four audit firms in the United Kingdom (UK). DAB is analysed using two signals/indicators: premature sign-off and under-reporting of chargeable time. Time budget pressure and time deadline pressure are the factors considered here as potentially pushing auditors to exhibit DAB. A careful and considered analysis and interpretation is here articulated. Additionally, the sample individuals are divided into audit trainees and experienced auditors to assess any potential differences in the perception of DAB that reflect the experience factor. Findings Coordination with internal auditors, different perceptions between audit trainees and experienced auditors of dysfunctional behaviour, working during their personal time and the box-ticking exercise are amongst the findings that may help practitioners to understand the reasons behind dysfunctional behaviour and identify measures to mitigate it. Originality/value The study can aid concerned executives and audit partners to minimise DAB related to different time pressures by casting light on the key ethical issues. The study is conducted on a sample of the big four firms in the UK covering all organisational structure. It assesses if experience plays a role in the perception of DAB.

International audience; Because of their complexity and principle-based nature, the creation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) engendered significant uncertainty that modified the order of things within large accounting firms. This motivated them to establish Professional Practice Function (PPF) units to try to ensure a credible degree of consistency in applying IFRS across a wide range of financial reports at the international level. We study backstage dynamics surrounding a PPF national unit in one of the Big Four firms. We focus on the rise of the PPF as an expert-based control device within the firm, and the role PPF members play as knowledge brokers to interpret IFRS. Our investigation is carried out through ethnographic fieldwork supplemented by interviews with PPF members and field auditors. The analysis brings forward some of the organizational dynamics surrounding PPF members' efforts to establish their credibility as intermediaries both hierarchically, between administrative partners and field auditors, and epistemically, between the unifying logic of IFRS and auditees' financial reporting specifics. Ultimately, our analysis points to the role of the PPF as a gatekeeping or internal control device that mediates between different pools of knowledge to monitor the firm's reputation risk against IFRS implementation challenges. From a legal perspective, our ethnography documents how accounting “law” is made at the firm level and how PPF members strive for consistency – in spite of significant epistemological and organizational challenges. Our ethnography also shows that complex IFRS interpretation issues are not resolved through one person's judgment; instead, the firm's structure surrounding the PPF allows for the constitution of inter-individual judgment that transcends national, sectoral, and (sometimes) organizational boundaries. Finally, we see one important contribution of our work as helping reveal the limits of large conceptual categories such as “auditors”, which tend to downplay the dynamics of convoluted practice relationships.

Multi-professional service firms must deal with external pressures, such as increasing digitalization and internal tensions arising from differences between professions. Advances in digital technologies affect the content and control of work among professions, reshaping established jurisdictions. Although the importance of digital technologies for professions and their organizations is growing, our understanding of how digitalization affects the content of professional work and jurisdictional arrangements between existing and emerging professions is limited. Drawing on data collected from 25 semi-structured interviews, participant observations, and archival data in a Big Four firm, we explored the changes in content and control of audit work due to digitalization, and how auditors responded to jurisdictional conflicts through boundary work. Findings of the study show digitalization impacts critical activities and jurisdictions of auditors in diagnosis and treatment phases, increasing the effectiveness and value of audit work. Accounting auditors can respond to jurisdictional conflicts through different boundary work types for each act of professional practice. The study advances our understanding of digitalization’s implications on professions by revealing that professions can reduce contestation and increase collaboration through boundary work in the diagnosis and treatment phases. In contrast, professions’ ability to abstract helps them maintain favorable conditions in the inference phase.

In recent years, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, various industries have gradually introduced artificial intelligence to replace part of the manpower. Since 2016, artificial intelligence technology has been introduced into the financial field. Big Four have successively launched financial robots. More and more basic accounting positions have been replaced by robots. The unemployment rate of accountants without certificate has risen sharply, and the accounting industry is facing new challenges. Traditional financial work is done by artificial intelligence. Compared with manpower, artificial intelligence has a lower cost and more efficient. More and more accountants need to realize the transition from financial accounting to management accounting based on their own advantages. With the rapid development of science and technology, now that the future is coming. Accountants need to improve their comprehensive capabilities to adapt to the new environment in the era of artificial intelligence.