scholarly journals Audit Firm Perspective on Audit Firm Rotation and Enhancing Independence: Evidence from PCAOB Comment Letters

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. A22-A44
Author(s):  
L. Tyler Williams ◽  
W. Mark Wilder
Keyword(s):  
Audit Committee ◽  
Auditor Independence ◽  
Overwhelming Majority ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Public Accounting Firms ◽  
Comment Letters ◽  
Alternative Solutions

SUMMARY This study examines practitioners' perspectives on audit firm rotation and alternative solutions to enhance independence in the audit industry as solicited by the PCAOB's “Concept Release on Audit Firm Rotation and Auditor Independence.” Accordingly, we synthesize the opinions found in comment letters of 15 American public accounting firms—eight of which are annually inspected by the PCAOB and seven of which are inspected tri-annually. Altogether, we find the firms generally offer homogenous rationale for opposition to audit firm rotation. However, most importantly, we note that the overwhelming majority of the alternative solutions offered by the firms to enhance the independence relationship between auditor and client lies with fortifying the audit committee. To that end, while regulators have generally attempted to strengthen independence by introducing regulation at the auditor level, our review indicates that perhaps a shift in regulatory philosophy is warranted—one that suggests progressing regulation at the client level. Data Availability: Publicly available.

scholarly journals The Influence of Reputation of Public Accounting Firms on the Integrity of Financial Statements with Corporate Governance as the Moderating Variable

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nera Marinda Machdar ◽  
Dade Nurdiniah
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Institutional Ownership ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Accounting Firm ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Accounting Firms

This research aimed to determine the effect of the reputation of the public accounting firm on the integrity of financial statements by including leverage and firm size as the control variables. This research also investigated the effects of corporate governance moderation that was proxied by the independent commissioner, institutional ownership, and audit committee in strengthening or weakening the reputation of the public accounting firms on the integrity of the financial statements. The population was manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2013-2015. The sample utilized the purposive sampling method and resulted in 34 manufacturing firms, so the total observations were 102 firms in all observed years. This research performed statistical data processing with EVIEWS 8. There are two main findings of this research. First, the reputation of public accounting firm affects the integrity of the financial statement. Second, corporate governance that utilizes the independent commissioners and institutional ownership strengthen the effect of the reputation of the public accounting firm on the integrity of the financial statement. However, corporate governance using audit committee weakens the reputation of the public accounting firm on the integrity of financial statements.

ANALISIS FAKTOR - FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI KETEPATAN WAKTU PENYAMPAIAN LAPORAN KEUANGAN PERUSAHAAN INDUSTRI BARANG KONSUMSI DI BURSA EFEK INDONESIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 333
Author(s):  
Devi Ayu Putri
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Company Size ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Public Accounting Firms

This study aims to examine and analyze (1) the effect of profitability on the timeliness of financial reporting (2) the effect of leverage on the timeliness of financial reporting (3) the effect of company size on the timeliness of financial reporting (4) the effect of reputation of public accounting firms on the accuracy financial reporting time and (5) the influence of the audit committee on the timeliness of financial reporting of companies listed on the Indonesian stock exchange. This research was conducted in the manufacturing sector of the consumer goods sector in 2012-2016 on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. Methods of research data using non-participant observation methods, by analyzing the annual reports and audit financial reports obtained. The data analysis method is logistic regression analysis, with hypothesis testing carried out by multivariate testing. The results showed that the profitability and audit committee had a positive effect on the timeliness of financial reporting, while leverage, company size, reputation of public accounting firms had no effect on timeliness of financial reporting. This research is expected to provide significant implications for related parties in assessing and predicting the timeliness of financial report submission.

Materiality Guidance of the Major Public Accounting Firms

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 3-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aasmund Eilifsen ◽  
William F. Messier
Keyword(s):  
Data Availability ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Public Accounting Firms ◽  
Qualitative Factors ◽  
Research And Education ◽  
High Level ◽  
Implementation Of Standards

SUMMARY This paper examines the materiality guidance for eight of the largest U.S. public accounting firms. Knowledge of how materiality guidance is integrated into a firm's methodology is important for accounting and auditing researchers as well as for practitioners, regulators, and educators. Our results show a high level of consistency across the firms in terms of the quantitative benchmarks (e.g., income before taxes, total assets or revenues, and total equity) used to determine overall materiality, the related percentages applied to those benchmarks, the percentages applied to overall materiality for determining tolerable misstatement, and what constitutes a clearly trivial misstatement. We also find that the firms' guidance for evaluating detected misstatements, including qualitative factors and firm guidance for group audits, is consistent across firms. However, there are differences in how the firms consider the possibility of undetected misstatements when evaluating detected misstatements. The results of this study provide important insights into implementation of standards and valuable information for future research and education. Data Availability: The data used are proprietary to the firms and are not available for distribution.

scholarly journals Showcasing Audit Quality through Voluntary Public Disclosure of Audit Quality Indicators

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Owen Brown ◽  
Velina Popova
Keyword(s):  
Quality Indicators ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Quality Enhancement ◽  
Individual Investors ◽  
Public Disclosure ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Stakeholder Groups ◽  
Public Accounting Firms

Public accounting firms continuously invest significant resources into enhancing audit quality. In this paper, we summarize Brown and Popova’s (2019) key findings related to public disclosure of audit quality indicators (AQIs) and discuss important implications for audit practitioners. Specifically, we discuss the current landscape of AQI disclosure from a regulatory and practitioner standpoint, and we provide recommendations for audit practitioners to consider when developing their own framework for AQI disclosure. Finally, we discuss how important stakeholder groups such as individual investors are influenced by AQI disclosures when making significant decisions concerning the audit firm (e.g., making auditor ratification decisions) and the audit client (e.g., making investment changes). The insights provided in our summary inform audit practitioners on how to showcase their audit quality enhancement efforts through voluntary AQI disclosure.

scholarly journals Moderating Role of Audit Fees on the Effect of Task Complexity and Independence towards Audit Judgment

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Eny ◽  
Ratna Mappanyukki
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Task Complexity ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Auditor Independence ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Audit Judgment ◽  
Public Accounting Firms

This study examines the effect of task complexity and auditor independence on audit judgment with audit fees as a moderating variable. Samples were obtained from auditors working in public accounting firms in West Jakarta and South Jakarta. Data collection was done using a survey method by distributing questionnaires to 100 auditors as respondents. The method of analysis used was Moderated Regression Analysis. The results show that task complexity hurts audit judgment. Auditor independence has a positive effect on audit judgment. Audit fees can strengthen the effect of task complexity on audit judgment. Besides, audit fees moderate the effect of auditor independence on audit judgment. It is recommended that public accounting firms consider the interaction of variables that affect audit judgment, such as task complexity, independence, and audit fees, to improve audit quality.

scholarly journals Comments by the Auditing Standards Committee of the Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association on the PCAOB Rulemaking Docket Matter 029: PCAOB Release No. 2011-007, Improving Transparency Through Disclosure of Engagement Partner and Certain Other Participants in Audits

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. C1-C6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith L. Jones ◽  
Jagadison K. Aier ◽  
Duane M. Brandon ◽  
Tina D. Carpenter ◽  
Paul Caster ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Exposure Period ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Audit Report ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Comment ◽  
Public Company ◽  
Public Accounting Firms ◽  
Auditing Standards

SUMMARY In October 2011, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB or Board) issued a release to solicit public comment on amendments to its standards that would improve the transparency of pubic company audits. The objective of the release was to solicit public comments on a proposed standard that would (1) require registered public accounting firms to disclose the name of the engagement partner in the audit report, (2) amend the Board's Annual Report Form to require registered firms to disclose the name of the engagement partner for each audit report already required to be reported on the form, and (3) require disclosure in the audit report of other independent public accounting firms and other persons that took part in the audit. The PCAOB provided for a 91-day exposure period (from October 11, 2011, to January 9, 2012) for interested parties to examine the release and provide comments. The Auditing Standards Committee of the Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association provided the comments in the letter below to the PCAOB on PCAOB Rulemaking Docket Matter 029: PCAOB Release No. 2011-007, Improving Transparency Through Disclosure of Engagement Partner and Certain Other Participants in Audits. Data Availability: Information about and access to the release is available at: http://pcaobus.org/Rules/Rulemaking/Docket029/PCAOB_Release_2011-007.pdf

The Colonization of Public Accounting Firms by Marketing Expertise: Processes and Consequences

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire-France Picard ◽  
Sylvain Durocher ◽  
Yves Gendron
Keyword(s):  
Auditor Independence ◽  
Marketing Strategies ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Accounting Firm ◽  
Documentary Analysis ◽  
Public Accounting Firms ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Public Accountants ◽  
Using Data

SUMMARY This paper highlights the colonization of public accounting firms by marketing expertise. Using data collected through interviews with auditors and marketing experts, complemented with data generated through documentary analysis, we examine the marketing-oriented transformations that took place in public accounting firms and the important outcomes ensuing from the spread of marketing ideology to the field of auditing. To carry out this work, we developed a customized conceptual framework aimed at enriching our understanding of the “marketization” of public accounting. Empirically, we document the development of various marketing strategies and the underlying translations of public accounting firm day-to-day activities (in terms of business relationships and technical advice) into marketing language. Our findings point to the transformation of public accountants to “part-time” marketers. The results are also suggestive of the colonization of public accountants' minds, whose core values are being subjected to the influence of marketing expertise. This shift engenders important consequences, particularly in potentially compromising auditor independence.

Sitting Requirements and the CPA Exam

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jared S. Soileau ◽  
Spencer C. Usrey ◽  
Thomas Z. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Data Availability ◽  
Graduate Degree ◽  
Pass Rates ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Public Accounting Firms ◽  
Cpa Exam ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Educational Requirements

ABSTRACT This study examines the association between jurisdictions' CPA exam educational requirements and exam pass rates, scores, and number of candidates from 2006 to 2013. More specifically, we examine provisional candidacy to sit for the CPA exam. Provisional status allows a candidate to sit for the CPA exam prior to obtaining the required number of hours or graduate degree. Our results indicate that while 150-hour exam jurisdictions outperform 120-hour jurisdictions, provisional jurisdictions outperform both 150- and 120-hour jurisdictions for pass rates and average scores. We also find that the number of candidates sitting for the exam is significantly lower for provisional and 150-hour jurisdictions than for 120-hour jurisdictions. Our study contributes to the literature by considering the potential benefits of sitting in provisional jurisdictions and is likely to be of interest to accounting educators, state boards, and public accounting firms. Data Availability: Data are publicly available from sources indicated in the text.

An Exploratory Study into the Use of Audit Data Analytics on Audit Engagements

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 75-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aasmund Eilifsen ◽  
Finn Kinserdal ◽  
William F. Messier ◽  
Thomas E. McKee
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Theory ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Data Analytics ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
It Systems ◽  
Audit Data ◽  
Public Accounting Firms

SYNOPSIS This study explores the use of audit data analytics (ADA) in current audit practice. First, we interviewed the heads of professional practice of five international public accounting firms in Norway. We find that they differ in strategies on how to implement ADA and the heads report significant uncertainty about the supervisory inspection authorities' response to the use of ADA. Second, we administered a questionnaire to 216 engagement partners and managers about their perceptions of ADA and their actual ADA use on 109 audit engagements. Overall, the attitudes toward ADA usefulness are positive. Analysis of the audit engagements suggests use of ADA is relatively limited and use of more “advanced” ADA is rare. More ADA are used for clients with integrated ERP/IT systems and for newly tendered audit engagements. We also provide details of ADA use on each phase of the audit. We discuss our findings from an institutional theory perspective. Data Availability: The data used in this study are confidential by agreement with the participants.

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