Big Data Analytics and Auditing: A Review and Synthesis of Literature

The use of data analytics in auditing is increasingly growing. The application of common data analytics to audit engagements appears to be lagging behind other areas of practice, even though data analytics is thought to represent the future of audit, and there are still few publications that have examined this influence. This article reviews data analytics in audits and its potential for future audit engagements to describe the evolution of this research trend and picture its future growth directions. Future audit research potential and difficulties are also discussed. Data analytics application in auditing has enormous potential for refining audit quality, decreasing errors, increasing process transparency, and enhancing stakeholders’ confidence. We conducted a systematic literature review using the PRISMA approach. A total of 100 articles published in English from January 2011 to November 2021 were identified through a systematic search of reputed databases, including Web of Science and Scopus and many others. Our analysis reveals that data analytics is a promising domain for the auditing practice as it improves audit efficiency and promotes audit work digital transformation. While reviewing the most pertinent literature in the context of data analytics in auditing, this study offers insights on potential new directions and waning views on big data analytics in auditing. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-02-023 Full Text: PD

Audit Quality Indicators: Perceptions of Junior-level Auditors

Purpose In an effort to develop an audit quality (AQ) framework specific to the US audit market, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) recently issued a concept release proposing 28 audit quality indicators (AQIs) along three dimensions: audit professionals, audit process and audit results. Using AQIs initially proposed by the PCAOB, as well as AQIs suggested by prior literature, the authors solicit perceptions from junior-level (senior and staff) auditors to investigate the current state of practice along many of the AQIs relating to audit professionals and audit process. Design/methodology/approach In the study, 78 junior-level auditors responded to the survey. Findings An analysis of the responses suggests auditors engage in activities and audit firms promote conditions that at times improve, and at other times, reduce audit quality. The authors find that individual auditors’ perceptions differ across experience level, gender and audit firm size for certain AQIs. Practical implications The study is useful to the PCAOB because it provides insights to help assess the value of potential AQIs in differentiating AQ. The study is also useful to other regulators because it describes audit staff and seniors’ perceptions of apparent firm and auditor compliance with accounting and auditing standards. Practitioners should find this information useful in helping to identify possible root causes of audit deficiencies, a challenge put forth to firms by the PCAOB. Originality/value This study provides academia with evidence on AQ from practicing auditors, which informs existing and future research along. The study complements existing work by showing how individual auditor characteristics (experience and gender) at the junior levels may impact AQ in practic

Accounting and accountability in Fiji: A review and synthesis

This paper reviews accounting and accountability research in Fiji. The review is based on 41 papers which were published in accounting refereed journals, professional journals, edited book chapters and thesis and other refereed journals outside accounting. The reviews are over the years 1978 and onwards. In addition to categorization of the reviewed papers according to accounting topics, theories and methods of data collection, some themes to which the papers could be related are discussed. Financial reporting/ accountability research is the most popular research in Fiji followed by the new public management. Corporate governance research treads third. The paper findings suggest some directions for future accounting history research in Fiji and where the data can possibly be sourced for such research. We conclude that more future work is needed in the areas of accounting history which entails topics such as accounting and the state, performance auditing, indigenous accounting, financial reporting, SMEs and accountability in general

Connecting worlds: the translation of international auditing standards into post-Soviet audit practice

This paper analyses the use and circulation of nternational auditing standards within a large post-Soviet Russian audit firm, as it faces up to the challenges of international harmonisation. It describes this process as one of ‘connecting worlds’ and translation. In a detailed field study based investigation, it traces various attempts to articulate and link Soviet and post-Soviet worlds, old and new imagined audit worlds. The paper underscores the fragile and precarious nature of international standardisation projects. It shows how ideals of audit universalism and international comparability become enmeshed in, and challenged by, global divisions of audit labour, problems and practices of power and exclusion, and struggles for intra-professional distinction, which in turn undermine as well as promote the connecting of worlds through standards

The effect of audit quality on firm value : a case in Indonesian manufacturing firm

Purpose: This study aims to examine the effect of audit quality on firm value in manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange in 2013 to 2017. Design/methodology/approach: Population in this study are all manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange. Sampling was carried out using a purposive sampling method. Research data were tested using multiple regression analysis. Findings: The results from this study show that audit quality has a positive effect on firm value in manufacturing companies on the Indonesian Stock Exchange. Practical Implications: The Indonesian capital market gives a positive appreciation to companies that have higher quality audits. Higher audit quality is expected to reduce agency costs, reduce information asymmetry and increase firm value. Companies are advised to use higher quality auditors in order to increase firm value in the Indonesian capital market. Originality/value: Audit quality which is proxied by Big 4 and non-big 4 auditors has been proven to have a positive influence on firm value in manufacturing companies on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.peer-reviewe

The Impact of Auditor Rotation on the Audit Quality: A Field Study from Egypt

Lack of audit quality and subsequent audit failures result mainly from a lack of independence which is considered to be a consequence of the extended auditor client relationship. Actually, the results of a questionnaire distributed among auditors in Egypt confirm this hypothesis: The Auditors strongly agree that there is a lack of auditor independence in Egypt. The main reason is that most of the companies are closely held and that there is a lack of existence of code of ethics for auditing practitioners in Egypt. Also, the results indicate that the mostly accepted solution by the auditors to overcome the lack of independence problem is the mandatory auditor rotation. Consequently, the paper suggests that mandatory firm rotation instead of mandatory partner rotation should be applied in Egypt.Audit Quality, Auditor Rotation, Auditor Independence, Egypt

Auditor’s perceptions of CEOs overconfidence in Egypt : a quasi-experimental study

Purpose: This study aims to explore auditor’s perceptions of CEOs overconfidence in Egypt as one of the emerging countries. Design/methodology/approach: A quasi-experimental study is used on a sample comprises of 101 practicing auditors at public accounting firms in Egypt to assess (i) CEO overconfidence in a case scenario, (ii) the quality of earnings that would be provided by this overconfident CEO, and (iii) how overconfident CEO would be considered when they are assessing fraud risk, audit risk, audit effort and audit fees. Findings: The results suggest that not all the auditors in the sample were able to discover the same degree of overconfidence personal traits in a case scenario, and it was done by the sense, and they generally agree that overconfident CEO are more likely to provide lower earnings quality. Accordingly, they raise their assessment for audit fees as a result of an increase in fraud risk, audit risk, and audit effort. Practical implications: This study has significant implications for accounting and auditing professionals, market participants and regulators; where auditors should consider the overconfidence of the CEO during the audit process, market participants should consider managerial overconfidence when they are making investment decisions. Moreover, this study highlights the gap between auditing standards and the professional practice; which requires regulators to consider personal overconfidence traits as an indicator of financial reporting risk. Originality/value: This study helps in filling a gap in the literature; where auditor’s perceptions of CEOs overconfidence have not been fully investigated in emerging economies.peer-reviewe

PCAOB Inspections and Market Repercussions; Is There A Relationship?

This study tests whether the PCAOB achieves its goals of issuing inspection reports that provide meaningful and value-adding information for external investment decisions, as measured by investor reaction. The study measures informative value by examining cumulative abnormal stock returns of all companies that had an auditor inspected in 2012. Also tested was \u27Big Four\u27 versus other annually inspected firms, as well as 12 significant industries. This study provides statistical evidence that investors respond to PCAOB inspection reports, the responses of which are typically positive. These results demonstrate that investors recognize inspection reports as value-relevant, and consquently use them to make informed investment decisions

Inherent Agency Conflict Built into the Auditor Remuneration Model

This paper provides a model for audit market interventions. The study asks whether interventions in the audit market result in excessive premiums at the cost of quality and independence. The model was tested based on a historical data sample of 1,927 companies’ fiscal year financial statements, observed for the period 2010–2013. The testing strategy combined statistical analysis of the market concentration and regression of abnormal results. The findings do not support, for the Polish market, the conclusion that the audit market is used as a leverage for consulting services. This paper discusses possibilities of systematic risk for policymakers as a result of the negative interaction between regulated and non-regulated markets

All Offshore - The Sprat, The Mackerel, Accounting Firms and the State in Globalization

Globalization has created opportunities for major businesses to roam the world and shop for regulation conductive to their interests. Major auditing firms are no exception and have used offshore financial centres to dilute their liability. This chapter provides a case study to show that major firms used their political and financial resources to craft Limited Liability Partnership law in Jersey. This was done at a time when the UK government was reluctant to grant further liability concessions to auditors. The firms subsequently used the Jersey scenario to exert pressure upon the UK government and secure liability concessions