Earnings management and audit quality: stakeholders' perceptions.

Barghathi, Yasser; Collison, David; Crawford, Louise

Abstract

This paper examines the perceptions of Libyan Commercial Banks’ (LCBs) stakeholders regarding the role of the external auditor in relation to earnings management (EM). A total of 28 semi-structured interviews were carried out with a range of LCB stakeholders comprising preparers of financial statements, users, regulators and academics. A questionnaire survey of stakeholders which yielded 102 Responses (response rate 53%) was also carried out. A variety of views were held which varied to some extent according to stakeholder group. A widely held perception amongst interviewees was that the auditor has the ability to detect EM practices but may not be able to prevent it. However questionnaire respondents were, in aggregate, more confident of the auditor’s ability to deter EM due to the influence of the audit report. The paper provides insights into stakeholders’ perceptions of the quality of bank audits. The findings are of particular relevance to regulators, and specifically, the Central Bank of Libya. Perceptions of audit quality raise questions about its guidance and regulations especially in connection with audit firm rotation. Perceptions of audit quality, and therefore, of the credibility of financial statements should be of interest to all stakeholders. The importance of the banking sector for society has been amply demonstrated in recent years. A well-functioning audit function is a key component of its regulation. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first to examine issues related to banks’ audit quality and audit firm rotation in Libya.

Citation

BARGHATHI, Y., COLLISON, D. and CRAWFORD, L. 2018. Earnings management and audit quality: stakeholders' perceptions. Journal of management and governance [online], 22(3), pages 629-659. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10997-017-9396-2

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 21, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Nov 30, 2017
• Publication Date: Sep 30, 2018
• Deposit Date: Nov 23, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 1, 2018
• Journal: Journal of Management and Governance
• Print ISSN: 1385-3457
• Electronic ISSN: 1572-963X
• Publisher: Springer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 22
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 629-659
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10997-017-9396-2
• Keywords: Audit quality; Stakeholders; Earnings management; Auditors
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/2600