IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eco/journ3/2021-04-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of Audit Committee Characteristics on Audit Quality: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

Author

Listed:
  • Helmi A. Boshnak

    (Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Helmi A. Boshnak, 2021. "The Impact of Audit Committee Characteristics on Audit Quality: Evidence from Saudi Arabia," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 11(4), pages 1-12.
    • Handle: RePEc:eco:journ3:2021-04-1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.econjournals.com/index.php/irmm/article/download/11437/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.econjournals.com/index.php/irmm/article/view/11437/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Safa Gaaya & Nadia Lakhal & Faten Lakhal, 2017. "Does family ownership reduce corporate tax avoidance? The moderating effect of audit quality," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 32(7), pages 731-744, August.
    2. Hichem Khlif & Khaled Samaha, 2016. "Audit committee activity and internal control quality in Egypt: Does external auditor’s size matter?," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 31(3), pages 269-289, March.
    3. Joseph V. Carcello & Dana R. Hermanson & Terry L. Neal & Richard A. Riley, 2002. "Board Characteristics and Audit Fees," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(3), pages 365-384, September.
    4. Ismail Adelopo & Kumba Jallow & Peter Scott, 2012. "Multiple large ownership structure, audit committee activity and audit fees," Journal of Applied Accounting Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(2), pages 100-121, September.
    5. Kane, Gregory D. & Velury, Uma, 2004. "The role of institutional ownership in the market for auditing services: an empirical investigation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 57(9), pages 976-983, September.
    6. Faten Lakhal & Safa Gaaya & Nadia Lakhal, 2017. "Does family ownership reduce corporate tax avoidance? The moderating effect of audit quality," Post-Print hal-01686420, HAL.
    7. Chee‐Yeow Lim & Hun‐Tong Tan, 2008. "Non‐audit Service Fees and Audit Quality: The Impact of Auditor Specialization," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(1), pages 199-246, March.
    8. Victoria J. Clout & Larelle Chapple & Nilan Gandhi, 2013. "The impact of auditor independence regulations on established and emerging firms," Accounting Research Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 26(2), pages 88-108, September.
    9. Krayyem Al-Hajaya, 2019. "The Impact of Audit Committee Effectiveness on Audit Quality: Evidence from the Middle East," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 9(5), pages 1-8.
    10. K.V. Peasnell & P.F. Pope & S. Young, 2005. "Board Monitoring and Earnings Management: Do Outside Directors Influence Abnormal Accruals?," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7‐8), pages 1311-1346, September.
    11. Safa Gaaya & Nadia Lakhal & Faten Lakhal, 2017. "Does family ownership reduce corporate tax avoidance? The moderating effect of audit quality," Post-Print hal-03562617, HAL.
    12. Dan Dhaliwal & Vic Naiker & Farshid Navissi, 2010. "The Association Between Accruals Quality and the Characteristics of Accounting Experts and Mix of Expertise on Audit Committees," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(3), pages 787-827, September.
    13. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    14. Peter Baxter & Julie Cotter, 2009. "Audit committees and earnings quality," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 49(2), pages 267-290, June.
    15. Siti Rochmah Ika & Nazli A. Mohd Ghazali, 2012. "Audit committee effectiveness and timeliness of reporting: Indonesian evidence," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 27(4), pages 403-424, April.
    16. T. Suryanto & J.E. Thalassinos & E.I. Thalassinos, 2017. "Board Characteristics, Audit Committee and Audit Quality: The Case of Indonesia," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(3), pages 44-57.
    17. Francis, Jere R., 2004. "What do we know about audit quality?," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 345-368.
    18. Badolato, Patrick G. & Donelson, Dain C. & Ege, Matthew, 2014. "Audit committee financial expertise and earnings management: The role of status," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(2), pages 208-230.
    19. Feltham, Gerald A. & Hughes, John S. & Simunic, Dan A., 1991. "Empirical assessment of the impact of auditor quality on the valuation of new issues," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 14(4), pages 375-399, December.
    20. H.A.E. Afify, 2009. "Determinants of audit report lag," Journal of Applied Accounting Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 10(1), pages 56-86, May.
    21. Muhammad Jahangir Ali & Rajbans Kaur Shingara Singh & Mahmoud Al-Akra, 2018. "The impact of audit committee effectiveness on audit fees and non-audit service fees," Accounting Research Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 31(2), pages 174-191, July.
    22. Rita Yuniarti, 2011. "Audit Firm Size, Audit Fee And Audit Quality," Journal of Global Management, Global Research Agency, vol. 2(1), pages 84-97, July.
    23. Ghafran, Chaudhry & O'Sullivan, Noel, 2017. "The impact of audit committee expertise on audit quality: Evidence from UK audit fees," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(6), pages 578-593.
    24. Yi Meng Chen & Robyn Moroney & Keith Houghton, 2005. "Audit committee composition and the use of an industry specialist audit firm," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 45(2), pages 217-239, July.
    25. Mark L. Defond & Rebecca N. Hann & Xuesong Hu, 2005. "Does the Market Value Financial Expertise on Audit Committees of Boards of Directors?," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(2), pages 153-193, May.
    26. Mahbub Zaman & Mohammed Hudaib & Roszaini Haniffa, 2011. "Corporate Governance Quality, Audit Fees and Non-Audit Services Fees," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(1-2), pages 165-197, January.
    27. George Drogalas & Michail Nerantzidis & Dimitrios Mitskinis & Ioannis Tampakoudis, 2021. "The relationship between audit fees and audit committee characteristics: evidence from the Athens Stock Exchange," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 18(1), pages 24-41, March.
    28. Fama, Eugene F & Jensen, Michael C, 1983. "Separation of Ownership and Control," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 26(2), pages 301-325, June.
    29. Alzeban, Abdulaziz & Gwilliam, David, 2014. "Factors affecting the internal audit effectiveness: A survey of the Saudi public sector," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 74-86.
    30. Hussein Khasharmeh & Abdelmohsen M. Desoky, 2018. "Does the Provision of Non-audit Services Affect Auditor Independence and Audit Quality? Evidence from Bahrain," Asian Academy of Management Journal of Accounting and Finance (AAMJAF), Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, vol. 14(1), pages 25-55.
    31. Irene Karamanou & Nikos Vafeas, 2005. "The Association between Corporate Boards, Audit Committees, and Management Earnings Forecasts: An Empirical Analysis," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(3), pages 453-486, June.
    32. Yahya Ali Al-Matari & Abdullah Kaid Al-Swidi & Faudziah Hanim Bt Fadzil & Ebrahim Mohammed Al-Matari, 2012. "Board of Directors, Audit Committee Characteristics and Performance of Saudi Arabia Listed Companies," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 2(4), pages 241-251.
    33. DeAngelo, Linda Elizabeth, 1981. "Auditor size and audit quality," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(3), pages 183-199, December.
    34. Yahn-Shir Chen & Joseph Hsu & Mei-Ting Huang & Ping-Sen Yang, 2013. "Quality, Size and Performance of Audit Firms," The International Journal of Business and Finance Research, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 7(5), pages 89-105.
    35. Jenny Goodwin‐Stewart & Pamela Kent, 2006. "Relation between external audit fees, audit committee characteristics and internal audit," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 46(3), pages 387-404, September.
    36. Guedhami, Omrane & Pittman, Jeffrey A. & Saffar, Walid, 2009. "Auditor choice in privatized firms: Empirical evidence on the role of state and foreign owners," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(2-3), pages 151-171, December.
    37. Maria Consuelo Pucheta‐Martínez & Cristina De Fuentes, 2007. "The Impact of Audit Committee Characteristics on the Enhancement of the Quality of Financial Reporting: an empirical study in the Spanish context," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(6), pages 1394-1412, November.
    38. K.V. Peasnell & P.F. Pope & S. Young, 2005. "Board Monitoring and Earnings Management: Do Outside Directors Influence Abnormal Accruals?," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7-8), pages 1311-1346.
    39. Fama, Eugene F, 1980. "Agency Problems and the Theory of the Firm," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 88(2), pages 288-307, April.
    40. Davidson, Wallace III & Xie, Biao & Xu, Weihong, 2004. "Market reaction to voluntary announcements of audit committee appointments: The effect of financial expertise," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 279-293.
    41. Stanley, Jonathan D. & Todd DeZoort, F., 2007. "Audit firm tenure and financial restatements: An analysis of industry specialization and fee effects," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 131-159.
    42. Ahmed Ebrahim, 2007. "Earnings management and board activity: an additional evidence," Review of Accounting and Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 6(1), pages 42-58, February.
    43. Rainsbury, Elizabeth A. & Bradbury, Michael & Cahan, Steven F., 2009. "The impact of audit committee quality on financial reporting quality and audit fees," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 20-33.
    44. Rani Hoitash & Ariel Markelevich & Charles A. Barragato, 2007. "Auditor fees and audit quality," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 22(8), pages 761-786, September.
    45. Laura Sierra García & Emiliano Ruiz Barbadillo & Manuel Orta Pérez, 2012. "Audit committee and internal audit and the quality of earnings: empirical evidence from Spanish companies," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 16(2), pages 305-331, May.
    46. DeFond, Mark & Zhang, Jieying, 2014. "A review of archival auditing research," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(2), pages 275-326.
    47. Lo, Agnes W.Y. & Wong, Raymond M.K. & Firth, Michael, 2010. "Can corporate governance deter management from manipulating earnings? Evidence from related-party sales transactions in China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 16(2), pages 225-235, April.
    48. Like Jiang & Anne Jeny-Cazavan & Sophie Audousset-Coulier, 2012. "Who are Industry Specialist Auditors?," Post-Print hal-00691057, HAL.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wael Almaqoushi & Ronan Powell, 2021. "Audit committee quality indices, reporting quality and firm value," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(1-2), pages 185-229, January.
    2. Ghafran, Chaudhry & O'Sullivan, Noel, 2017. "The impact of audit committee expertise on audit quality: Evidence from UK audit fees," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(6), pages 578-593.
    3. Saeed Rabea Baatwah & Adel Ali Al-Qadasi, 2020. "Determinants of outsourced internal audit function: a further analysis," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 10(4), pages 629-659, December.
    4. George Drogalas & Michail Nerantzidis & Dimitrios Mitskinis & Ioannis Tampakoudis, 2021. "The relationship between audit fees and audit committee characteristics: evidence from the Athens Stock Exchange," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 18(1), pages 24-41, March.
    5. repec:mth:ijafr8:v:8:y:2018:i:4:p:438-456 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Benjamin T. Albersmann & Daniela Hohenfels, 2017. "Audit Committees and Earnings Management – Evidence from the German Two-Tier Board System," Schmalenbach Business Review, Springer;Schmalenbach-Gesellschaft, vol. 18(2), pages 147-178, May.
    7. Alhababsah, Salem & Alhaj-Ismail, Alaa, 2023. "Does shared tenure between audit committee chair and engagement partner affect audit outcomes? Evidence from the UK," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(2).
    8. Alhababsah, Salem & Yekini, Sina, 2021. "Audit committee and audit quality: An empirical analysis considering industry expertise, legal expertise and gender diversity," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    9. Reiner Quick & Niklas Schenk & Florian Schmidt & Thilo Towara, 2018. "The impact of corporate governance on auditor choice: evidence from Germany," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 22(2), pages 251-283, June.
    10. Jean Bédard & Daniel Coulombe & Lucie Courteau, 2008. "Audit Committee, Underpricing of IPOs, and Accuracy of Management Earnings Forecasts," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(6), pages 519-535, November.
    11. Xinming Liu & Gerald J. Lobo & Hung‐Chao Yu, 2021. "Is Audit Committee Equity Compensation Related to Audit Fees?," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(1), pages 740-769, March.
    12. Naeem Tabassum & Satwinder Singh, 2020. "Corporate Governance and Organisational Performance," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-030-48527-6, September.
    13. Abbasi, Kaleemullah & Alam, Ashraful & Bhuiyan, Md. Borhan Uddin, 2020. "Audit committees, female directors and the types of female and male financial experts: Further evidence," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 186-197.
    14. Kovermann, Jost & Velte, Patrick, 2019. "The impact of corporate governance on corporate tax avoidance—A literature review," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 1-1.
    15. Goh, Lisa & Gupta, Aditi, 2016. "Remuneration of non-executive directors: Evidence from the UK," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 379-399.
    16. Nicolas Vlaminck & Gerrit Sarens, 2015. "The relationship between audit committee characteristics and financial statement quality: evidence from Belgium," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 19(1), pages 145-166, February.
    17. Ahsan Habib & Md. Borhan Uddin Bhuiyan, 2016. "Problem directors on the audit committee and financial reporting quality," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(2), pages 121-144, February.
    18. Ines Maraghni & Mehdi Nekhili, 2017. "Audit committee characteristics and audit fees: Evidence from France [Caractéristiques du comité d’audit et honoraires d’audit : cas des entreprises françaises]," Post-Print hal-01907594, HAL.
    19. Luminita Enache & Antonio Parbonetti & Anup Srivastava, 2020. "Are all outside directors created equal with respect to firm disclosure policy?," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 541-577, August.
    20. Kamran & Attaullah Shah, 2014. "The Impact of Corporate Governance and Ownership Structure on Earnings Management Practices: Evidence from Listed Companies in Pakistan," Lahore Journal of Economics, Department of Economics, The Lahore School of Economics, vol. 19(2), pages 27-70, July-Dec.
    21. Obermire, Kara M. & Cohen, Jeffrey R. & Zehms, Karla M., 2021. "Audit committee members’ professional identities: Evidence from the field," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Audit Quality; Audit Committee Characteristics; Audit Committee Effectiveness; Corporate Governance; Corporate Governance Code; Saudi Arabia.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G3 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance
    • M4 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eco:journ3:2021-04-1. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Ilhan Ozturk (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.econjournals.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.