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An Empirical Analysis of Audit Delays and Timeliness of Corporate Financial Reporting in Kuwait

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  • Wafa Al-Ghanem
  • Mohamed Hegazy

Abstract

This paper analyzes the factors that affect delays in the signing of audit reports. Audit delays are measured by the number of days that elapse from the end of the financial year until the date when the auditor report is signed. Previous studies of audit delays in various countries are reviewed, along with some of the results of the variables that were tested. This study focuses on 149 and 177 companies listed on the Kuwait stock market in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Six explanatory variables are tested to investigate delays in issuing audit reports. The results show that company size is the only variable that negatively correlates with audit delay in the period tested. The variables industry classification, leverage, percentage change in earning per share, type of auditors, and liquidity show no significant correlation with audit delays for listed companies in Kuwait. Liquidity, leverage, and type of auditors are negatively correlated with audit delay in 2006 for the first two variables and in 2007 for the type of auditors. Future research would consider other variables such as other interpretation of company size, ownership concentration, quality of internal control, direction of income or loss, and the mix of audit work Copyright Eurasia Business and Economics Society 2011

Suggested Citation

  • Wafa Al-Ghanem & Mohamed Hegazy, 2011. "An Empirical Analysis of Audit Delays and Timeliness of Corporate Financial Reporting in Kuwait," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 1(1), pages 73-90, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eurasi:v:1:y:2011:i:1:p:73-90
    DOI: 10.14208/BF03353799
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stephen Owusu-Ansah, 2000. "Timeliness of corporate financial reporting in emerging capital markets: empirical evidence from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(3), pages 241-254.
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    7. Bikki Jaggi & Judy Tsui, 1999. "Determinants of audit report lag: further evidence from Hong Kong," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(1), pages 17-28.
    8. Robert H. Ashton & Paul R. Graul & James D. Newton, 1989. "Audit delay and the timeliness of corporate reporting," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 5(2), pages 657-673, March.
    9. DeAngelo, Linda Elizabeth, 1981. "Auditor size and audit quality," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(3), pages 183-199, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Imen Fakhfakh Sakka & Anis Jarboui, 2016. "Audit reports timeliness: Empirical evidence from Tunisia," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 3(1), pages 1195680-119, December.
    2. Susana Escaloni & Mercedes Mareque, 2021. "Audit Report Lag. Differential Analysis between Spanish SMEs and Non-SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-21, November.
    3. Ratna Juwita & Sutrisno T & Bambang Hariadi, 2020. "Influence of audit committeeandinternal audit on audit report lag: Size of public accounting firm as a moderating variable," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 9(1), pages 137-142, January.
    4. Srbinoska Dusica Stevcevska & Srbinoski Igor, 2021. "A study on audit report timeliness: The Macedonian Stock Exchange," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 57(3), pages 234-254, September.
    5. Yue Chen & Lingxiang Li & Haizhi Wang & Peng Wang, 2015. "Institutional investors and conservative financial reporting: evidence from China," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 5(1), pages 161-178, June.
    6. Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai, 2021. "Determinants of Audit Report Lag of Commercial Banks in Nepal," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(10), pages 108-108, July.
    7. Kose John & Joe Shangguan & Ravi Mateti, 2015. "Financing activities after accounting restatements: an examination of SEOs and PIPEs," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 5(1), pages 139-160, June.
    8. Khadijah Adeola Idowu & Jamiu Olakunle Tijani, 2020. "Audit Reporting Lag and Regulatory Compliance in Listed Financial Services Firms in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectoral Evaluation," Academic Journal of Economic Studies, Faculty of Finance, Banking and Accountancy Bucharest,"Dimitrie Cantemir" Christian University Bucharest, vol. 6(3), pages 163-173, September.
    9. repec:ers:journl:v:vi:y:2018:i:3:p:115-126 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Zaky Machmuddah & Adhin Fauziah Iriani & St. Dwiarso Utomo, 2020. "Influencing Factors of Audit Report Lag: Evidence from Indonesia," Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Richtmann Publishing Ltd, vol. 9, November.
    11. Lailah Fujianti & Indra Satria, 2020. "Firm Size, Profitability, Leverage as Determinants of Audit Report Lag: Evidence From Indonesia," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 11(2), pages 61-67, April.
    12. Rina Yuliastuty Asmara and Rini Situanti, 2018. "The Effect of Audit Tenure and Firm Size on Financial Reporting Delays," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(3), pages 115-126.
    13. Sagin O. Super & Nikhil Chandra Shil*, 2019. "Effect of Audit Delay on the Financial Statements," Sumerianz Journal of Economics and Finance, Sumerianz Publication, vol. 2(4), pages 37-43, 04-2019.

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