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Disruptive technology and audit risks: Evidence from FTSE 100 companies

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  • Elnahass, Marwa
  • Jia, Xinrui
  • Crawford, Louise

Abstract

We investigate the use of disruptive technology on the level of audit risk, within both companies and audit firms. A sample of FTSE 100 and their corresponding audit firms—specifically, the ‘Big 4’—are selected for the period 2015 to 2020. Our findings indicate that the utilisation of disruptive technology results in a significant reduction in audit risk for both companies and audit firms. Disruptive technology seems to promote benefits to companies and audit firms by significantly mitigating the risk of material misstatements (i.e. inherent and control risk) and detection risk; these results are consistent across various industry classifications.

Suggested Citation

  • Elnahass, Marwa & Jia, Xinrui & Crawford, Louise, 2024. "Disruptive technology and audit risks: Evidence from FTSE 100 companies," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ememar:v:63:y:2024:i:c:s1566014124001134
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ememar.2024.101218
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Disruptive technology; Data analytics; Big data; Audit risk; Audit firms;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M40 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - General
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting
    • M42 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Auditing
    • M49 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Other
    • C30 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - General

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