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Partner industry specialization and audit pricing in the United Kingdom

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  • Mohd Kharuddin, Khairul Ayuni
  • Basioudis, Ilias G.
  • Hay, David

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of audit partner industry specialization on audit pricing in the UK market. The mandatory disclosure of the name of the engagement partner in the auditor reports of UK public listed companies took effect from April 2008. Given that the identity of the audit partner is now observable to users of financial statements, it can be argued that there may be an incentive for partner-level differentiation in auditing products, and hence, audit quality. This research examines whether auditor industry expertise in the UK is driven by firm, office, or partner level expertise. The fee premium observed in the study is a joint product of firm and partner level of industry expertise with the highest premium occurring when the client is also audited by an industry leading partner. This finding lends support to the argument that industry expertise is uniquely attributable to the individual audit partner’s human capital in terms of their knowledge and experience from leading audit engagements in a particular industry. It also provides evidence that some fee premiums earned by audit firms and documented in prior literature are most probably the product of the individual audit partner’s expertise.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohd Kharuddin, Khairul Ayuni & Basioudis, Ilias G. & Hay, David, 2019. "Partner industry specialization and audit pricing in the United Kingdom," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 57-70.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jiaata:v:35:y:2019:i:c:p:57-70
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intaccaudtax.2019.05.005
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    1. Kharuddin, Khairul Ayuni Mohd & Basioudis, Ilias G & Farooque, Omar Al, 2021. "Effects of the Big 4 national and city-level industry expertise on audit quality in the United Kingdom," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    2. Owusu, Andrews & O'Sullivan, Noel & Kwabi, Frank & Holmes, Mark, 2024. "Why Do Female Lead Auditors Charge a Fee Premium? Evidence from the UK Audit Market," CAFE Working Papers 26, Centre for Accountancy, Finance and Economics (CAFE), Birmingham City Business School, Birmingham City University.
    3. Timothy B. Bell & David B. Bryan, 2021. "Effectiveness, efficiency, and fee premiums in audits led by industry specialist partners," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(3), pages 4513-4572, September.
    4. Alrashidi, Rasheed & Baboukardos, Diogenis & Arun, Thankom, 2021. "Audit fees, non-audit fees and access to finance: Evidence from India," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).

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