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Audit Committees and Financial Reporting Quality in Singapore

Author

Listed:
  • Yuanto Kusnadi

    (Singapore Management University)

  • Kwong Sin Leong

    (Singapore Management University)

  • Themin Suwardy

    (Singapore Management University)

  • Jiwei Wang

    (Singapore Management University)

Abstract

We examine three characteristics (independence, expertise, and overlapping membership) of audit committees and their impact on the financial reporting quality for Singapore-listed companies. The main finding is that financial reporting quality will be higher if audit committees have mixed expertise in accounting, finance, and/or supervisory. In addition, we do not find evidence that incremental independence of audit committees enhances financial reporting quality because audit committees already consist of a majority of independent directors. Finally, we fail to find any impact of overlapping membership on audit and remuneration committees on financial reporting quality. Overall, the results have policy implications on improving corporate governance effectiveness in terms of financial reporting quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuanto Kusnadi & Kwong Sin Leong & Themin Suwardy & Jiwei Wang, 2016. "Audit Committees and Financial Reporting Quality in Singapore," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 139(1), pages 197-214, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:139:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-015-2679-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-015-2679-0
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    2. Claudia Catalina CIOCAN & Mihai CARP & Iuliana GEORGESCU, 2021. "The Determinants of the Financial Reporting Quality: Empirical Evidence for Romania," The Audit Financiar journal, Chamber of Financial Auditors of Romania, vol. 19(162), pages 301-301, May.
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    4. Bajra, Ujkan & Čadež, Simon, 2018. "Audit committees and financial reporting quality: The 8th EU Company Law Directive perspective," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 151-163.
    5. Ibrahim Emair Albawwat & Mohammad Nawaf Al harasees, 2019. "Gender Attributes of Audit Committee Members and the Quality of Financial Reports," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 9(3), pages 24-37, July.
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    8. Michel Sayumwe, 2019. "Corporate Governance: An Overview. From Creation of Value for Shareholders by the Board to the Duality Role of Its Chairperson," Journal of Business Administration Research, Journal of Business Administration Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 8(1), pages 40-51, April.
    9. Zeng, Yanni & Liu, Mengna & Ding, Ashley & Xu, Rui & Zhang, Hao, 2023. "Cultural similarity of non-local independent directors and financial reporting quality," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    10. Mohammad Rajon Meah & Kanon Kumar Sen & Md. Hossain Ali, 2021. "Audit Characteristics, Gender Diversity and Firm Performance: Evidence from a Developing Economy," Indian Journal of Corporate Governance, , vol. 14(1), pages 48-70, June.
    11. Azleen Shabrina Mohd Nor* & Nahariah Jaffar & Zarehan Selamat & Salmi Mohd Zahid & Norhazlin Ismail, 2018. "Corporate Influences and Financial Reporting Quality in Pre- and Post-Adoption of the Malaysian Financial Reporting Standards," The Journal of Social Sciences Research, Academic Research Publishing Group, pages 52-60:3.
    12. Yang, Lisi & Liu, Linqing & Yan, Kai & Cai, Chunhua & Geng, Yannan, 2023. "“Carrot and stick”: Green fiscal policy, upper echelons expertise, and the green mergers and acquisitions," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PD).
    13. Georgakopoulos, Georgios & Gounopoulos, Dimitrios & Huang, Chen & Patsika, Victoria, 2022. "The impact of IFRS adoption on IPOs management earnings forecasts in Australia," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    14. Hidaya Lawati & Khaled Hussainey & Roza Sagitova, 2021. "Disclosure quality vis-à-vis disclosure quantity: Does audit committee matter in Omani financial institutions?," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 557-594, August.
    15. Sofia Johan & Minjie Zhang, 2021. "Information Asymmetries in Private Equity: Reporting Frequency, Endowments, and Governance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 174(1), pages 199-220, November.
    16. Wan-Hussin, Wan Nordin & Fitri, Hadiati & Salim, Basariah, 2021. "Audit committee chair overlap, chair expertise, and internal auditing practices: Evidence from Malaysia," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    17. Ahmad A. Toumeh & Sofri Yahya & Azlan Amran, 2023. "Surplus Free Cash Flow, Stock Market Segmentations and Earnings Management: The Moderating Role of Independent Audit Committee," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 24(6), pages 1353-1382, December.
    18. 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.
    19. Afzali, Haaron & Martikainen, Minna & Oxelheim, Lars & Randoy, Trond, 2020. "On the Role of Internationalization of Firm-Level Corporate Governance – The Case of Audit Committees," Working Paper Series 1370, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    20. Ayad Ahmed Mohammed Al-Qublani & Hasnah Kamardin & Rohami Shafie, 2020. "Audit Committee Chair Attributes and Audit Report Lag in an Emerging Market," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 11(4), pages 475-492, July.
    21. Sylvia Dwi Lestari & Azwardi & Tertiarto Wahyudi, 2020. "The Effect of Foreign Ownership and Managerial Ability on Earning Quality with Committee Audit as Moderating Variable," Oblik i finansi, Institute of Accounting and Finance, issue 2, pages 66-73, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate governance; Audit committee; Independence; Expertise; Overlapping membership; Financial reporting quality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting

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