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Do Board Secretaries Influence Management Earnings Forecasts?

Author

Listed:
  • Lu Xing

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Tinghua Duan

    (University of Edinburgh
    New York University)

  • Wenxuan Hou

    (University of Edinburgh
    Nanjing Audit University)

Abstract

The role of board secretaries is a unique institutional feature in China. Individuals in this senior executive role are responsible for coordinating information disclosure. We study the impact of board secretaries on management earnings forecasts and find that their legal expertise, accounting expertise and foreign experience help improve management earnings forecast quality. The quality of forecasts, as indicated by their occurrence, frequency, precision and accuracy, is also positively associated with the role duality (e.g. board director, CFO or other senior executive role) and equity holdings of board secretaries and negatively associated with their political connection. The quality of forecasts is found to increase the compensation of board secretaries. Finally, we show that the equity holding of board secretaries reduces litigation risks and increases corporate philanthropic giving.

Suggested Citation

  • Lu Xing & Tinghua Duan & Wenxuan Hou, 2019. "Do Board Secretaries Influence Management Earnings Forecasts?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 154(2), pages 537-574, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:154:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-017-3478-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-017-3478-6
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    Cited by:

    1. John Nowland & Larelle Chapple & Joseph Johnston, 2021. "The role of the company secretary in facilitating board effectiveness: reporting and compliance," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(S1), pages 1425-1456, April.
    2. Huang, Huiqin & Wang, Chenglong & Yu, Wei & Zhu, Keying, 2023. "Does powerful executive holding a dual post as the board secretary reduce nonpunitive regulation?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    3. Yanrong Jia & Ananth Seetharaman & Yan Sun & Xu Wang, 2023. "Relative Performance Goals and Management Earnings Guidance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(4), pages 1045-1071, April.
    4. Qiao Chen & Huixiang Zeng, 2022. "Is corporate social responsibility constrained by bank credit resource allocation?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1560-1577, September.
    5. Nathan Zhenghang Zhu & Kun Tracy Wang & Mark Wilson, 2022. "The Effect of Conditional Management Earnings Forecast Mandates on Voluntary Disclosure and Analyst Forecast Properties," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 58(3), pages 479-522, September.
    6. Chan Guo, 2022. "The Impact of Management Succession on Corporate Social Responsibility of Chinese Family Firms: The Moderating Effects of Managerial Economic Motivations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-17, December.
    7. Yinju Nie & Ming Jia, 2021. "The power of crowds: can minority shareholder activism promote management earnings forecast accuracy," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(5), pages 6333-6385, December.
    8. Zheyuan Zhang & Huiying Wu & Sammy Xiaoyan Ying & Jiaxing You, 2023. "Corporate Innovation and Disclosure Strategy," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 59(1), pages 76-133, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Board secretary; Management earnings forecasts; China; Top management team; Litigation risk;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting

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