IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jmgtgv/v29y2025i3d10.1007_s10997-024-09714-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Financial investment by non-financial firms: does it affect audit quality?

Author

Listed:
  • Litan Wang

    (Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance)

  • Kefei You

    (University of Greenwich)

  • Hui Chen

    (Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance)

Abstract

In the context of the global trend of increasing financial investment by non-financial firms, this study investigates how this process affects the audit quality of these firms. Employing data of Chinese listed non-financial firms from 2011 to 2020, we first examine whether the increasing proportion of financial assets in the total assets has an adverse impact on the audit quality of these firms. We then analyze the mediation effect of operational volatility on such impact by adopting the mediation test of the modified Sobel’s z and the bootstrap test. We find that a higher proportion of financial assets to total assets lowers the audit quality, confirming that the financialization of non-financial firms deteriorates their audit quality. Furthermore, the mediation tests show that operational volatility is an important channel for this negative effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Litan Wang & Kefei You & Hui Chen, 2025. "Financial investment by non-financial firms: does it affect audit quality?," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 29(3), pages 699-733, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jmgtgv:v:29:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s10997-024-09714-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10997-024-09714-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10997-024-09714-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10997-024-09714-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joseph Weber & Michael Willenborg & Jieying Zhang, 2008. "Does Auditor Reputation Matter? The Case of KPMG Germany and ComROAD AG," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 46(4), pages 941-972, September.
    2. Demir, FIrat, 2009. "Financial liberalization, private investment and portfolio choice: Financialization of real sectors in emerging markets," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 314-324, March.
    3. Chee‐Yeow Lim & Hun‐Tong Tan, 2008. "Non‐audit Service Fees and Audit Quality: The Impact of Auditor Specialization," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 46(1), pages 199-246, March.
    4. Michael Ehrmann & Marcel Fratzscher & Roberto Rigobon, 2011. "Stocks, bonds, money markets and exchange rates: measuring international financial transmission," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(6), pages 948-974, September.
    5. Jin, Li & Myers, Stewart C., 2006. "R2 around the world: New theory and new tests," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(2), pages 257-292, February.
    6. Zhang, Chengsi & Zheng, Ning, 2020. "The financial investment decision of non-financial firms in China," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    7. Jere R. Francis & Paul N. Michas & Michael D. Yu, 2013. "Office Size of Big 4 Auditors and Client Restatements," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(4), pages 1626-1661, December.
    8. Thomas Averio, 2020. "The analysis of influencing factors on the going concern audit opinion – a study in manufacturing firms in Indonesia," Asian Journal of Accounting Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 6(2), pages 152-164, December.
    9. Burak Güner, A. & Malmendier, Ulrike & Tate, Geoffrey, 2008. "Financial expertise of directors," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 323-354, May.
    10. Barth, Mary E. & Beaver, William H. & Landsman, Wayne R., 2001. "The relevance of the value relevance literature for financial accounting standard setting: another view," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(1-3), pages 77-104, September.
    11. Xu, Nianhang & Li, Xiaorong & Yuan, Qingbo & Chan, Kam C., 2014. "Excess perks and stock price crash risk: Evidence from China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 419-434.
    12. Mary E. Barth & Greg Clinch, 1996. "International Accounting Differences and Their Relation to Share Prices: Evidence from U.K., Australian, and Canadian Firms," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(1), pages 135-170, March.
    13. Jones, Jj, 1991. "Earnings Management During Import Relief Investigations," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(2), pages 193-228.
    14. Kose John & Lubomir Litov & Bernard Yeung, 2008. "Corporate Governance and Risk‐Taking," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 63(4), pages 1679-1728, August.
    15. Hanwen Chen & Jeff Zeyun Chen & Gerald J. Lobo & Yanyan Wang, 2011. "Effects of Audit Quality on Earnings Management and Cost of Equity Capital: Evidence from China," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(3), pages 892-925, September.
    16. Fung, Simon Yu Kit & Raman, K.K. & Zhu, Xindong (Kevin), 2017. "Does the PCAOB international inspection program improve audit quality for non-US-listed foreign clients?," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(1), pages 15-36.
    17. Wei Zhu, 2016. "Accruals and price crashes," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 349-399, June.
    18. Kim, Jeong-Bon & Li, Yinghua & Zhang, Liandong, 2011. "Corporate tax avoidance and stock price crash risk: Firm-level analysis," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(3), pages 639-662, June.
    19. Hutton, Amy P. & Marcus, Alan J. & Tehranian, Hassan, 2009. "Opaque financial reports, R2, and crash risk," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(1), pages 67-86, October.
    20. Roychowdhury, Sugata, 2006. "Earnings management through real activities manipulation," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 335-370, December.
    21. Jong†Hag Choi & T. J. Wong, 2007. "Auditors' Governance Functions and Legal Environments: An International Investigation," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(1), pages 13-46, March.
    22. Erik Feyen & Jon Frost & Leonardo Gambacorta & Harish Natarajan & Matthew Saal, 2021. "Fintech and the digital transformation of financial services: implications for market structure and public policy," BIS Papers, Bank for International Settlements, number 117.
    23. Till Van Treeck, 2008. "Reconsidering The Investment–Profit Nexus In Finance‐Led Economies: An Ardl‐Based Approach," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(3), pages 371-404, July.
    24. Jeong†Bon Kim & Richard Chung & Michael Firth, 2003. "Auditor Conservatism, Asymmetric Monitoring, and Earnings Management," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(2), pages 323-359, June.
    25. David B. Bryan & Terry W. Mason, 2022. "Earnings autocorrelation and accounting restatements," Review of Accounting and Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 21(3), pages 154-173, April.
    26. David B. Bryan & Terry W. Mason, 2022. "Earnings autocorrelation and accounting restatements," Review of Accounting and Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 21(3), pages 154-173, April.
    27. DeFond, Mark L. & Wong, T. J. & Li, Shuhua, 1999. "The impact of improved auditor independence on audit market concentration in China," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 269-305, December.
    28. Garcia-Blandon, Josep & Argilés-Bosch, Josep Maria & Ravenda, Diego, 2019. "Is there a gender effect on the quality of audit services?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 238-249.
    29. repec:nct:journl:v:18:y:2010:i:2:p:189-212 is not listed on IDEAS
    30. Johnson, Simon & Mitton, Todd, 2003. "Cronyism and capital controls: evidence from Malaysia," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 351-382, February.
    31. Graham, John R. & Harvey, Campbell R. & Rajgopal, Shiva, 2005. "The economic implications of corporate financial reporting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(1-3), pages 3-73, December.
    32. Thierry Theurillat & José Corpataux & Olivier Crevoisier, "undated". "Property Sector Financialization: The Case of Swiss Pension Funds (1992–2005)," GRET Journal Papers 02-10, GRET Group of Research in Territorial Economy, University of Neuchâtel.
    33. Wang, Litan & You, Kefei, 2022. "The impact of political connections on corporate tax burden: Evidence from the Chinese market," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PB).
    34. Caporale, Guglielmo Maria & You, Kefei & Chen, Lei, 2019. "Global and regional stock market integration in Asia: A panel convergence approach," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    35. Alhababsah, Salem, 2019. "Ownership structure and audit quality: An empirical analysis considering ownership types in Jordan," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 71-84.
    36. Liu, Laura Xiaolei & Shu, Haibing & Wei, K.C. John, 2017. "The impacts of political uncertainty on asset prices: Evidence from the Bo scandal in China," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(2), pages 286-310.
    37. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    38. Roychowdhury, Sugata & Shroff, Nemit & Verdi, Rodrigo S., 2019. "The effects of financial reporting and disclosure on corporate investment: A review," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(2).
    39. Lawrence J. Abbott & Brian Daugherty & Susan Parker & Gary F. Peters, 2016. "Internal Audit Quality and Financial Reporting Quality: The Joint Importance of Independence and Competence," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 54(1), pages 3-40, March.
    40. Kim, Jeong-Bon & Li, Yinghua & Zhang, Liandong, 2011. "CFOs versus CEOs: Equity incentives and crashes," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(3), pages 713-730, September.
    41. Elif Sisli-Ciamarra, 2012. "Monitoring by Affiliated Bankers on Board of Directors: Evidence from Corporate Financing Outcomes," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 41(3), pages 665-702, September.
    42. Lennox, Clive & Li, Bing, 2012. "The consequences of protecting audit partners’ personal assets from the threat of liability," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(2), pages 154-173.
    43. repec:bla:jfinan:v:59:y:2004:i:4:p:1777-1804 is not listed on IDEAS
    44. Clive Lennox & Jeffrey A. Pittman, 2010. "Big Five Audits and Accounting Fraud," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(1), pages 6-6, March.
    45. Thierry Theurillat & Jose Corpataux & Olivier Crevoisier, 2008. "Property Sector Financialization: The Case of Swiss Pension Funds (1992--2005)," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(2), pages 189-212, December.
    46. Papadamou, Stephanos & Fassas, Athanasios P. & Kenourgios, Dimitris & Dimitriou, Dimitrios, 2023. "Effects of the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic on implied stock market volatility: International evidence using a google trend measure," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 28(C).
    47. Karthik Ramanna & Ross L. Watts, 2012. "Evidence on the use of unverifiable estimates in required goodwill impairment," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 749-780, December.
    48. He, Jie (Jack) & Tian, Xuan, 2013. "The dark side of analyst coverage: The case of innovation," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(3), pages 856-878.
    49. Ning Zhang & Aiqun Wang & Naveed-Ul- Haq & Safia Nosheen, 2022. "The impact of COVID-19 shocks on the volatility of stock markets in technologically advanced countries," Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(1), pages 2191-2216, December.
    50. Habib, Ahsan & Jiang, Haiyan & Bhuiyan, Md. Borhan Uddin & Islam, Ainul, 2014. "Litigation risk, financial reporting and auditing: A survey of the literature," Research in Accounting Regulation, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 145-163.
    51. Knechel, W. Robert & Thomas, Edward & Driskill, Matthew, 2020. "Understanding financial auditing from a service perspective," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    52. Gilles Hilary & Sudipto Dasgupta & Xing Chang, 2009. "The Effect of Auditor Quality on Financing Decisions," Post-Print hal-00481935, HAL.
    53. Goldman, Nathan C. & Harris, M. Kathleen & Omer, Thomas C., 2022. "Does task-specific knowledge improve audit quality: Evidence from audits of income tax accounts," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    54. Xinshu Zhao & John G. Lynch & Qimei Chen, 2010. "Reconsidering Baron and Kenny: Myths and Truths about Mediation Analysis," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 37(2), pages 197-206, August.
    55. Hsieh, Sheng-Feng & Brennan, Gerard, 2022. "Issues, risks, and challenges for auditing crypto asset transactions," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    56. Jeong†Bon Kim & Liandong Zhang, 2014. "Financial Reporting Opacity and Expected Crash Risk: Evidence from Implied Volatility Smirks," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 851-875, September.
    57. Beardsley, Erik L. & Imdieke, Andrew J. & Omer, Thomas C., 2021. "The distraction effect of non-audit services on audit quality," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(2).
    58. Kenneth J. Reichelt & Dechun Wang, 2010. "National and Office‐Specific Measures of Auditor Industry Expertise and Effects on Audit Quality," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 48(3), pages 647-686, June.
    59. Chen†Lung Chin & Hsin†Yi Chi, 2009. "Reducing Restatements with Increased Industry Expertise," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(3), pages 729-765, September.
    60. Wang, Qian & Wong, T.J. & Xia, Lijun, 2008. "State ownership, the institutional environment, and auditor choice: Evidence from China," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 112-134, September.
    61. Firat Demir, 2009. "Financialization and Manufacturing Firm Profitability under Uncertainty and Macroeconomic Volatility: Evidence from an Emerging Market," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(4), pages 592-609, November.
    62. Lim, Mable & How, Janice & Verhoeven, Peter, 2014. "Corporate ownership, corporate governance reform and timeliness of earnings: Malaysian evidence," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 10(1), pages 32-45.
    63. DeFond, Mark & Zhang, Jieying, 2014. "A review of archival auditing research," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(2), pages 275-326.
    64. Clive S. Lennox & Chul W. Park, 2007. "Audit Firm Appointments, Audit Firm Alumni, and Audit Committee Independence," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(1), pages 235-258, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. DeFond, Mark & Zhang, Jieying, 2014. "A review of archival auditing research," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(2), pages 275-326.
    2. Min Jung Kang & Y. Han (Andy) Kim & Qunfeng Liao, 2020. "Do bankers on the board reduce crash risk?," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 26(3), pages 684-723, June.
    3. Wen, Fenghua & Xu, Longhao & Ouyang, Guangda & Kou, Gang, 2019. "Retail investor attention and stock price crash risk: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    4. Kuo, Nan-Ting & Li, Shu & Du, Ya-Guang & Lee, Cheng-Few, 2022. "Does individual auditor quality contribute to firm value? Evidence from the market valuation on corporate cash holdings," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 135-153.
    5. Ji, Qiong & Quan, Xiaofeng & Yin, Hongying & Yuan, Qingbo, 2021. "Gambling preferences and stock price crash risk: Evidence from China," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    6. Nguyen, Lily & Vu, Le & Yin, Xiangkang, 2020. "The undesirable effect of audit quality: Evidence from firm innovation," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(6).
    7. Pan Xu & Jun He & Daojuan Wang & Sofia A. Johan & Siwei Lin, 2024. "Could the simultaneous persistence of greater cash holdings and interest‐bearing debts affect stock price crash risk?," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(3), pages 3226-3262, July.
    8. Chang, Jeffery (Jinfan) & Meng, Qingbin & Ni, Xiaoran, 2022. "A tale of riskiness: The real effects of share pledging on the Chinese stock market," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    9. Tung Lam Dang & Robert Faff & Hoang Luong & Lily Nguyen, 2019. "Individualistic cultures and crash risk," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 25(3), pages 622-654, June.
    10. Ahsan Habib & Mostafa Monzur Hasan & Haiyan Jiang, 2018. "Stock price crash risk: review of the empirical literature," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 58(S1), pages 211-251, November.
    11. Zhuo, Qianru & Lin, Yuanfeng & Qiu, Yajie & Shen, Zhe & Wang, Zhiqiang, 2024. "Employment protection and stock price crash risk: Evidence from China’s introduction of the labor contract law," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    12. Wenbing Luo & Ziyan Tian & Xusheng Fang & Mingjun Deng, 2024. "Can good ESG performance reduce stock price crash risk? Evidence from Chinese listed companies," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 1469-1492, May.
    13. Ni, Xiaoran & Peng, Yuchao & Shen, Ji & Vigne, Samuel A. & Wang, Nanxuan, 2025. "Available-for-sale is available for hoarding: When nonfinancial firms hold financial assets," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    14. Sun, Sophia Li & Habib, Ahsan & Huang, Hedy Jiaying, 2019. "Tournament incentives and stock price crash risk: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 93-117.
    15. Xu, Lin & Rao, Yulei & Cheng, Yingmei & Wang, Jianxin, 2020. "Internal coalition and stock price crash risk," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    16. Callen, Jeffrey L. & Fang, Xiaohua & Zhang, Wenjun, 2020. "Protection of proprietary information and financial reporting opacity: Evidence from a natural experiment," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    17. Hongmin Jin & Lu Wang & Zuoping Xiao & Hung‐Gay Fung, 2023. "What firm risk factors drive bank loan pricing and other terms? Evidence from China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(3), pages 2985-3010, September.
    18. Hossain, Ashrafee T. & Masum, Abdullah-Al & Xu, Jian, 2023. "COVID-19, a blessing in disguise for the Tech sector: Evidence from stock price crash risk," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    19. Xingqiang Du, 2019. "Does CEO-Auditor Dialect Sharing Impair Pre-IPO Audit Quality? Evidence from China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(3), pages 699-735, May.
    20. Loureiro, Gilberto & Silva, Sónia, 2022. "Earnings management and stock price crashes post U.S. cross-delistings," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • M42 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Auditing
    • C10 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - General

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jmgtgv:v:29:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s10997-024-09714-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.