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An Empirical Investigation of Audit Fees, Nonaudit Fees, and Audit Committees

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  • Lawrence J. Abbott
  • Susan Parker
  • Gary F. Peters
  • K. Raghunandan

Abstract

This study examines the association between audit committee characteristics and the ratio of nonaudit service (NAS) fees to audit fees, using data gathered under the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC's) fee disclosure rules. Issues related to NAS fees have been of concern to practitioners, regulators, and academics for a number of years. Prior research suggests that audit committees possessing certain characteristics are important participants in the process of managing the client†auditor relationship. We hypothesize that audit committees that are independent and active financial monitors have incentives to limit NAS fees (relative to audit fees) paid to incumbent auditors, in an effort to enhance auditor independence in either appearance or fact. Our analysis using a sample of 538 firms indicates that audit committees comprised solely of independent directors meeting at least four times annually are significantly and negatively associated with the NAS fee ratio. This evidence is consistent with audit committee members perceiving a high level of NAS fees in a negative light and taking actions to decrease the NAS fee ratio.

Suggested Citation

  • Lawrence J. Abbott & Susan Parker & Gary F. Peters & K. Raghunandan, 2003. "An Empirical Investigation of Audit Fees, Nonaudit Fees, and Audit Committees," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(2), pages 215-234, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:coacre:v:20:y:2003:i:2:p:215-234
    DOI: 10.1506/8YP9-P27G-5NW5-DJKK
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    Cited by:

    1. Wu, Chloe Yu-Hsuan & Hsu, Hwa-Hsien & Haslam, Jim, 2016. "Audit committees, non-audit services, and auditor reporting decisions prior to failure," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 240-256.
    2. Benjamin T. Albersmann & Reiner Quick, 2020. "The Impact of Audit Quality Indicators on the Timeliness of Goodwill Impairments: Evidence from the German Setting," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 56(1), pages 66-103, March.
    3. Nurul Nazlia Jamil, 2020. "The Power of Political Connections: Review on the Impacts of Audit Committee and Corporate Governance," Journal of Public Administration and Governance, Macrothink Institute, vol. 10(1), pages 333347-3333, December.
    4. Charles Piot, 2004. "The existence and independence of audit committees in France," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(3), pages 223-246.
    5. George Drogalas & Michail Nerantzidis & Dimitrios Mitskinis & Ioannis Tampakoudis, 2021. "The relationship between audit fees and audit committee characteristics: evidence from the Athens Stock Exchange," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 18(1), pages 24-41, March.
    6. Mona A. ElBannan & Mohamed A. ElBannan, 2014. "Corporate Governance and Accounting Performance: A Balanced Scorecard Approach," Accounting and Finance Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 3(2), pages 1-60, May.
    7. Junhui Wang & Jerry Sun, 2022. "The role of audit committees in social responsibility and environmental disclosures: evidence from Chinese energy sector," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(1), pages 113-128, March.
    8. Li (Glenda) Chen & Alan Kilgore & Renee Radich, 2009. "Audit committees: voluntary formation by ASX non-top 500," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 24(5), pages 475-493, May.
    9. repec:mth:ijafr8:v:8:y:2018:i:4:p:438-456 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Shivan Sarpal, 2017. "Analyzing Performance Implications of Selected Audit Committee Characteristics: A Study of Indian Corporate Sector," Business Perspectives and Research, , vol. 5(2), pages 137-150, July.
    11. Anastasia Kraft & Kerstin Lopatta, 2016. "Auditor fees, discretionary book-tax differences, and tax avoidance," International Journal of Economics and Accounting, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 7(2), pages 127-155.
    12. Anastassia Fedyk & James Hodson & Natalya Khimich & Tatiana Fedyk, 2022. "Is artificial intelligence improving the audit process?," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 27(3), pages 938-985, September.
    13. Manita, Riadh & Elommal, Najoua & Baudier, Patricia & Hikkerova, Lubica, 2020. "The digital transformation of external audit and its impact on corporate governance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    14. Liu, Guoping & Sun, Jerry, 2021. "Independent directors’ legal expertise, bank risk-taking and performance," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(1).
    15. Xue, Bai & O'Sullivan, Noel, 2023. "The determinants of audit fees in the alternative investment market (Aim) in the UK: Evidence on the impact of risk, corporate governance and auditor size," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    16. Jayati Sarkar & Subrata Sarkar, 2010. "Auditor and Audit Committee Independence in India," Governance Working Papers 23024, East Asian Bureau of Economic Research.
    17. Hussaini Bala & Noor Afza Amran* & Hasnah Shaari, 2018. "The Relationship between Audit Committee Attributes and Audit Fees of Listed Companies in Nigeria," The Journal of Social Sciences Research, Academic Research Publishing Group, pages 402-408:6.
    18. Udi Hoitash & Rani Hoitash, 2009. "Conflicting Objectives within the Board: Evidence from Overlapping Audit and Compensation Committee Members," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 57-73, January.
    19. Shan, Yuan George & Troshani, Indrit & Tarca, Ann, 2019. "Managerial ownership, audit firm size, and audit fees: Australian evidence," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 18-36.
    20. Hsieh, Tien-Shih & Kim, Jeong-Bon & Wang, Ray R. & Wang, Zhihong, 2020. "Seeing is believing? Executives' facial trustworthiness, auditor tenure, and audit fees," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(1).
    21. Otuya, Sunday, 2019. "Auditors' Independence And Quality Of Financial Reporting In Listed Nigerian Manufacturing Companies," International Journal of Contemporary Accounting Issues-IJCAI (formerly International Journal of Accounting & Finance IJAF), The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), vol. 8(1), pages 111-128, June.
    22. Abdullah Mohammed Alzahrani & Ayoib Che-Ahmad, 2015. "Royal Family Members And Firm Performance: Evidence From Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia," Accounting & Taxation, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 7(2), pages 29-42.
    23. Al-Okaily, Jihad & BenYoussef, Nourhene, 2020. "Audit committee effectiveness and non-audit service fees: Evidence from UK family firms," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    24. Mai Dao & Hua-Wei Huang & Jishan Zhu, 2012. "The Effects of Audit Committee Members' Age and Additional Directorships on the Cost of Equity Capital in the USA," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(3), pages 607-643, September.

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