کیفیت حسابرسی، تامین مالی بدهی و مدیریت درآمد
Abstract
Keywords
1. Introduction
2. Literature review and hypothesis development
3. Research design
4. Results and discussion
5. Summary and conclusion
Acknowledgement
References
Abstract
This paper presents the initial evidence regarding the relationship between audit quality, debt financing, and earnings management in Jordan. The study used the cross-sectional version of the modified Jones model, in which discretionary accruals were employed as a proxy for earnings management. Generalised least squares regression was employed to examine the influence of audit quality and debt financing on earnings management using a sample comprising 72 industrial companies during the selected period from 2006 to 2012. The results suggested that audit quality (auditor tenure, size, specialisation, and independence) and debt financing (low debt) diminish the potential of earnings management, and, in turn, enhance the financial reporting quality. Invariably, high debt would raise earnings management risk. This research raises probable implications for policy-makers in Jordan and other countries to consider in formulating a more comprehensive and reliable audit system.
1. Introduction
Earnings management is of considerable interest to company stakeholders, especially when earnings are frequently deemed to be suitable forecasters of financial reporting quality (FRQ), since accounting accruals are instructive around FRQ. Nevertheless, accruals might also perform as unreliable forecasters of FRQ due to possible bias and manipulation. Audit quality plays an important role in reducing earnings management since auditors perform a certification task concerning financial statement credibility. Moreover, since debt influences managerial inducements and reporting selections, the association between debt and FRQ relies on accruals. This paper presents an investigation into relations among three widely researched areas, namely audit quality, debt financing, and earnings management. Even though only a few researchers empirically investigated whether audit quality and debt financing are related to earnings management, there have been other studies that assume that such an association occurs. For example, Lin and Hwang (2010) specified that audit quality has a significant negative association with earnings management, while Arens, Beasley, and Alvin (2010), and Messier, Glover, and Prawitt (2008) contended that the audit function helps to alleviate the information asymmetry and conflict of interest that occur amid shareholders and managers. On the other hand, Pope (2003, p. 281) stated that “the balance between debt and equity financing will produce demands for accounting information and may explain differences in disclosure patterns”. Likewise, O'Brien (1998, p. 1253) postulated that “if financial reporting exists to serve the needs of external capital providers, then we should expect differences to coincide with differences in the arrangements for providing capital”.