Title
How audit fees are affected by a client under SEC investigation
Source of Publication
International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation
Abstract
We examine the effect of a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation of the audit client on audit cost. Ordinary least-squares models along with a match-paired design and publicly available auditor fees data are used to analyse the relation between an SEC investigation event and audit fees. The finding of a positive and significant relation supports our hypothesis that the business risk of a client under investigation by this regulatory agency is perceived to be higher than that of a client not under investigation. This finding is important given that certain factors may work against observing an effect. This study contributes to the literature by determining that auditors charge a statistically and economically significant average audit fees premium that ranges from 49.9% to 56.2% to clients under SEC investigation. One implication is that client management has fee-related incentives to avoid regulatory misconduct/scrutiny and produce financial statements free of material misstatement. © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Document Type
Article
First Page
153
Last Page
186
Publication Date
1-1-2014
DOI
10.1504/IJAAPE.2014.060209
Recommended Citation
Scott, Winifred D. and Gist, Willie E., "How audit fees are affected by a client under SEC investigation" (2014). Scopus Indexed Articles. 1861.
https://zuscholars.zu.ac.ae/scopus-indexed-articles/1861