IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/jbfnac/v50y2023i1-2p118-151.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Internal control material weakness disclosure and misstatement duration

Author

Listed:
  • Juan Mao
  • Zhongxia (Shelly) Ye

Abstract

Only a small proportion of companies that announce restatements disclose existing internal control material weaknesses (ICMWs) over financial reporting during misstatement periods. Using a sample of 1939 restatements related to misstatements between 2003 and 2015, we find that misstatement duration decreases with the disclosure of ICMWs during misstatement periods. Our results are robust to different samples and different measures of the dependent and test variables. We also find that the number of ICMWs disclosed is negatively related to misstatement duration. The disclosure of both entity‐level and process‐level ICMWs is associated with misstatements of shorter duration. Moreover, we find that the negative association between ICMW disclosure frequency and misstatement duration is more salient when restatements are intentional. Despite the negative consequences of reporting existing ICMWs found in prior studies, our results suggest that the disclosure of ICMWs can shorten the duration of misstatement periods, leading to more timely improvement in financial reporting. Hence, our evidence provides context and complements prior research suggesting that companies are penalized for disclosing ICMWs.

Suggested Citation

  • Juan Mao & Zhongxia (Shelly) Ye, 2023. "Internal control material weakness disclosure and misstatement duration," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1-2), pages 118-151, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jbfnac:v:50:y:2023:i:1-2:p:118-151
    DOI: 10.1111/jbfa.12613
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jbfa.12613
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/jbfa.12613?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chris E. Hogan & Michael S. Wilkins, 2008. "Evidence on the Audit Risk Model: Do Auditors Increase Audit Fees in the Presence of Internal Control Deficiencies?," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(1), pages 219-242, March.
    2. Palmrose, Zoe-Vonna & Richardson, Vernon J. & Scholz, Susan, 2004. "Determinants of market reactions to restatement announcements," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 59-89, February.
    3. Velury, Uma & Jenkins, David S., 2006. "Institutional ownership and the quality of earnings," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 59(9), pages 1043-1051, September.
    4. Li, Chan & Sun, Lili & Ettredge, Michael, 2010. "Financial executive qualifications, financial executive turnover, and adverse SOX 404 opinions," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 93-110, May.
    5. Timothy A. Seidel, 2017. "Auditors’ Response to Assessments of High Control Risk: Further Insights," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 34(3), pages 1340-1377, September.
    6. Mark Hirschey & Kevin R. Smith & Wendy M. Wilson, 2015. "The Timeliness of Restatement Disclosures and Financial Reporting Credibility," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(7-8), pages 826-859, September.
    7. Karla Johnstone & Chan Li & Kathleen Hertz Rupley, 2011. "Changes in Corporate Governance Associated with the Revelation of Internal Control Material Weaknesses and Their Subsequent Remediation," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(1), pages 331-383, March.
    8. Inder K. Khurana & Hoyoun Kyung, 2021. "Internal control material weakness and CEO recruitment," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(9-10), pages 1940-1987, October.
    9. Beng Wee Goh, 2009. "Audit Committees, Boards of Directors, and Remediation of Material Weaknesses in Internal Control," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(2), pages 549-579, June.
    10. Sarah C. Rice & David P. Weber, 2012. "How Effective Is Internal Control Reporting under SOX 404? Determinants of the (Non‐)Disclosure of Existing Material Weaknesses," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(3), pages 811-843, June.
    11. Xuejiao Liu & Xiaohong Liu, 2017. "CEO equity incentives and the remediation of material weaknesses in internal control," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(9-10), pages 1338-1369, October.
    12. Goh, Beng Wee & Li, Dan, 2013. "The Disciplining Effect of the Internal Control Provisions of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act on the Governance Structures of Firms," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 248-278.
    13. 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.
    14. Patricia M. Dechow & Weili Ge & Chad R. Larson & Richard G. Sloan, 2011. "Predicting Material Accounting Misstatements," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(1), pages 17-82, March.
    15. Armstrong, Christopher S. & Larcker, David F. & Ormazabal, Gaizka & Taylor, Daniel J., 2013. "The relation between equity incentives and misreporting: The role of risk-taking incentives," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(2), pages 327-350.
    16. Li He & Bharat Sarath & Nader Wans, 2019. "Material weakness disclosures and restatement announcements: The joint and order effects," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(1-2), pages 68-104, January.
    17. Audrey Wen-Hsin Hsu & Chih-Hsien Liao, 2012. "Do Compensation Committees Pay Attention to Section 404 Opinions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act?," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(9-10), pages 1240-1271, November.
    18. Rani Hoitash & Udi Hoitash & Karla M. Johnstone, 2012. "Internal Control Material Weaknesses and CFO Compensation," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(3), pages 768-803, September.
    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. Chalmers, Keryn & Hay, David & Khlif, Hichem, 2019. "Internal control in accounting research: A review," Journal of Accounting Literature, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 80-103.
    3. repec:eme:jalpps:j.acclit.2018.03.002 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Philip Beaulieu & Louise Hayes & Lev M. Timoshenko, 2023. "Changes in accounting estimates: An update of priors or an earnings management strategy of “last resort”?," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(3-4), pages 622-659, March.
    5. Zhou, Fuzhao & Huang, Jianning, 2024. "Cybersecurity data breaches and internal control," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    6. Haislip, Jacob Z. & Masli, Adi & Richardson, Vernon J. & Watson, Marcia Weidenmier, 2015. "External reputational penalties for CEOs and CFOs following information technology material weaknesses," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 1-15.
    7. Rose, Anna M. & Rose, Jacob M. & Obermire, Kara M. & Strand Norman, Carolyn & Frydenlund, Nicole, 2023. "How can firms repair their reputations when they discover information technology control material weaknesses?," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    8. Inder K. Khurana & Hoyoun Kyung, 2021. "Internal control material weakness and CEO recruitment," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(9-10), pages 1940-1987, October.
    9. Marie Herly & Jan Bartholdy & Frank Thinggaard, 2020. "A re‐examination of accruals quality following restatements," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(7-8), pages 882-909, July.
    10. Chan Li & K. K. Raman & Lili Sun & Rong Yang, 2020. "The SOX 404 control audit and the effectiveness of additional audit effort in lowering the risk of financial misstatements," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 54(3), pages 981-1009, April.
    11. Westfall, Tiffany J. & Myring, Mark, 2022. "Are voluntary internal control weakness disclosures in initial public offerings associated with managerial ability and subsequent financial reporting quality?," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    12. Zvi Singer & Jing Zhang, 2022. "Do companies try to conceal financial misstatements through auditor shopping?," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(1-2), pages 140-180, January.
    13. Siyi Liu & Daoguang Yang & Nian Liu & Xin Liu, 2019. "The Effects of Air Pollution on Firms’ Internal Control Quality: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-28, September.
    14. Christensen, Brant E. & Newton, Nathan J. & Wilkins, Michael S., 2021. "How do team workloads and team staffing affect the audit? Archival evidence from U.S. audits," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    15. Dan Amiram & Zahn Bozanic & James D. Cox & Quentin Dupont & Jonathan M. Karpoff & Richard Sloan, 2018. "Financial reporting fraud and other forms of misconduct: a multidisciplinary review of the literature," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 732-783, June.
    16. Hiroshi Uemura, 2014. "Effects of corporate governance reform on the quality of internal controls: Evidence from Japan," Working Papers SDES-2014-4, Kochi University of Technology, School of Economics and Management, revised Oct 2014.
    17. Pamela Brandes & Ravi Dharwadkar & Jonathan F. Ross & Linna Shi, 2022. "Time is of the Essence!: Retired Independent Directors’ Contributions to Board Effectiveness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(3), pages 767-793, September.
    18. Navarro, Patricia & Robb, Sean W.G. & Sutton, Steve G. & Weisner, Martin M., 2020. "The cost stickiness of information technology material weaknesses: An intertemporal comparison between it-related and other material weaknesses," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    19. Melanie Millar & Roger M. White & Xin Zheng, 2023. "Substance Abuse and Workplace Fraud: Evidence from Physicians," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(2), pages 585-602, March.
    20. Wu, Xi & Wang, Jun, 2018. "Management's Materiality Criteria of Internal Control Weaknesses and Corporate Fraud: Evidence from China," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 53(1), pages 1-19.
    21. Lu, Yu & Cao, Yue, 2018. "The individual characteristics of board members and internal control weakness: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 75-94.

    More about this item

    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:bla:jbfnac:v:50:y:2023:i:1-2:p:118-151. 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: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0306-686X .

    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.