IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/jbfnac/v51y2024i1-2p511-554.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The spillover effects of financial misconduct on director‐interlocked firms: Evidence from auditor scrutiny

Author

Listed:
  • Rong Li
  • Wenjing Cai
  • Zehao Wang

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of firm financial misconduct on its director‐interlocked firms from the perspective of auditors. We argue that when a firm engages in financial misconduct, auditors tend to perceive its director‐interlocked firms as having higher audit risks. This is because accounting policies, procedures and corporate governance can propagate via common directors. Using a sample of listed US firms from 1999 to 2018, we find that auditors charge higher fees for firms whose director‐interlocked firms engage in financial misconduct. Further analyses show that this spillover effect is stronger when focal firms are riskier (when they are financially distressed or have worse earnings quality) or they have weaker alternative monitoring mechanisms (as evidenced by lower institutional shareholding). The effect is also more prominent when the tainted directors hold important positions or the financial misconduct is more severe. We also find that the higher auditor fees arise from not only risk premium but also greater audit effort. Our results are still valid after conducting a series of robustness tests.

Suggested Citation

  • Rong Li & Wenjing Cai & Zehao Wang, 2024. "The spillover effects of financial misconduct on director‐interlocked firms: Evidence from auditor scrutiny," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1-2), pages 511-554, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jbfnac:v:51:y:2024:i:1-2:p:511-554
    DOI: 10.1111/jbfa.12700
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jbfa.12700
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/jbfa.12700?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. Timothy B. Bell & Wayne R. Landsman & Douglas A. Shackelford, 2001. "Auditors' Perceived Business Risk and Audit Fees: Analysis and Evidence," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(1), pages 35-43, June.
    2. Larcker, David F. & So, Eric C. & Wang, Charles C.Y., 2013. "Boardroom centrality and firm performance," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(2), pages 225-250.
    3. 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.
    4. Fama, Eugene F & Jensen, Michael C, 1983. "Separation of Ownership and Control," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 26(2), pages 301-325, June.
    5. Shijun Cheng & Robert Felix & Raffi Indjejikian, 2019. "Spillover Effects of Internal Control Weakness Disclosures: The Role of Audit Committees and Board Connections," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(2), pages 934-957, June.
    6. Joseph H. Zhang, 2018. "Accounting Comparability, Audit Effort, and Audit Outcomes," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(1), pages 245-276, March.
    7. Simunic, Da, 1980. "The Pricing Of Audit Services - Theory And Evidence," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(1), pages 161-190.
    8. Hainmueller, Jens, 2012. "Entropy Balancing for Causal Effects: A Multivariate Reweighting Method to Produce Balanced Samples in Observational Studies," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(1), pages 25-46, January.
    9. 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.
    10. Tat‐kei Lai & Adrian C.H. Lei & Frank M. Song, 2019. "The impact of corporate fraud on director‐interlocked firms: Evidence from bank loans," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(1-2), pages 32-67, January.
    11. Eugene Kang & Brian R. Tan, 2008. "Accounting Choices and Director Interlocks: A Social Network Approach to the Voluntary Expensing of Stock Option Grants," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(9-10), pages 1079-1102.
    12. Jeffrey L. Coles & Chun‐Keung Hoi, 2003. "New Evidence on the Market for Directors: Board Membership and Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1310," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 58(1), pages 197-230, February.
    13. David B. Bryan & Terry W. Mason, 2020. "Independent director reputation incentives, accruals quality and audit fees," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(7-8), pages 982-1011, July.
    14. Matthew Ege & Jennifer L. Glenn & John R. Robinson, 2020. "Unexpected SEC Resource Constraints and Comment Letter Quality†," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(1), pages 33-67, March.
    15. Suraj Srinivasan, 2005. "Consequences of Financial Reporting Failure for Outside Directors: Evidence from Accounting Restatements and Audit Committee Members," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(2), pages 291-334, May.
    16. John Bizjak & Michael Lemmon & Ryan Whitby, 2009. "Option Backdating and Board Interlocks," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 22(11), pages 4821-4847, November.
    17. 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.
    18. Fich, Eliezer M. & Shivdasani, Anil, 2007. "Financial fraud, director reputation, and shareholder wealth," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(2), pages 306-336, November.
    19. Gilson, Stuart C., 1990. "Bankruptcy, boards, banks, and blockholders : Evidence on changes in corporate ownership and control when firms default," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 355-387, October.
    20. Hsihui Chang & Charles Hsu & Zhiming Ma, 2022. "Does product similarity of audit clients influence audit efficiency and pricing decisions?," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(5-6), pages 807-840, May.
    21. Anh Viet Pham & Mia Hang Pham & Cameron Truong, 2022. "CEO cultural heritage and the pricing of audit services," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(1-2), pages 181-214, January.
    22. Ariel Markelevich & Rebecca L. Rosner, 2013. "Auditor Fees and Fraud Firms," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(4), pages 1590-1625, December.
    23. Khondkar E. Karim & Jiayan Li & Karen Jingrong Lin & Ashok Robin, 2022. "Do directors have style? Board interlock and accounting properties," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(1-2), pages 3-32, January.
    24. Christa H. S. Bouwman, 2011. "Corporate Governance Propagation through Overlapping Directors," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 24(7), pages 2358-2394.
    25. Lennox, Clive & Li, Bing, 2014. "Accounting misstatements following lawsuits against auditors," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(1), pages 58-75.
    26. Francis, Jere R., 1984. "The effect of audit firm size on audit prices : A study of the Australian Market," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 6(2), pages 133-151, August.
    27. Zmijewski, Me, 1984. "Methodological Issues Related To The Estimation Of Financial Distress Prediction Models," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22, pages 59-82.
    28. Susan M. Young & Emma Y. Peng, 2013. "An Analysis of Accounting Frauds and the Timing of Analyst Coverage Decisions and Recommendation Revisions: Evidence from the US," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(3-4), pages 399-437, April.
    29. Marek Kacer & David A. Peel & Michael J. Peel & Nicholas Wilson, 2018. "On the persistence and dynamics of Big 4 real audit fees: Evidence from the UK," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(5-6), pages 714-727, May.
    30. Eugene Kang & Brian R. Tan, 2008. "Accounting Choices and Director Interlocks: A Social Network Approach to the Voluntary Expensing of Stock Option Grants," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(9‐10), pages 1079-1102, November.
    31. Okeefe, Tb & Simunic, Da & Stein, Mt, 1994. "The Production Of Audit Services - Evidence From A Major Public Accounting Firm," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 241-261.
    32. Caramanis, Constantinos & Lennox, Clive, 2008. "Audit effort and earnings management," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 116-138, March.
    33. Harford, Jarrad, 2003. "Takeover bids and target directors' incentives: the impact of a bid on directors' wealth and board seats," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(1), pages 51-83, July.
    34. Reynolds, J. Kenneth & Francis, Jere R., 2000. "Does size matter? The influence of large clients on office-level auditor reporting decisions," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(3), pages 375-400, December.
    35. Kothari, S.P. & Leone, Andrew J. & Wasley, Charles E., 2005. "Performance matched discretionary accrual measures," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 163-197, February.
    36. Fos, Vyacheslav & Tsoutsoura, Margarita, 2014. "Shareholder democracy in play: Career consequences of proxy contests," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(2), pages 316-340.
    37. DeFond, Mark & Zhang, Jieying, 2014. "A review of archival auditing research," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(2), pages 275-326.
    38. Joanne Horton & Yuval Millo & George Serafeim, 2012. "Resources or Power? Implications of Social Networks on Compensation and Firm Performance," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(3-4), pages 399-426, April.
    39. Karl Hackenbrack & W. Robert Knechel, 1997. "Resource Allocation Decisions in Audit Engagements," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(3), pages 481-499, September.
    40. Sharad Asthana & Steven Balsam, 2010. "The impact of changes in firm performance and risk on director turnover," Review of Accounting and Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 9(3), pages 244-263, August.
    41. John D. Lyon & Michael W. Maher, 2005. "The Importance of Business Risk in Setting Audit Fees: Evidence from Cases of Client Misconduct," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(1), pages 133-151, 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. Qinlin Zhong & Yuanyuan Liu & Chun Yuan, 2017. "Director interlocks and spillover effects of board monitoring: evidence from regulatory sanctions," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 57(5), pages 1605-1633, December.
    3. Gow, Ian D. & Wahid, Aida Sijamic & Yu, Gwen, 2018. "Managing reputation: Evidence from biographies of corporate directors," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(2), pages 448-469.
    4. Chang, Wen-Ching & Chen, Jui-Pin, 2020. "Auditor sanction and reputation damage: Evidence from changes in non-client-company directorships," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(3).
    5. Lel, Ugur & Miller, Darius, 2019. "The labor market for directors and externalities in corporate governance: Evidence from the international labor market," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(1).
    6. Miller, Darius, 2018. "Discussion of “Managing reputation: Evidence from biographies of corporate directors✰," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(2), pages 470-475.
    7. Andersen, Angela & Garel, Alexandre & Gilbert, Aaron & Tourani-Rad, Alireza, 2022. "Social capital, human capital, and board appointments," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    8. Ertimur, Yonca & Ferri, Fabrizio & Maber, David A., 2012. "Reputation penalties for poor monitoring of executive pay: Evidence from option backdating," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(1), pages 118-144.
    9. Sarfraz Khan & Elaine Mauldin, 2021. "Benefit or burden? A comparison of CFO and CEO outside directorships," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(7-8), pages 1175-1214, July.
    10. Rüdiger Fahlenbrach & Angie Low & René M. Stulz, 2010. "The Dark Side of Outside Directors: Do they Quit When They are Most Needed?," Swiss Finance Institute Research Paper Series 10-17, Swiss Finance Institute.
    11. Lai Van Vo & Huong Thi Thu Le & Youngbin Kim, 2023. "Board interlocks, career prospects and corporate social responsibility," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(4), pages 4565-4595, December.
    12. Cao, June & Ee, Mong Shan & Hasan, Iftekhar & Huang, He, 2024. "Asymmetric reactions of abnormal audit fees jump to credit rating changes," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(2).
    13. Dafydd Mali & Hyoung‐joo Lim, 2021. "Do Relatively More Efficient Firms Demand Additional Audit Effort (Hours)?," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 31(2), pages 108-127, June.
    14. Jingyu Yang & Hai Wu & Yangxin Yu, 2021. "Distracted institutional investors and audit risk," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(3), pages 3855-3881, September.
    15. Rajib Doogar & Padmakumar Sivadasan & Ira Solomon, 2010. "The Regulation of Public Company Auditing: Evidence from the Transition to AS5," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(4), pages 795-814, September.
    16. Fernández Méndez, Carlos & Pathan, Shams & Arrondo García, Rubén, 2015. "Monitoring capabilities of busy and overlap directors: Evidence from Australia," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(PA), pages 444-469.
    17. Frederick L. Bereskin & Clifford W. Smith Jr., 2014. "Mechanisms of Board Turnover: Evidence From Backdating," Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Morgan Stanley, vol. 26(2), pages 65-78, June.
    18. Baran, Lindsay, 2017. "Director connectedness and firm value in S&P 500 Index reconstitutions," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 63-79.
    19. Zhang, Shuran, 2021. "Directors’ career concerns: Evidence from proxy contests and board interlocks," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(3), pages 894-915.
    20. Stergios Leventis & Emmanouil Dedoulis & Omneya Abdelsalam, 2018. "The Impact of Religiosity on Audit Pricing," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(1), pages 53-78, March.

    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:51:y:2024:i:1-2:p:511-554. 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.