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The effect of external audits of internal control over financial reporting on financial reporting for clients of Big 4, Second-tier, and small audit firms

Author

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  • Herda, David N.
  • Notbohm, Matthew A.
  • Dowdell, Thomas D.

Abstract

The external audit of internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) is a very expensive and contentious aspect of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX). Larger public firms were first required to file a management report on and have an external audit of ICFR in 2004. Smaller public firms were first required to file a management report on ICFR in 2007 but are exempt from the audit requirement. Whereas most related prior research investigates the combined effect of management and auditor reports on financial reporting, this study examines the distinct effect of auditor reports on reporting quality. For companies audited by small auditors, we find evidence that financial reporting quality improves with an auditor report on ICFR. We find no evidence that auditor ICFR reports improve reporting quality for clients of Big 4 or Second-tier audit firms. Our study adds to the debate on the applicability of SOX Section 404 to smaller firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Herda, David N. & Notbohm, Matthew A. & Dowdell, Thomas D., 2014. "The effect of external audits of internal control over financial reporting on financial reporting for clients of Big 4, Second-tier, and small audit firms," Research in Accounting Regulation, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 98-103.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reacre:v:26:y:2014:i:1:p:98-103
    DOI: 10.1016/j.racreg.2014.02.010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter Iliev, 2010. "The Effect of SOX Section 404: Costs, Earnings Quality, and Stock Prices," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 65(3), pages 1163-1196, June.
    2. Dowdell, Thomas D. & Herda, David N. & Notbohm, Matthew A., 2014. "Do management reports on internal control over financial reporting improve financial reporting?," Research in Accounting Regulation, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 104-109.
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    8. William R. Kinney, Jr. & Marcy L. Shepardson, 2011. "Do Control Effectiveness Disclosures Require SOX 404(b) Internal Control Audits? A Natural Experiment with Small U.S. Public Companies," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(2), pages 413-448, May.
    9. Habib, Ahsan, 2011. "Audit firm industry specialization and audit outcomes: Insights from academic literature," Research in Accounting Regulation, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 114-129.
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