IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i3p1254-d318538.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Higher Academic Qualifications, Professional Training and Operating Performance of Audit Firms

Author

Listed:
  • Yahn-Shir Chen

    (Department of Accounting, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin 64002, Taiwan)

  • Chung-Cheng Yang

    (Department of Accounting, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin 64002, Taiwan)

  • Yi-Fang Yang

    (Department of Accounting and Information Systems, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan 71101, Taiwan)

Abstract

This study examines the association between professional training, higher academic qualifications (educational levels) and operating performance of audit firms in Taiwan. We particularly focus on the curvilinear effects of higher academic qualifications on operating performance. We group the total sample into three categories: national, regional and local audit firms. Based on the theoretical framework in industrial economics, we establish a cross-sectional multiple regression equation to test our hypotheses. Both higher academic qualifications and professional training are positively related to the operating performance of audit firms. Professional training moderates the relation between higher academic qualifications and operating performance. Higher academic qualifications exhibit a curvilinear effect on operating performance with a reverse U-shaped relation for the national audit firms and a U-shaped relation for both regional and local audit firms. Due to data unavailability, some factors affecting the audit quality and operating performance are not included in our analysis, such as auditor teamwork, internal control system, operating policies and auditing procedures of audit firms. The findings that higher academic qualifications are positively associated with the operating performance of audit firms justify the educational policy of establishing institutes or graduate schools in accounting over the past two decades. Furthermore, audit firms skillfully exploit employees with higher academic qualifications to improve their operating performance. We are the first to document the moderating effects of professional training and the curvilinear association between higher academic qualifications and operating performance, contributing knowledge to related literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Yahn-Shir Chen & Chung-Cheng Yang & Yi-Fang Yang, 2020. "Higher Academic Qualifications, Professional Training and Operating Performance of Audit Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:3:p:1254-:d:318538
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/3/1254/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/3/1254/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rajiv D. Banker & Hsihui Chang & Ram Natarajan, 2005. "Productivity Change, Technical Progress, and Relative Efficiency Change in the Public Accounting Industry," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 51(2), pages 291-304, February.
    2. George Psacharopoulos, 1985. "Returns to Education: A Further International Update and Implications," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 20(4), pages 583-604.
    3. Gary P. Pisano, 1994. "Knowledge, Integration, and the Locus of Learning: An Empirical Analysis of Process Development," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(S1), pages 85-100, December.
    4. Apostolos Ballas & Irene Fafaliou, 2008. "Market Shares and Concentration in the EU Auditing Industry: the Effects of Andersen’s Demise," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 14(4), pages 485-497, November.
    5. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    6. repec:kap:iaecre:v:14:y:2008:i:4:p:485-497 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. repec:bla:econom:v:43:y:1976:i:171:p:267-74 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Jevons Lee, Chi-Wen & Liu, Chiawen & Wang, Taychang, 1999. "The 150-hour rule," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 203-228, April.
    9. Jihong Liu & Yaping Wang & Liansheng Wu, 2011. "The Effect of Guanxi on Audit Quality in China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 103(4), pages 621-638, November.
    10. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ionica Oncioiu & Anca-Gabriela Petrescu & Florentina-Raluca Bîlcan & Marius Petrescu & Melinda Timea Fülöp & Dan Ioan Topor, 2020. "The Influence of Corporate Governance Systems on a Company’s Market Value," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-15, April.
    2. Ionica Oncioiu & Delia-Mioara Popescu & Anca Elena Aviana & Alina Șerban & Florica Rotaru & Mihai Petrescu & Andreea Marin-Pantelescu, 2020. "The Role of Environmental, Social, and Governance Disclosure in Financial Transparency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-16, August.

    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. Hwang, Seokyoun & Sarath, Bharat & Han, Seung-youb, 2022. "Auditor independence: The effect of auditors’ quality control efforts and corporate governance," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    2. Kharuddin, Khairul Ayuni Mohd & Basioudis, Ilias G & Farooque, Omar Al, 2021. "Effects of the Big 4 national and city-level industry expertise on audit quality in the United Kingdom," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    3. Maria Jose Arcas & Caridad Martí, 2016. "Financial Performance Adjustment in English Local Governments," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 26(2), pages 141-152, June.
    4. Yi-Fang Yang & Lee-Wen Yang & Min-Ning Lee, 2015. "Service Quality, Size, And Performance Of Audit Firms: Consideration Of Market Segments And Business Strategies," The International Journal of Business and Finance Research, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 9(4), pages 51-66.
    5. Hua Zhang & Yuanyang Song & Yuan Ding, 2015. "What Drives Managerial Perks? An Empirical Test of Competing Theoretical Perspectives," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(2), pages 259-275, December.
    6. Chen, Peter F. & He, Shaohua & Ma, Zhiming & Stice, Derrald, 2016. "The information role of audit opinions in debt contracting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(1), pages 121-144.
    7. Inder K. Khurana & K. K. Raman, 2006. "Do Investors Care about the Auditor's Economic Dependence on the Client?," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(4), pages 977-1016, December.
    8. Xianjie He & Jeffrey Pittman & Oliver Rui, 2016. "Reputational Implications for Partners After a Major Audit Failure: Evidence from China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 138(4), pages 703-722, November.
    9. Jinghui Sun & Pamela Kent & Baolei Qi & Jiwei Wang, 2019. "Chief financial officer demographic characteristics and fraudulent financial reporting in China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 59(4), pages 2705-2734, December.
    10. Kuo, Nan-Ting & Li, Shu & Jin, Zhen, 2023. "Social trust and the demand for audit quality," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    11. Guangming Gong & Liang Xiao & Si Xu & Xun Gong, 2019. "Do Bond Investors Care About Engagement Auditors’ Negative Experiences? Evidence from China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(3), pages 779-806, September.
    12. María Consuelo Pucheta‐Martínez & Inmaculada Bel‐Oms & Lúcia Lima Rodrigues, 2019. "The engagement of auditors in the reporting of corporate social responsibility information," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(1), pages 46-56, January.
    13. Alhababsah, Salem & Alhaj-Ismail, Alaa, 2023. "Does shared tenure between audit committee chair and engagement partner affect audit outcomes? Evidence from the UK," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(2).
    14. Yahn-Shir Chen & Yi-Fang Yang & I-Ching Huang, 2021. "Effects Of Increased Competition On Smallsized Auditors In Taiwan: Fight Or Flight?," The International Journal of Business and Finance Research, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17.
    15. Yahn-Shir Chen & Enny Susilowati Mardjono & Yi-Fang Yang, 2020. "Competition and Sustainability: Evidence from Professional Service Organization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-15, September.
    16. Ruoran Xu & Joseph T. L. Ooi, 2018. "Good Growth, Bad Growth: How Effective are REITs’ Corporate Watchdogs?," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 64-86, July.
    17. Fladmoe-Lindquist, Karin, 1996. "International franchising: Capabilities and development," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 11(5), pages 419-438, September.
    18. Dechun Wang, 2006. "Founding Family Ownership and Earnings Quality," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(3), pages 619-656, June.
    19. Wen-Wen Chien & Roger W. Mayer & John T. Sennetti, 2010. "Audit Committee Effectiveness In The Largest Us Public Hospitals: An Empirical Study," Accounting & Taxation, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 2(1), pages 107-127.
    20. Steve Fortin & Jeffrey A. Pittman, 2007. "The Role of Auditor Choice in Debt Pricing in Private Firms," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(3), pages 859-896, September.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:3:p:1254-:d:318538. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.