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Determinants of voluntary audit and voluntary full accounts in micro- and non-micro small companies in the UK

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  • Jill Collis

Abstract

This study investigates the link between the auditing and filing choices made by a sample of 592 small private companies, which includes 419 micro-companies. It examines decisions made in connection with the 2006 accounts following UK's adoption of the maximum EU size thresholds in 2004, and the impact of the proposed Directive on the annual accounts of micro-companies. The research extends the model of cost, management and agency factors associated with voluntary audit, and develops a complementary model for voluntary full accounts. The results show the benefits of placing full audited accounts on public record that outweigh the costs for a significant proportion of companies. In non-micro small companies, voluntary audit is determined by cost and agency factors, whereas in micro-companies it is driven by cost, management and agency factors. In both groups, the predictors of voluntary full accounts include management and agency factors, and choosing voluntary audit is one of the key factors. The study provides models that can be tested in other jurisdictions to provide evidence of the needs of micro-companies, and the discussion of the methodological challenges for small company researchers in the UK makes further contribution to the literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Jill Collis, 2012. "Determinants of voluntary audit and voluntary full accounts in micro- and non-micro small companies in the UK," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(4), pages 441-468, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:acctbr:v:42:y:2012:i:4:p:441-468
    DOI: 10.1080/00014788.2012.667969
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    Cited by:

    1. Ole-Kristian Hope & Shushu Jiang & Dushyantkumar Vyas, 2021. "Government procurement and financial statement certification: Evidence from private firms in emerging economies," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(4), pages 718-745, June.
    2. Lin, Hsiao-Lun & Yen, Ai-Ru, 2017. "Determinants and market valuation of the decision to audit or review: Evidence from Taiwan," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(3), pages 209-224.
    3. Maarten Corten & Tensie Steijvers & Nadine Lybaert, 2015. "The demand for auditor services in wholly family-owned private firms: the moderating role of generation," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(1), pages 1-26, January.
    4. Elisabeth Dedman & Asad Kausar & Clive Lennox, 2014. "The Demand for Audit in Private Firms: Recent Large-Sample Evidence from the UK," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(1), pages 1-23, May.
    5. Alkhatib, Esra'a & Ojala, Hannu & Collis, Jill, 2019. "Determinants of the voluntary adoption of digital reporting by small private companies to Companies House: Evidence from the UK," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 1-1.
    6. Aase, Øivind André, 2022. "Size Management in Response to Mandatory Audit Rules," Discussion Papers 2022/2, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Business and Management Science.
    7. Mertzanis, Charilaos & Marashdeh, Hazem & Houcine, Asma, 2024. "Do financing constraints affect the financial integrity of firms?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 220-240.
    8. Ann Vanstraelen & Caren Schelleman, 2017. "Auditing private companies: what do we know?," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(5), pages 565-584, July.
    9. Michael Minnis & Nemit Shroff, 2017. "Why regulate private firm disclosure and auditing?," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(5), pages 473-502, July.
    10. Stefanie Ceustermans & Diane Breesch & Joël Branson, 2017. "Voluntary Disclosure of Sales and the Extent of Trade Credit in Small Private Companies," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(3), pages 388-406, September.
    11. Corten, Maarten & Steijvers, Tensie & Lybaert, Nadine, 2017. "The effect of intrafamily agency conflicts on audit demand in private family firms: The moderating role of the board of directors," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 8(1), pages 13-28.
    12. Huq, Asif & Hartwig, Fredrik & Rudholm, Niklas, 2018. "Do audited firms have lower cost of debt?," HUI Working Papers 132, HUI Research.
    13. Karen Handley & Sue Wright & Elaine Evans, 2018. "SME Reporting in Australia: Where to Now for Decision†usefulness?," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 28(2), pages 251-265, June.
    14. Farah Saerens & Stefanie Ceustermans, 2021. "Abbreviated or Micro-Entity Accounts? Effect of Financial Reporting Format on the Availability of Trade Credit," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-18, July.
    15. Palazuelos Cobo, Estefanía & Montoya del Corte, Javier & Herrero Crespo, Ángel, 2017. "Determinantes de la continuidad en la contratación de la auditoría de forma voluntaria: evidencia para el caso de España," Revista de Contabilidad - Spanish Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 63-72.
    16. Elina Haapamäki, 2018. "Voluntary Auditing: A Synthesis of the Literature," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 81-104, January.

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