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Big 4 auditors, bank earnings management and financial crisis in Africa

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  • Ozili, Peterson Kitakogelu

Abstract

This paper examines whether African banks audited by a Big 4 auditor use loan loss provisions for earnings management purposes before, during and after the global financial crisis. It focuses on income smoothing as a type of earnings management. Using bank data from 21 African countries from 2002 to 2014, the results show that African banks audited by a Big 4 auditor use loan loss provisions to smooth income and the incentive to smooth income is greater during recessionary periods. Also, African banks audited by a Big 4 auditor use income smoothing to lower high earnings during the financial crisis and in the pre-financial crisis period but not in the post-financial crisis period.

Suggested Citation

  • Ozili, Peterson Kitakogelu, 2021. "Big 4 auditors, bank earnings management and financial crisis in Africa," MPRA Paper 108608, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:108608
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Loan loss provision; banks; audit quality; Big 4 auditor; income smoothing; financial crisis; earnings management; economic cycles; recession; earnings smoothing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • M00 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - General - - - General
    • M40 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - General
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting
    • M42 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Auditing
    • M48 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • M49 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Other

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