Accounting Commons^™

Prior Audit Experience And Cfo Financial Reporting Aggressiveness, Eric R. Condie, Kara M. Obermire, Timothy Seidel, Michael S. Wilkins

Faculty Publications

In this study, we investigate the financial reporting behavior of chief financial officers (CFOs) with significant prior audit experience. Our tests indicate that, on average, CFOs who were former audit managers or partners report less aggressively than CFOs without prior audit experience. Thus, the mindset that auditors develop during their time in public accounting – which should value objective, transparent, and conservative financial reporting – appears to persist when auditors take high-level positions in industry. However, we also find that the reporting behavior of prior-auditor CFOs becomes more aggressive over time as the salience of their audit experience decays. Further, …

Perceptions Of Tone At The Top From The Inside: Insights Into Audit Pricing, Jace Garrett, Rani Hoitash, Douglas F. Prawitt

Faculty Publications

Tone at the top plays an important role in entities’ internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) and in auditors’ planning and risk assessment decisions. Using a novel measure based on employee perceptions, we find that strong tone at the top is associated with reduced audit pricing and that this relation holds even for firms that report effective ICFR. This relation is stronger when employees’ tone perceptions are more consistent throughout the organization, when accounting is more complex, and when earnings manipulation risk is higher. We also find that strong tone is negatively associated with the incidence of reported material weaknesses …

Issues Related To The Assessment Of The Effectiveness Of Management Review Controls: Roundtable Summary, Douglas F. Prawitt

Faculty Publications

The Center for Audit Quality and the Financial Education & Research Foundation(FERF) of Financial Executives International (FEI) commissioned John Fogarty, Mark Beasley and Doug Prawitt to conduct an independent qualitative research study on Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICFR) management review controls (MRCs), Perspectives on Management Review Controls: Challenges and Solutions (the Research Report). The research focused on subjective, judgmentbased MRCs. Through a series of detailed, semistructured interviews with preparers – in particular the control owners and control performers – the researchers gathered perspectives on how management determines what constitutes effective design, precision, implementation, execution and documentation of MRCs. The …

The Effects Of Pornography On Unethical Behavior In Business, Nathan W. Mecham, Melissa F. Lewis-Western, David A. Wood

Faculty Publications

Pornography is no longer an activity confined to a small group of individuals or the privacy of one’s home. Rather, it has permeated modern culture, including the work environment. Given the pervasive nature of pornography, we study how viewing pornography affects unethical behavior at work. Using survey data from a sample that approximates a nationally representative sample in terms of demographics, we find a positive correlation between viewing pornography and intended unethical behavior. We then conduct an experiment to provide causal evidence. The experiment confirms the survey—consuming pornography causes individuals to be less ethical. We find that this relationship is …

Archival Evidence On The Audit Process: Determinants And Consequences Of Interim Effort*, Brant E. Christensen, Nathan J. Newton, Michael S. Wilkins

Faculty Publications

Using proprietary data from a global accounting firm, we investigate the determinants of auditors’ interim effort as well as the impact of interim effort on audit quality, client disclosure timeliness, audit hours, and audit fees. Public statements from accounting firms and regulators suggest various benefits from accelerating auditor effort, but these claims remain largely untested. We find that interim effort is higher for large, complex clients that require integrated audits of both financial statements and internal control over financial reporting. With respect to consequences, we find that allocating relatively more work to the interim period is associated with a reduced …

Surrogation Fundamentals: Measurement And Cognition, Paul Black, Thomas Meservy, William B. Tayler, Jeffrey O. Williams

Faculty Publications

Measurement is a fundamental part of accounting. A primary purpose of measurement is to provide more concrete representations of abstract strategic objectives. A potential consequence of using measures to proxy for less-tangible strategic constructs is the tendency for managers to fall prey to surrogation, losing sight of strategic constructs and behaving as though measures are the constructs of interest. We show that surrogation is a nonconscious process. We also extend understanding of the conditions necessary for surrogation to occur by showing that mere awareness of measurement (even absent compensation) is sufficient to induce surrogation. These findings have implications for any …

Do We Matter? The Attention Policy Makers, Academics, And The General Public Give To Accounting Research, F. Greg Burton, Scott L. Summers, T. Jeffrey Wilks, David A. Wood

Faculty Publications

Many question the value of accounting scholarship to society. We compared the attention the general public, policy makers, and academics give to academic accounting research relative to other business disciplines and other more general disciplines (economics, psychology, and other sciences). The results indicate that accounting research receives significantly less attention from the general public than all other disciplines and also performs relatively poorly in receiving policy makers’ attention compared to both economics and finance. Articles in other disciplines’ elite journals cite relatively little of accounting’s elite-level publications, but non-elite journal articles cite accounting research in similar numbers to other disciplines. …

Prepare For Takeoff: Improving Asset Measurement And Audit Quality With Drone-Enabled Inventory Audit Procedures, Margaret H. Christ, Scott A. Emett, Scott L. Summers, David A. Wood

Faculty Publications

Auditors increasingly employ technologies to improve audit quality. Using a design science approach, we examine whether using drones and automated counting software can improve audit quality and thereby improve financial reporting. We assess three dimensions of audit quality—efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of audit documentation. We provide evidence that auditors can perform inventory counts with these technologies much more efficiently than they can with manual techniques, decreasing count time in our study from 681 hours to 19 hours. At the same time, auditors can maintain or improve audit effectiveness with these technologies, decreasing error rates in our study from 0.15% to …

New Frontiers For Internal Audit Research, Margaret H. Christ, Marc Eulerich, Ronja Krane, David A. Wood

Faculty Publications

Internal audit provides useful and valuable services to organizations and research has established its importance in improving corporate governance. However, the body of internal audit research is still small. Further, there are many new and emerging topics for which little is known and practitioners would like guidance. Based on surveys, interviews, and discussions with practitioners, we identify three broad areas for additional research: information technology, staffing and personnel development, and agile auditing. In each area, we describe the current practices and discuss the relevant accounting literature, noting gaps where additional inquiry is needed. We also provide a list of testable …

Anonymous Equity Research, Travis Dyer, Eunjee Kim

Faculty Publications

Crowdsourced financial information platforms often allow content contributors to publish equity research anonymously. This study examines whether investors value or discount information in anonymous equity research. In the short window around research releases, we find that investors’ stock price reaction to anonymous research is muted in comparison to nonanonymous research. Consistent with credibility concerns influencing investor response, we document that this discount to anonymous research dissipates as the monitoring of content contributors intensifies and as authors develop a reputation for high-quality reporting. In addition, we perform a content analysis on the research reports and find that the muted market reaction …

Does Visibility Of An Engagement Partner’S Association With Recent Client Restatements Increase Fee Pressures From Non-Restating Clients?, Wuchun Chi, Ling Lei Lisic, Linda A. Myers, Mikhail Pevzner, Timothy Seidel

Faculty Publications

We examine whether engagement partners who have recently been associated with client restatements experience increased audit fee pressures from their non-restating clients. Using data from the United States (U.S.) and Taiwan, we find evidence of lower audit fees among non-restating companies whose audit engagement partner was recently associated with another client’s restatement. These findings are generally strongest when the partner-associated restatement is more prominent or severe, and in the U.S., when non-restating clients are in the same industry as the restating client. Although we find very limited evidence that fee pressures lead to lower quality audits for these partners’ other …

Determinants And Consequences Of Noncompliance With The 2013 Coso Framework, Kunsu Park, Juan Qin, Timothy Seidel, Jian Zhou

Faculty Publications

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires firms to use a ‘‘suitable framework” as a basis for evaluating the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. The COSO 1992 framework was the most commonly used suitable framework until it was superseded by the COSO 2013 framework. Because strict compliance with the updated framework was not enforced by regulatory authorities, a nontrivial number of firms did not comply in a timely fashion. We investigate determinants and consequences of noncompliance with the COSO 2013 framework following the supersession of the COSO 1992 framework. We find that noncompliance is positively associated with proxies …

Beyond Borders: Uncertainty In Supragovernmental Tax Enforcement And Corporate Investment, Zackery D. Fox, Martin Jacob, Jaron H. Wilde, Ryan J. Wilson

Faculty Publications

Amid growing globalization, many countries have offered tax incentives to attract corporate investment. Prior research studies the role such incentives play in firms’ location and investment choices. However, we have limited evidence on the role that uncertainty about the intensity of future tax enforcement plays in those decisions. In 2013, the European Commission (“E.C.”) abruptly began investigating tax ruling practices of several countries in response to allegations that certain firms received preferential tax treatment (“state aid cases”). We use this setting to study the economic consequences of increased uncertainty about future tax enforcement. We find evidence consistent with significant reductions …

Environmental Awareness Is Leading To A Troubling Future For The Airline Industry, Ashlyn K. Unga

Marriott Student Review

Global warming is not only causing climatic temperatures to rise— it is also heating up the socio-political scene across the globe. Caught in the crossfire is the airline industry, targeted by environmental activists who categorize flight as an unnecessary mode of travel. As this movement gains traction, how will air fare in this age of flight-shaming? Ashlyn Unga explores anticipated governmental regulations and measures the airline industry must take as a result of this movement.

Podcast Review: Amy Antonelli On Vision And Purpose, Mckayla Lindman

Marriott Student Review

A review of Amy Antonelli's podcast.

Book Review - Contagious: Why Things Catch On, Christy Swatling

Marriott Student Review

In his New York Times Bestseller, Contagious: Why Things Catch On, Jonah Berger delves into what makes products and ideas go viral. Through hundreds of intriguing and sometimes jaw-dropping stories, Berger identifies six key components to make everything—from a YouTube video to a new tech gadget—become contagious.

Putt Yourself Out There! Golf As An Upper Hand In The Business World, Allysha M. Mateo

Marriott Student Review

Most everyone is aware that networking and relationship building hold the keys to success within the business world. But just how are these networks so carefully cultivated? Recent statistics suggest that golf is a major player in cutting behind-the-scenes business deals. Approximately 90% of Fortune 500 CEOs play golf, and executives who play golf earn 17% more than those who don’t. Golf is a networking tool available to virtually anyone: the old and young, male and female, athletic and unathletic alike. It aids in building relationships with clients, customers, vendors, and colleagues, simultaneously advancing the golfer’s career and helping to …

Buzzwords: Jargon That Will Keep You Going Throughout The Year, Sarah Romney

Marriott Student Review

Five buzzwords including advertainment, "go live," pivot, customer journey, and mashup.

Learning From The Swiss, Aubrey Wright

Marriott Student Review

The trades are in trouble. With less students choosing a vocational education, the United States is facing a rapidly growing gap in skilled vocational labor. The answer: the mighty apprenticeship program, courtesy of the Swiss. The Swiss model of apprenticeships help the bottom line of companies. It also trains students for promising careers. By taking clues from the Swiss, the US can begin solving its vocational trade woes.

Fashion Copycats And Copyright Law, Rowena Natasha

Marriott Student Review

Is fashion an art? Or a utilitarian part of our life? Thanks to US copyright laws, "fast fashion" companies like H&M and Zara are making windfall gains by copying new designs, even at the expense of small start-ups. But don't start writing legislation yet. Without "fashion copycats" making affordable yet trendy products, the fashion industry would be left dependent on a small-pool of upper-class consumers.

Building Information Modeling: Risks, Benefits, And Trends In Construction, Tanner Duron

Marriott Student Review

Welcome to the information age. Building Information Technology (BIM) offers the construction industry a way to manage everything, from sourcing to construction to maintenance. BIM has significant risks, but also boasts enough benefits to make every firm in the AEC industry ready to start integrating its use. As digital natives, it is up to the rising generation of workers to spearhead the wide-spread use of BIM.

Interior Design In The Workplace, Bryce Cindrich

Marriott Student Review

While people generally spend much of their time in their home, time spent in the workplace is usually a close second. Why should people care less about how their office is set up than their home? A well-designed interior at the workplace can help promote employee productivity and support their well-being, build a sense of community, improve team collaboration, and attract and retain talent.

Editor's Letter: Expectations

Marriott Student Review

This issue of Marriott Student Review (MSR) is all about developing greater expectations for the future, finding new ways of accomplishing our dreams, and fostering relationships, even in the digital world of Zoom and Team meetings. Even though our expectations have been unexpectedly altered, in the end, the shape of our lives may be ultimately better.

Mindfulness: A Promising Practice To Reduce Accountant Stress, Abigail Anderson

Marriott Student Review

This article considers the practice of mindfulness as an approach to reduce stress within the lives of accountants. Mindfulness has existed for centuries as a Buddhist tradition and has only recently become popular in the Western world as a stress-reduction technique that can lead to improved mental and emotional well-being. This article also examines the prevalence of mindfulness within the Top 10 accounting firms in the United States and some results regarding employee performance. As more and more firms begin to utilize mindfulness as a low-cost method to better employee performance and well-being, university accounting programs should consider incorporating the …

The Problem With Government Bailouts, Nathan Scott

Marriott Student Review

Americans are told to have 6 months of expenses saved for difficult times, but businesses are told not to worry; the government will take care of them. Past bailouts have set a nasty precedent that must change; government bailouts need reform if they are to continue in the future.

The Slow Death Of The Nonprofit Sector And How To Stop It In Three Steps, Taylor S. Mcpheeters

Marriott Student Review

What is happening to the nonprofit sector?

Taylor McPheeters explores the nonprofit Starvation Cycle—the eventual downfall of the nonprofit sector—and what you can do to end the cycle before it's too late.

Values Create Values, Chase M. Geertsen

Marriott Student Review

The days of companies focusing solely on maximizing shareholder value are over. In today's world, profitable companies create value by meeting the needs of their stakeholders.

Internships Shape Students' Future Career, Maria F. Arrayan

Marriott Student Review

Finding an internship has been more difficult than before due to COVID-19. For many, the search for an internship may be frustrating or pointless during this difficult time. Students need to empower themselves with the right tools to find an internship. Maria Fernanda Arrayan talks about the benefits of an internship and four ways to find one. Read this article to find motivation in your search for an internship and try a new way to find your next internship!

Go Green: Make Green, Sam Montague

Marriott Student Review

While cost might seem like an obstacle to some, adopting sustainable practices can turn out to be profitable for most companies. Recent research find positive correlation between business efforts and the consumer response, showcase direct benefits to the business, and provide suggestions to put the findings into practice.

Specialization: Do Your Job Well Helping Students Who Are Considering A Career In Programming Know How To Invest Their Time., Scott Pulley

Marriott Student Review

The article examines the effects of specialization on the hiring process for undergraduates studying programming whether in information systems or computer science.