2017B06 - How is auditor commercialism related to audit quality and efficiency? (Prof. Ciconte)

What?

This study will (1) examine whether a tradeoff actually exists between auditors’ commercial and professional motivations and (2) whether audit firms’ quality control mechanisms create conditions in which the two sets of motivations are (or can be) even mutually reinforcing.

Why?

Stakeholders to the auditing process have frequently asserted that there is a fundamental conflict between auditors’ professional obligations and commercial interests, i.e., auditing as a profession versus auditing as a business – fueling regulatory and standard-setting interventions. The study may very well contribute to the demystification of current perceptions of (partners’ and firms’) focus on commercialism versus professionalism (or regulatory focus on quality over the firms’ business model).

Knowledge dissemination

Literature review: How is auditor commercialism related to audit quality and efficiency? (July 2019)

Practice Note: How is auditor commercialism related to audit quality? (July 2019)

FAR 2022 Conference presentation

FAR 2022 Conference visual recording

Online FAR Masterclass by prof. William Ciconte on "How is auditor commercialism related to audit quality and efficiency?"

FAR Working Paper 2024/05 - 27: Where does the time go? Auditors’ commercial effort, professional effort, and audit quality

Publication JAR 17-08-2024