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Article
Auditor Style and Financial Statement Comparability
Accounting Review
  • Jere R. Francis, University of Missouri
  • Matthew L. Pinnuck, The University of Melbourne
  • Olena Watanabe, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
3-1-2014
DOI
10.2308/accr-50642
Abstract

The term “audit style” is used to characterize the unique set of internal working rules of each Big 4 audit firm for the implementation of auditing standards and the enforcement of GAAP within their clienteles. Audit style implies that two companies audited by the same Big 4 auditor, subject to the same audit style, are more likely to have comparable earnings than two firms audited by two different Big 4 firms with different styles. By comparable we mean that two firms in the same industry and year will have a more similar accruals and earnings structure. For a sample of U.S. companies for the period 1987 to 2011, we find evidence consistent with audit style increasing the comparability of reported earnings within a Big 4 auditor's clientele.

Comments

This accepted article is published as Jere R. Francis, Matthew L. Pinnuck, and Olena Watanabe (2014) Auditor Style and Financial Statement Comparability. The Accounting Review: March 2014, Vol. 89, No. 2, pp. 605-633. Doi: 10.2308/accr-50642. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
American Accounting Association
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Jere R. Francis, Matthew L. Pinnuck and Olena Watanabe. "Auditor Style and Financial Statement Comparability" Accounting Review Vol. 89 Iss. 2 (2014) p. 605 - 633
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/olena-watanabe/6/