The reliability of financial reporting is also due, in part, to the independence and
integrity of the audit process. Audit committees are responsible for recommending the
selection of external auditors to the board, ensuring the soundness and quality of
internal accounting and control practices, and monitoring external auditor
independence from management. Empirical evidence generally supports the positive
effect of independent audit committees. For example, Carcello and Neal (2000)
document a relation between greater audit committee independence and the quality of
financial reporting. Similarly, Xie et al. (2003) report a negative association between
earnings management and the independence of audit committees