Hypothesis development SOX was the impetus for a stream of research examining the determinants and impact of internal control quality. The presence of MWs in internal control is associated with lower quality accruals; for example, Doyle et al. (2007b) find that MWs are generally associated with accruals that are not realized as cash flows, while Ashbaugh-Skaife et al. (2008) find that companies who remediated previously reported internal control deficiencies exhibit an increase in accrual quality. Recognizing the risk associated with internal control deficiencies, the market places lower credibility on the financial reporting of companies disclosing internal control problems. Consistent with this view, Hammersley et al. (2008) and Beneish et al. (2008) document negative abnormal returns to Section 302 MW announcements,4 and Ashbaugh-Skaife et al. (2009) find that internal control weaknesses lead to higher cost of capital.5 To the extent that MWs in internal control negatively impact equity value, they have adverse wealth implications for executives. Consequently, as their equity incentives increase we expect that management desires higher internal control quality.