Several prior studies document that a higher auditor quality (auditor size, industry specialization and tenure) mitigate the accruals earnings management (Becker et al. 1998; Johnson et al. 2002; Krishnan 2003; Balsam et al. 2003; Myers et al. 2003). But, fewer researches indicate that the higher audit quality enhance the real earnings management. Chi et al. (2011) investigate the relation between audit quality and real earnings management and find that both auditor industry expertise and the presence of a Big N audit firm are associated with greater real earnings management. They argue that, as increased audit scrutiny may decrease a firm’s accounting flexibility, firms audited by Big N are likely to resort to the more costly real earnings management. Similarly, Cohen and Zarowin (2010) find that both auditor tenure and the presence of Big N auditors are associated with greater probability of using real earnings management.
Industry specialization and earnings management
Auditor tenure and earnings management