ABSTRACT: We examine the impact of adverse auditors’ opinions on clients’ internal
control over financial reporting ICFR, issued under SOX Section 404, on auditor dismissals.
Companies receiving adverse ICFR opinions are more likely to subsequently
dismiss their auditors. This association between adverse reports and dismissals persists
over a four-year period beginning with the initial year of SOX 404 reporting. Our
evidence also suggests that these dismissals tend to be part of clients’ efforts to improve
their overall financial reporting. Clients receiving adverse reports are more likely
to switch to higher-quality auditors, as proxied by Big 4 membership and two measures
of industry specialization, than are clients receiving favorable reports. Further, adverse
opinion clients that dismiss auditors and then hire new auditors that specialize in the
client’s industry are more likely to receive an improved ICFR report in the next year.
Keywords: auditor realignments; dismissals; internal control; SOX Section 404;
remediation.
JEL Classifications: M420.