Audit Costs and Corporate Governance
The service provided by an independent audit is essential to the greater transparency and reliability of the financial reporting of public
companies. The topics explored in the international literature include possible threats to the auditors' independence and the quality of their
analysis, the cost of their services and their relationship with corporate governance mechanisms. The present study investigates this topic
in the Brazilian context. This has become possible following CVM Instruction No. 480, which obligates the disclosure of the costs of audit
and non-audit services contracted to independent audit firms. The information provided by 131 companies in the first half of 2010 was
analyzed to determine the relationship between corporate governance and audit and non-audit service costs. The proxies for governance
that were used are given as follows: the five largest shareholders rights mismatch, the participation in premium listing segments of the Brazilian
Securities, Commodities, and Futures Exchange (Bolsa de Mercadoria e Futuros e Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo - BM&FBovespa),
the existence of an audit committee and an internal audit department. The results point to a negative relationship between governance and
audit costs, which suggests that the risk effect is predominant in the Brazilian market; that is, better governance practices reduce external
audit’s risks (legal and loss of reputation), thereby allowing them to charge less. Most studies in the international literature show a positive
relationship in favor of the demand effect, but this is not consensual. According to this effect, better governance implies greater demands
on the audit service, resulting in an increase in the fees charged. The relationship between non-audit service costs and good governance
practices is also negative. Although studies have not shown that these costs can contribute to the loss of independence of the external audit,
legislators and regulators tend to limit this practice.
Audit Costs and Corporate Governance
The service provided by an independent audit is essential to the greater transparency and reliability of the financial reporting of public
companies. The topics explored in the international literature include possible threats to the auditors' independence and the quality of their
analysis, the cost of their services and their relationship with corporate governance mechanisms. The present study investigates this topic
in the Brazilian context. This has become possible following CVM Instruction No. 480, which obligates the disclosure of the costs of audit
and non-audit services contracted to independent audit firms. The information provided by 131 companies in the first half of 2010 was
analyzed to determine the relationship between corporate governance and audit and non-audit service costs. The proxies for governance
that were used are given as follows: the five largest shareholders rights mismatch, the participation in premium listing segments of the Brazilian
Securities, Commodities, and Futures Exchange (Bolsa de Mercadoria e Futuros e Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo - BM&FBovespa),
the existence of an audit committee and an internal audit department. The results point to a negative relationship between governance and
audit costs, which suggests that the risk effect is predominant in the Brazilian market; that is, better governance practices reduce external
audit’s risks (legal and loss of reputation), thereby allowing them to charge less. Most studies in the international literature show a positive
relationship in favor of the demand effect, but this is not consensual. According to this effect, better governance implies greater demands
on the audit service, resulting in an increase in the fees charged. The relationship between non-audit service costs and good governance
practices is also negative. Although studies have not shown that these costs can contribute to the loss of independence of the external audit,
legislators and regulators tend to limit this practice.
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