This paper examines how auditor choice affects the quality of firms’ internal accounting systems.
Before 2011, all Norwegian firms were required to undergo an annual external audit. Since 2011,
however, small firms have been allowed not to be audited (to “opt out”). The Norwegian
Directorate of Taxes (NDT) conducted inspections of 2,117 small Norwegian firms that were
eligible to opt out; some of these firms opted out, while others did not. These inspections were
conducted in 2012 and 2013 and covered the years immediately before and after the opt-out law
was passed. These inspections focused on the quality of these firms’ internal accounting systems.
We use the data from these inspections to construct a measure of the quality of firms’ internal
accounting systems. We examine whether those firms that get rid of their auditor (“opt-out
firms”) experience a decline in accounting-system quality relative to those firms that keep their
auditor (“audited firms”).
Our dataset has two novel features. The first is the inspection data from the NDT. The
inspections were thorough (each inspection took on average 3.5 days) and done by qualified tax
inspectors. In addition, the inspected firms were chosen to ensure generalizability of the findings.
The second is that for the sample of small Norwegian firms we analyze, auditors often help these
firms maintain their internal accounting systems. In many cases, auditors inspect the internal
controls and internal accounting systems of their client companies, taking as a given the controls
and accounting systems the company has in place. The small firms we analyze, however,
sometimes lack the internal expertise necessary to set up and maintain high-quality internal
accounting systems. Hence, auditors can use their expertise in this area to assist the firm. This
institutional detail allows us to identify a mechanism by which auditors potentially can improve
the quality of a firm’s accounting information – namely, by helping these small firms maintain
กระดาษนี้จะตรวจสอบวิธีการทางเลือกของผู้สอบบัญชีมีผลต่อคุณภาพของ บริษัท ที่' ก่อนปี This paper examines how auditor choice affects the quality of firms’ internal accounting systems.
Before 2011, all Norwegian firms were required to undergo an annual external audit. Since 2011,
however, small firms have been allowed not to be audited (to “opt out”). The Norwegian
Directorate of Taxes (NDT) conducted inspections of 2,117 small Norwegian firms that were
eligible to opt out; some of these firms opted out, while others did not. These inspections were
conducted in 2012 and 2013 and covered the years immediately before and after the opt-out law
was passed. These inspections focused on the quality of these firms’ internal accounting systems.
We use the data from these inspections to construct a measure of the quality of firms’ internal
accounting systems. We examine whether those firms that get rid of their auditor (“opt-out
firms”) experience a decline in accounting-system quality relative to those firms that keep their
auditor (“audited firms”).
Our dataset has two novel features. The first is the inspection data from the NDT. The
inspections were thorough (each inspection took on average 3.5 days) and done by qualified tax
inspectors. In addition, the inspected firms were chosen to ensure generalizability of the findings.
The second is that for the sample of small Norwegian firms we analyze, auditors often help these
firms maintain their internal accounting systems. In many cases, auditors inspect the internal
controls and internal accounting systems of their client companies, taking as a given the controls
and accounting systems the company has in place. The small firms we analyze, however,
sometimes lack the internal expertise necessary to set up and maintain high-quality internal
accounting systems. Hence, auditors can use their expertise in this area to assist the firm. This
institutional detail allows us to identify a mechanism by which auditors potentially can improve
the quality of a firm’s accounting information – namely, by helping these small firms maintain
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