This study investigates the impact of CLERP 9 on auditor
independence and audit quality. Audit quality is measured by
performance-adjusted discretionary accruals and the auditor’s
propensity to issue a going-concern opinion for a financially
distressed company. The results show a significant and
positive association between auditor-provided non-audit
services (NAS) fees and the propensity to issue a going-concern
opinion for a financially distressed company post-CLERP 9,
but an insignificant association pre-CLERP 9. The results show
a significant and positive association between NAS fees and
the performance-adjusted absolute value of discretionary
accruals pre-CLERP 9, but this significant association was
mitigated by the introduction of CLERP 9. To address the
potential impact of the level of abnormal NAS fees on auditor
independence, the analysis is extended by incorporating
predictions of abnormal NAS fees. Abnormal NAS fees are
significantly and negatively associated with the propensity to
issue a going-concern opinion for a financially distressed
company and positively associated with discretionary accruals
pre-CLERP 9, but they are not significant post-CLERP 9. The
results provide evidence of improved audit quality after the
implementation of CLERP 9. The results will be useful to
regulators for the justification of regulatory changes. The
findings provide evidence of the effectiveness of regulatory
changes, specifically the CLERP 9, on the improvement of
auditor independence and audit quality.