International Journal of Finance & Managerial Accounting

International Journal of Finance & Managerial Accounting

The effect of the company's borrowing power on audit quality: Insurance Hypothesis Testing

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Ph.D Student, Department of accounting, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of accounting, Central Tehran branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran,
3 Associate Professor, Department of accounting, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
10.30495/ijfma.2025.77804.2147
Abstract
The Iranian audit market comparing with other countries, has very distinctive features audit market of Iran includes two public and private sectors. On the other hand, the financing system in the country mostly takes place through borrowing from banks, and evidences show that for receiving more loans, companies may change their auditor, or based on the insurance hypothesis and in order to transfer the risk of debt default to the auditor, look for reputable and high-quality audit institutes. Therefore, this can have many economic consequences for the auditor. The goal of the present research is to study the role of “Company’s borrowing power” on audit quality, in direction of Insurance Hypothesis Testing. Data collection method in theoretical basics section is library method. Statistical population of present research, is the companies listed to the stock exchange, from which a sample including 167 companies were chosen during the period of 12 years, between 2010 to 2021. Hypothesis of the research is tested based on multi-variable regression. Results of this research demonstrates that as the borrowing power of the company increases, the audit quality also increases. While confirming the role of insurance hypothesis in audit quality promotion, findings of this research can result in development and expansion of previous researches theoretical basics about audit quality.

  • Brahouyi Maryam; Hakimian Samira; Fallah Reza (2016), The role of accounting in resistance economy, article presented at International Conference of Management Elites
  • DeAngelo, L. (1981). Auditor size and audit quality. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 3, 297-322.
  • Church, B. K., Dai, N. T., Kuang, X., & Liu, X (2020). The role of auditor narcissism in auditor‐client negotiations: Evidence from China. Contemporary Accounting Research, 37(3), 1756-1787.
  • Corten, M., Steijvers, T., & Lybaert, N. (2018). Auditor choice in private firms: A stakeholders perspective. Managerial Auditing Journal, 33(2), 146–170
  • Fan, J. P., & Wong, T. J. (2005). Do external auditors perform a corporate governance role in emerging markets? Evidence from East Asia. Journal of accounting research43(1), 35-72.
  • Guizani, M. and Abdalkrim, G. (2022), "Ownership structure, board independence and auditor choice: evidence from GCC countries", Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 127-149. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAEE-06-2020-014
  • Hall, C.M., Hoffman, B.W. and Liu, Z. (2020), "Ownership structure and auditor selection", Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 35 No. 8, pp. 1121-1142. https://doi.org/10.1108/MAJ-07-2019-2360
  • Hardies, K., Breesch, D., & Branson, J. (2016). Do (fe)male auditors impair audit quality? Evidence from going‐concern opinions. European Accounting Review, 25(1), 7–34.
  • Holm, C., & Zaman, M. (2012). Regulating audit quality: Restoring trust and legitimacy. Accounting Forum, 36(1), 51–61.
  • Huang, X., & Kang, F. (2018). Company reputation and auditor choice: Evidence from Fortune 1000 companies. Accounting Research Journal, 31(2), 232–248
  • javadi, H., Hosseini, S. H., Hemmati, B., & Shokri, A. (2024). The effect of dark personality traits and individual accountability on auditors' skepticism and professional judgment. International Journal of Finance & Managerial Accounting, 9(35), 65-78. doi: 10.30495/ijfma.2022.66659.1828
  • Salehi, Tabandeh; Nazemi, Amin; Namazi, Navidreza (2022), composing the pattern of reducing the dumping in the first audit using the method of contextual theorizing. Accounting and audit researches, No. 54, 21- 38
  • Rakhshan, Mojahed; Zabihi Zarrinkalayi, Ali; Pouraghajan, Abbasali; (2024), Obstacles to improving audit quality with an emphasis on identifying faulty procedures, quarterly scientific journal of accounting and management audit knowledge, volume 13, issue 4, 387- 403
  • Rezaei, Marzieh; Fallah, Reza; Maranjouri, Mehdi; Rostami Mazouei, Nemat (2023), Evaluation of audit quality in the framework of analysis of organizational culture and professional ethics, quarterly scientific journal of accounting and management audit knowledge, volume 12, issue 4, consequent 48, 191- 210
  • Rezaeizadeh Molla, Ahmad; Ghafourian Shagerdi, Amir; (2022), Investigating the effect of market concentration, market share and auditor leadership distance, on audit quality, accounting, auditing and financing quarterly in the Islamic environment of Imam Reza University, Vol. 1, Issue 2.
  • Lotfijou, Nashmin; Banimahd, Bahman; Nikoumram, Hashem; Vakilifard Hamidreza (2023), The role of narcissism of the CEO of the employer in the selection of a female auditor; Stock Exchange Quarterly, an article submitted for publication.
  • Lam, B.M., Mo, P.L.L. and Rahman, M.J. (2024), "Secrecy culture, client importance, and auditor reporting behavior: an international study", Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/MAJ-11-2022-3763
  • Lee, HS., LNagy, A.L., Zimmerman , A.B., (2018) Audit partner assignments and audit quality in the United States , The Accounting Review 94 (2), 297-323
  • Maleki, Donya; Banimahd, Bahman; Vakilifard, Hamidreza (2022), The relationship between social dominance and moral indifference: evidence from the auditing profession, Value and Behavioral Accounting Quarterly Journal, Vol. 7, Issue 13, 200-221
  • Mohammadrezaei Fakhreddin; Faraji, Omid (2019), The mystery of auditing quality measurement in archival research: Criticism and providing suggestions for Iran's research environment, Quarterly Journal of Accounting and Auditing, 2019, Vol. 26, Issue 1, 87- 122
  • Mohammadrezaei Fakhreddin; Yaghoubnejad, Ahmad (2017), Size of audit institute and audit quality: Theoretical criticism, criticism of the research methodology and suggestions presentation, financial accounting and audit researches, (34) 9, 31- 59.
  • Mohammadrezaei Fakhreddin; Mehrbanpour, Mohammadreza (2016), The type of auditor's report and the number of audit paragraphs: the effect of the rating of the trusted auditing institutes of the Stock Exchange and Securities Organization, accounting knowledge and management auditing, (17) 5, 65- 77.
  • Magri, C. and Marchini, P.L. (2024), "Audit quality and debt restructuring: evidence from Italy", Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 39 No. 1, pp. 50-70. https://doi.org/10.1108/MAJ-01-2023-3794
  • Montenegro, T.M., Bras, F.A.,  (2015) Audit quality: does gender composition of audit firms matter?, Spanish Journal of Finance and Accounting  44:3, 264- 297
  • Nasirpour, Alireza; Jabarzadeh Kangarlouei, Saeid; Bahrisales, Jamal; Badavar Nahandi, Younes (2022), Identifying and ranking the aspects and components affecting the audit quality based on spirituality and moral atmosphere in the work environment using Delphi method and Shannon's entropy technique, Knowledge of Management Accounting and Auditing Scientific Research Quarterly, Vol. 11, Issue 4, repeated 44, 213- 230.
  • Niskanen, M., & Karjalainen, J. (2011). Auditor gender and corporate earnings management behavior in private Finnish firms. Managerial Auditing Journal.26(9),778-793
  • Rahman, M.J., Zhu, H. and Hossain, M.M. (2023), "Auditor choice and audit fees through the lens of agency theory: evidence from Chinese family firms", Journal of Family Business Management, Vol. 13 No. 4, pp. 1248-1276. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFBM-02-2023-0027
  • Wallace, W. (1980). The economic role of the audit in free and regulated markets. Open Educational Resources 2. Retrieved from https:// scholarworks.wm.edu/oer/2.