Key research themes
1. How do audit firm characteristics influence audit quality and client perceptions?
This research area investigates how intrinsic attributes of audit firms—such as size, industry specialization, tenure, fees, brand reputation, and internal governance practices—affect audit quality outcomes and how clients perceive audit services. It assesses measurable audit quality through proxy variables like audit fees, KAM readability, fraud constraints, and client retention, emphasizing the interplay between audit firm capabilities and stakeholder expectations.
2. What are the governance and oversight roles of audit committees in relation to internal auditing and audit quality?
This theme focuses on the interplay between audit committees and internal audit functions, exploring how committee characteristics such as expertise, tenure, and diligence influence internal audit investment and overall audit quality. It also investigates the practical versus theoretical roles of audit committees in governance, emphasizing how real-world committee dynamics affect audit oversight effectiveness.
3. How are audit quality and auditor independence affected by reputational economics, regulatory frameworks, and market dynamics?
This cross-cutting area examines the ‘dark side’ of audit provision where private auditor incentives may conflict with public interest despite reputational concerns. It includes analyses of regulatory reforms (e.g., EU law, PCAOB inspections), auditor-client relationships, and market-structural factors influencing audit independence, fraud detection, and quality control in various legal and economic contexts.