文章基本信息

标题：Audit Fees and Auditor Changes After the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
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作者：A. Elaine Eikner ; Roselyn E. Morris ; Janet B. Butler 等
期刊名称：B Quest
电子版ISSN：1084-3981
出版年度：2006
出版社：Richards College of Business, University of West Georgia
摘要：This exploratory study takes a first step in examining whether changes have occurred in the auditing industry since the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (S-O). We discuss prior research on determinants of audit fees and auditor changes, and the changes in the nature and dollar amount of fees earned by public accounting firms is examined. Auditor changes that have occurred since 2002 are summarized, and evidence of a shift from large audit firms to smaller, regional firms is sought. Research prior to the passage of the S-O suggests that factors such as loss exposure, loss sharing ratios, and the auditor’s production function are important in determining audit fees. The sweeping changes implemented by S-O, including mandated limitations on the services that audit firms can offer to audit clients and closer scrutiny of internal controls, have potentially changed these historical relationships. S-O also has the potential to influence auditor changes through increased regulations thatmay give rise to more disputes between clients and auditors. The need for more specialized audit services and the desire to minimize audit fees may make client firms more or less likely to change auditors than previously observed. The findings of this study suggest that average audit fees have increased markedly since 2001, while mean non-audit consulting fees earned from audit clients have dropped. A review of data included in the Audit Analytics™ database also suggests that the percentage of audits being conducted by the largest four public accounting firms is dropping, at least among some categories of clients.