
doi: 10.2139/ssrn.2344052
Using audit firm size measured by audit firm revenues, the number of offices, and professional headcounts, we find that audit firm size measured as continuous variable is positively associated with engagement-level audit quality proxied by discretionary accruals and modified opinions, and is also positively associated with audit fees. The Big 4 audit firms differ considerably in size and their size also measured by revenues, the number of offices, and professional headcounts is significantly associated with the audit quality and audit fee differences across Big 4 auditors. However, we find only limited evidence of the hypothesized relation between associate-to-partner ratio (i.e., human capital leverage) and audit quality, and find no evidence that associate-to-partner ratio is associated with audit fees.
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 10 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
