Audit Quality And Accrual Reliability: Evidence From The Korean Stock Market

Abstract

This study empirically investigates whether a high-quality audit improves the reliability of the components of total accruals using earnings persistence and cash flow predictability. I find that, for firms audited by Big Four auditors, their current or noncurrent assets-related accruals, which are less reliable (“more subjective in measurement”), lead to higher earnings persistence and future cash flow predictability than those of firms audited by non-Big Four auditors. These results suggest that high-quality auditors more effectively evaluate the reasonableness of accrual measurement based on more sufficient and appropriate audit evidence, leading to enhanced accrual reliability.