Audit Committee Effectiveness and Earnings Management Among Publicly Listed Firms in Kenya
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Abstract
Objective: The paper sought to investigate the role of an effective audit committee in controlling earnings management practices.
Design / Methodology: A panel data sourced from the audited financial reports of firms listed at the Kenyan Nairobi Securities Exchange for the periods between 2004 and 2017 were analyzed using a panel regression model.
Findings: Audit committee effectiveness proved an important monitoring mechanism for earnings management. The independence, Meeting frequency, and financial expertise of the audit committee evidenced a negative and significant effect on earnings management.
Practical Implications: Firms need to ensure that their audit committees operate effectively. This is achieved through enhancing their independence, ensuring optimal meeting frequency, and a higher number of members with financial expertise for fewer earnings management.
Originality: The paper suggests the ways through which audit committee effectiveness can be enhanced to reduce earnings management amid rampant global financial scandals.
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Copyright (c) 2020 Collins Kapkiyai, Josephat Cheboi, Joyce Komen
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Josephat Cheboi, Moi University, Kenya
Ag.Dean School of Business and Economics
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