具會計師事務所背景之管理階層對盈餘管理影響之研究

Abstract

自安隆(Enron)案爆發後，旋轉門關係對審計人員獨立性之影響開始受到重視。我國大部份之會計系畢業生會在會計師事務所累積至一定之工作經驗後，再轉入產業界工作，可能會因旋轉門關係而對審計人員之獨立性造成影響；其會計專業能力亦可能會影響公司之盈餘管理行為。 本研究除了探討公司之董事、主要經理人或財會主管曾任職於查核會計師事務所是否會影響審計人員之獨立性外，並探討若公司之董事、主要經理人或財會主管曾任職於其他會計師事務所(非查核事務所)是否會因其會計專業能力而提高公司盈餘管理程度。 本研究並未發現曾任職於查核事務所之董事、主要經理人或財會主管會影響審計人員之獨立性。再探討專業能力對盈餘管理之影響，實證結果顯示在操縱增加盈餘之公司中，具其他事務所經驗之管理階層會提高盈餘管理之程度；在操縱減少盈餘之公司中，具其他事務所經驗之管理階層會降低盈餘管理之程度。

The collapse of Enron Corporation has brought the “revolving door” into sharp focus. In Taiwan, corporations often employ a former employer at an accounting firm as a director or a financial officer. This practice can have an impact on auditor independence and the quality of financial statements. This study investigates whether the management of companies with working experience of the present auditor engages in earnings management more easily because of the impairment of auditor independence. In addition, the study examines whether the management of companies with working experience of the other CPA firms engages in earnings management more easily because of the individual’s accounting expertise.

Using the Modified Jones Model (Dechow, 1995) to calculate discretionary accruals from 2003 to 2005, the result indicates that, the management with working experience of the other CPA firms reported larger positive discretionary accruals. However, we found the management with working experience of the CPA firms reported less negative discretionary accruals.