How do auditors react to insider trading in client firms? This paper examines the effects of insider trading on the audit report date. Insiders tend to urge managers to manage earnings to make more profits through tr...How do auditors react to insider trading in client firms? This paper examines the effects of insider trading on the audit report date. Insiders tend to urge managers to manage earnings to make more profits through trading their own firm's shares. If auditors play an important role in monitoring managers, they may pay more attention to insider trading, which may delay the filing of audit reports. We find that the more the insiders trade their stocks, the longer the audit report lag is. In addition, to address the effectiveness of auditors' efforts to prevent managers from earnings management, we test whether an extra effort by auditors can reduce aggressive accounting. We also find that auditors deter aggressive accounting by stretching report lag in response to insider trading, implying that auditors' efforts weaken insiders' opportunistic behavior. This study contributes to the literature by providing evidence that insider trading is a significant determinant of the audit report lag. We suggest that auditors are interested in insiders' activity and it can enhance the quality of accounting information.展开更多
文摘How do auditors react to insider trading in client firms? This paper examines the effects of insider trading on the audit report date. Insiders tend to urge managers to manage earnings to make more profits through trading their own firm's shares. If auditors play an important role in monitoring managers, they may pay more attention to insider trading, which may delay the filing of audit reports. We find that the more the insiders trade their stocks, the longer the audit report lag is. In addition, to address the effectiveness of auditors' efforts to prevent managers from earnings management, we test whether an extra effort by auditors can reduce aggressive accounting. We also find that auditors deter aggressive accounting by stretching report lag in response to insider trading, implying that auditors' efforts weaken insiders' opportunistic behavior. This study contributes to the literature by providing evidence that insider trading is a significant determinant of the audit report lag. We suggest that auditors are interested in insiders' activity and it can enhance the quality of accounting information.