A Study of the Role of Accountants’ Ethics and Audit Quality on Auditors’ Professional Skepticism: Testing Moral Theories

Subject Areas : Ethics and accounting

Sharzad Seraj ¹ (Assistant Professor, Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Accounting, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)
Roya Darabi ² (Associate Professor, Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Accounting, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)

Received: 2023-07-16 Accepted : 2023-07-21 Published : 2023-06-22

Keywords: Accountants’ Ethics, Auditor’s Professional Skepticism, moral theories, Audit Quality, Auditor’s Judgement,

Abstract :

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to review the role of accountants’ ethics and audit quality on auditors’ professional skepticism. Method: The research statistical population consisted of 2565 individuals who were members in the Iranian Association of Certified Public Accountants among whom 335 members were chosen using simple random sampling and Cochran formula (error of 5%). Data collection tool was a questionnaire method and by the return rate of 56%, 187 questionnaires were received from the respondents. The research hypothesis testing was conducted using structural equations based on variation and smart software of P.L.S. Results: The results showed that there is a significantly negative relation between accountants’ ethics and professional skepticism. Therefore, by improving the level of professional morality among accountants, auditors’ professional skepticism is also improved and they can conduct their work by precision and not skepticism. Besides, there is a significant relation between audit quality and auditors’ professional skepticism. Conclusion: It is suggested to the association of certified accountants to consider morality in their plans and pay more attention to the observation of professional ethics in order to improve the level of professional ethics among auditors. Professional skepticism in the process of auditing and its outcome in auditing reports, if continually regarded in the professional judgement of auditors, can increase audit quality and can bring good reputation for the independent auditors and also enhance the trust of those who use financial information upon auditors’ reports.  

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