DETERMINANTS OF AUDIT FEES OF LISTED INSURANCE COMPANIES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Controversies had risen among investors and other stakeholders of corporations why external auditors receive a substantial amount as remuneration of the audit and non-audit services rendered to their clients. These fees had been charged to add trustworthiness to the financial reports prepared by the management and also to protect the interest of the shareholders. A lot of problems occurred on what are such factors that determine (increases or decreases) the audit fees charged by external auditors. This study is aimed at examining the factors that determined audit fees of listed insurance companies in Nigeria using a correlational research design. The study’s population comprised of twenty-six (26) listed insurance companies in Nigeria. Panel data were generated from the annual report and accounts of the sampled insurance companies for the periods 2011-2020 arrived at using a judgmental sampling technique. The study used random effect Generalized Least Square (GLS) regression for data analysis. The study revealed that client size and audit firm size are the important factors determining audit fees of listed insurance companies in Nigeria. While client profitability, client complexity, client underwriting risk, and client liquidity risk are found to have an insignificant and negative effect on audit fees of listed insurance companies in Nigeria. The study, therefore, recommended that auditors of Nigerian insurance companies should inspire their clients in increasing their total assets including their investments which increases the size of their businesses. This increases the companies’ financial performances, as well as, the professional fees collected by auditors of insurance companies in Nigeria.