INTERACTIVE EFFECT OF AUDIT FIRM AND AUDIT COMMITTEE MEDIATED BY AUDIT PROCESS ON FRAUDULENT FINANCIAL REPORTING RISKS OF LISTED FIRMS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examines the Interactive Effect of Audit Firm and Audit Committee Mediated by Audit Process on Fraudulent Financial Reporting Risks of Listed Firms in Nigeria. The population of staff working in audit firms in Nigeria is unknown. Therefore, sample size of unknown population for this survey study is calculated using g*power which minimum sample size is 384 respondents. A model of questionnaire is adopted from research conducted and 500 copies of adopted questionnaire which contains 31 items were administered to audit staff and 391 copies were returned. The questionnaire was the main instrument for data collection and adopted a nine-point scale. The study is multivariate in nature so structural equation modelling is employed and smartpls 3 is used for the analysis. However, the result shows that Audit Firm and Audit committee have significant positive effect on Fraudulent Financial Reporting of Listed Firms in Nigeria. In addition, Audit Firm has significant positive effect on audit process of Listed Firms in Nigeria Similarly, Audit process has significant mediating effect on the relationship between Audit committee and Fraudulent Financial Reporting of Listed Firms in Nigeria.And Audit committee has significant positive moderating effect on the relationship between audit firm and fraudulent financial reporting risks of Listed Firms in Nigeria.However, Audit committee has significant negative effect on audit process of Listed Firms in Nigeria. In addition,Audit process has significant negative mediating effect on the relationship between Audit Firm and Fraudulent Financial Reporting of Listed Firms in Nigeria. Similarly, Audit committee has significant negative moderating effect on the relationship between audit firm and audit process of Listed Firms in Nigeria. Base on the conclusion, the study recommends that both the audit committee and external auditors should focus their attention on improving the audit process which in turn will significantly curb the fraudulent financial reporting risks of listed Firms in Nigeria.