International Journal of Financial Management

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Timeliness of Tunisian Audit Reports:An Empirical Investigation Based on Ownership and Partnership Visions


Affiliations
1 Accounting, University of Sfax, Tunisia
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Timeliness of audit reports is a qualitative feature that enhances the usefulness of audited financial statements. As an emerging country, Tunisia has modernised its accounting legislation to enhance the quality of financial reporting. This legislation encourages independent auditors to optimise the transmission delays of audit reports. The authorities assume that the satisfaction of stakeholders is secured by regulating disclosure of audit reports. Our research analyses the date of issue of Tunisian audit reports and timeliness of audit information for shareholders and all users of financial statements (stakeholders).

This paper provides new empirical evidence about the timeliness of audit reports in Tunisia. It holds two dates that influence the needs of users of financial statements: the date of signature of the auditors and the date of publication of the audit reports in the financial bulletin. The same article discusses the variability of the timeliness of audit reports and the factors that explain the delay information.


Keywords

Timeliness, Legal Time, Tunisian Auditor, Informational Quality, Determinants of Timeliness.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Ahmad, R., & Kamarudin, K. (2003). Audit delay and the timeliness of corporate reporting: Malaysian evidence. Communication Hawaii International Conference on Business, June, University of HawaiiWest Oahu.

  • Al Daoud, K. A., Ismai,l K. N., & Nor Lode, N. A. (2014). The timeliness of financial reporting among jordanian companies: Do company and board characteristics, and audit opinion matter?, Asian Social Science, 10, 191-201.

  • Alford, A. W., Jones J. J., & Zmijewski, M. E. (1994). Extensions and Violation of the Statutory SEC Form 10-K filling requirements. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 13, 229-254.

  • Ashton, R. H., Willingham, J. J., & Elliott, R. K. (1987). An empirical analysis of audit delay. Journal of Accounting Research, 25, 275-292.

  • Ashton, R. H., Graul, P., & Newton, J. (1989). Audit delay and the timeliness of corporate reporting. Contemporary Accounting Research, 5, 657-673.

  • Bamber, E. M., Bamber, L. S., & Schoderbek, M. P. (1993). Audit structure and other determinants of audit report lag: An empirical analysis. Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory, 12, 1-23.

  • Bavishi, V. (1995). International accounting and auditing trends. Center for International Financial Analyses and Research, Princeton, NJ.

  • Carslaw, A., & Kaplan, S. (1991). An examination of audit delay: Further evidence from New-Zealand. Accounting and Business Research, 22, 21-32.

  • Clatworthy, M. A., & Peel, M. J. (2010). Does corporate governance influence the timeliness of financial reporting? Evidence from UK Private Companies. Retrieved from http://www.hec.edu/FacultyResearch/Research Seminars/(offset)/ 30/(dept)/133.

  • Courteau, L., & Zhegal, D. (1999). Timeliness of annual reports: An international comparison. Accounting Enquiries, 9, 47-100.

  • Courtis, J. (1976). Relationship between timeliness in corporate reporting and corporate attributes. Accounting and Business Research, 7, 45-56.

  • Davies, B., & Whittred, G. (1980). The association between selected corporate attributes and timeliness in corporate reporting : Further analysis. Abacus, 6, 48-60.

  • Dodd, P., Dopuch, N. D., Holthausen, R. W., & Leftwich R. W. (1984). Qualified audit opinions and stock prices: Information content, announcement dates and concurrent disclosures. Journal of Accounting and Economic, 6, 3-38.

  • Fakhfakh, M. (2013). Linguistic performance and comprehensibility of auditors Reports in Tunisia. The IUP Journal of Accounting Research and Audit Practices, 12(2), 30-56.

  • Garsombke, H. P. (1981). The timeliness of corporate financial disclosure. In Communication Via Annual Reports, ed. J.K. Courtis, AFM Exploratory Series No. 11, Armidale : University of New England.

  • Gilling, D. M. (1977). The timeliness in corporate reporting: Some further comment. Accounting and Business Research, 7, 34-36.

  • Givoly, D., & Palmon D. (1982). The timeliness of annual earnings announcements: Some empirical evidence. The Accounting Review, 57, 486-508.

  • Hakansson, N. H. (1977). Interim disclosure and public forecasts: an economic analysis and a framework for choice. The Accounting Review, 52, 396-426.

  • Hossain, M., & Taylor, P. (1998). An examination of audit delay: Evidence from Pakistan. Working paper, University of Manchester.

  • Jaggi, B., & Tsui, J. (1999). Determinants of audit report lag: Further evidence from Hong Kong. Accounting and Business Research, 30, 17-28.

  • Leventis, S., Weetman, P., & Caramanis, C. (2005). Determinants of audit report lag: some evidence from the Athens Stock Exchange. International Journal of Auditing, 9, 45-58.

  • Meek, G. K. (1997). Les Etats-Unis. Comptabilité internationale, Chap.3, Librairie Vuibert-Paris, 69-96.

  • Newton, J. D., & Ashton, R. H. (1989). The association between audit technology and audit delay. Auditing : A Journal of Practice and Theory, 8, 22-37.

  • Ng, P. H., & Tai, Y. K. (1994). An empirical examination of the determinants of audit delay in Hong Kong. British Accounting Review, 26, 43-59.

  • Owusu-Ansah, S. (2000). Timeliness of corporate financial reporting in emerging capital markets: Empirical evidence from the Zimbabwe stock exchange. Accounting and Business Research, 30, 241-254.

  • Piot, C. (2005). La date du rapport des commissaires aux comptes : Un compromis entre contraintes liées à la mission d’audit et exigences informationnelles? Congrès IAAER, 29-30 septembre, Bordeaux.

  • Schwartz, K. B., & Soo, B. S. (1996). The association between auditor changes and reporting lags. Contemporary Accounting Research, 13, 357-370.

  • Soltani, B. (1996). Le commissaire aux comptes et le marché financier : Etude empirique du rôle informationnel de l’auditeur légal. Economica, Paris.

  • Soltani, B. (2002). Timeliness of corporate and audit reports: Some empirical evidence in the French context. The International Journal of Accounting, 37, 215-246.

  • Whittred, G. P. (1980). Audit qualification and the Timeliness of corporate annual reports. The Accounting Review, 55, 563-577.


Abstract Views: 369

PDF Views: 0




  • Timeliness of Tunisian Audit Reports:An Empirical Investigation Based on Ownership and Partnership Visions

Abstract Views: 369  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Mondher Fakhfakh
Accounting, University of Sfax, Tunisia

Abstract


Timeliness of audit reports is a qualitative feature that enhances the usefulness of audited financial statements. As an emerging country, Tunisia has modernised its accounting legislation to enhance the quality of financial reporting. This legislation encourages independent auditors to optimise the transmission delays of audit reports. The authorities assume that the satisfaction of stakeholders is secured by regulating disclosure of audit reports. Our research analyses the date of issue of Tunisian audit reports and timeliness of audit information for shareholders and all users of financial statements (stakeholders).

This paper provides new empirical evidence about the timeliness of audit reports in Tunisia. It holds two dates that influence the needs of users of financial statements: the date of signature of the auditors and the date of publication of the audit reports in the financial bulletin. The same article discusses the variability of the timeliness of audit reports and the factors that explain the delay information.


Keywords


Timeliness, Legal Time, Tunisian Auditor, Informational Quality, Determinants of Timeliness.

References