International Journal of Financial Management

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


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1 Accounting, University of Sfax, Tunisia
     

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

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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