The relationship between audit committee and audit quality: evidence from companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange

Purpose: This study investigates whether the presence of an audit committee, the characteristics of the audit committee, and the use of internal audits are linked to higher quality external audit services, approximated by auditor fees. The analysis is conducted in the light of economic theories, inc...

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Main Authors: Aneta Dzik-Walczak, Maria Ociepa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Rada Naukowa SKwP 2025-03-01
Series:Zeszyty Teoretyczne Rachunkowości
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ztr.skwp.pl/gicid/01.3001.0055.0282
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author Aneta Dzik-Walczak
Maria Ociepa
author_facet Aneta Dzik-Walczak
Maria Ociepa
author_sort Aneta Dzik-Walczak
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: This study investigates whether the presence of an audit committee, the characteristics of the audit committee, and the use of internal audits are linked to higher quality external audit services, approximated by auditor fees. The analysis is conducted in the light of economic theories, including agency theory, transaction cost theory, and the resource-based view. Methodology/approach: Polish companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange are examined. The sample covers the period 2019–2020. Econometric models for panel data, allowing individual effects to be considered, were estimated. To overcome heteroscedas-ticity, the GLS method was used. Findings: Our results reveal the significant influence of audit committee attributes on audit fees. We find that the expertise of audit committee members is related to lower audit fees. Knowledge in the field of finance and accounting was significant, as was fa-miliarity with the industry. Internal audits were also found to be relevant. Companies with an internal audit unit usually pay less for external audits. The positive effect of audit committee independence on audit quality is confirmed. Research limitations/implications: Our findings offer significant insights for regula-tors, policymakers and professionals regarding the role of audit committees in external audit quality. Originality/value: Our unique dataset is undoubtedly a strength of the paper.
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spelling doaj-art-9682cd599b7b40b9abf0b11748de55d22025-08-20T02:16:28ZengRada Naukowa SKwPZeszyty Teoretyczne Rachunkowości1641-43812391-677X2025-03-01491517110.5604/01.3001.0055.028201.3001.0055.0282The relationship between audit committee and audit quality: evidence from companies listed on the Warsaw Stock ExchangeAneta Dzik-Walczak0Maria Ociepa1Uniwersytet Warszawski Wydział Nauk Ekonomicznych Katedra Statystyki i EkonometriiUniwersytet Warszawski Faculty of Economic SciencesPurpose: This study investigates whether the presence of an audit committee, the characteristics of the audit committee, and the use of internal audits are linked to higher quality external audit services, approximated by auditor fees. The analysis is conducted in the light of economic theories, including agency theory, transaction cost theory, and the resource-based view. Methodology/approach: Polish companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange are examined. The sample covers the period 2019–2020. Econometric models for panel data, allowing individual effects to be considered, were estimated. To overcome heteroscedas-ticity, the GLS method was used. Findings: Our results reveal the significant influence of audit committee attributes on audit fees. We find that the expertise of audit committee members is related to lower audit fees. Knowledge in the field of finance and accounting was significant, as was fa-miliarity with the industry. Internal audits were also found to be relevant. Companies with an internal audit unit usually pay less for external audits. The positive effect of audit committee independence on audit quality is confirmed. Research limitations/implications: Our findings offer significant insights for regula-tors, policymakers and professionals regarding the role of audit committees in external audit quality. Originality/value: Our unique dataset is undoubtedly a strength of the paper.http://ztr.skwp.pl/gicid/01.3001.0055.0282audit committeecorporate governanceexpertiseexternal audit feesinternal audit
spellingShingle Aneta Dzik-Walczak
Maria Ociepa
The relationship between audit committee and audit quality: evidence from companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange
Zeszyty Teoretyczne Rachunkowości
audit committee
corporate governance
expertise
external audit fees
internal audit
title The relationship between audit committee and audit quality: evidence from companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange
title_full The relationship between audit committee and audit quality: evidence from companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange
title_fullStr The relationship between audit committee and audit quality: evidence from companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange
title_full_unstemmed The relationship between audit committee and audit quality: evidence from companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange
title_short The relationship between audit committee and audit quality: evidence from companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange
title_sort relationship between audit committee and audit quality evidence from companies listed on the warsaw stock exchange
topic audit committee
corporate governance
expertise
external audit fees
internal audit
url http://ztr.skwp.pl/gicid/01.3001.0055.0282
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