Dasaratha V. Rama

Bio: Dasaratha V. Rama is an academic researcher from Florida International University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Audit & Joint audit. The author has an hindex of 32, co-authored 67 publications receiving 4592 citations. Previous affiliations of Dasaratha V. Rama include University of Iowa & Indian Institute of Management Bangalore.

SOX Section 404 Material Weakness Disclosures and Audit Fees

Abstract: Section 404 of the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act and Auditing Standard No. 2 (PCAOB 2004) require management and the auditor to report on internal controls over financial reporting. Section 404 is arguably th...

Audit Committee Composition, “Gray Directors,” and Interaction with Internal Auditing

Abstract: The functioning of corporate audit committees was criticized in recent years by the Treadway Commission, the Public Oversight Board, the Kirk Panel, and the SEC Chairman. In response, the NYSE and NASD sponsored the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) on Improving the Effectiveness of Corporate Audit Committees. The BRC Report includes recommendations aimed at strengthening director independence and qualifications, and highlights the role of internal auditors in assisting audit committees in the corporate governance process. Moreover, the first three recommendations of the BRC relate to audit committee composition: absence of inside or “gray” directors, and presence of a member with financial expertise. This study examines the association between audit committee composition and the committee's interaction with internal auditing. Our results, based on responses from chief internal auditors of 114 public companies, indicate that committees comprised solely of independent directors and with at least one member havin...

CFO Gender and Accruals Quality

Abstract: SYNOPSIS: The authors examine the association between chief financial officer (hereafter, CFO) gender and the quality of accruals. Based on findings in prior research on gender differences in a variety of decision settings—risk-taking attitudes, financial judgments, and regulatory compliances—they hypothesize that firms with female CFOs will have higher quality of accruals. The empirical findings, based on a sample of 1,559 (1,222) firms in 2005 (2004), support this hypothesis. The study shows that companies with female CFOs have lower performance-matched absolute discretionary accruals and lower absolute accrual estimation errors, after controlling for other factors that prior research has shown to be associated with accruals.

Audit fees, non-audit fees, and auditor reporting on UK stressed companies

Abstract: The SEC and legislators have expressed concerns that independence may be negatively impacted if auditors perform significant nonaudit services for their audit clients, and that providing lucrative nonaudit services to clients may make it more likely that auditors will “see things the client's way.” Such concerns are particularly salient in the context of issues that involve significant auditor judgment, as in the case of reporting decisions related to going‐concern uncertainties for financially stressed clients. In this study we examine the association between the magnitude of audit and nonaudit fees and auditor report modification decisions for financially stressed manufacturing companies. In our analysis we control for financial stress, company size, reporting lag, default status, audit committee effectiveness, and management plans. The results indicate a significant positive association between the magnitude of audit fees and the likelihood of receiving a going‐concern modified audit opinion, but we fi...

Audit Firm Size and Going‐Concern Reporting Accuracy

Abstract: Prior research suggests that the Big 4 audit firms are of higher quality than are non‐Big 4 firms. However, existing tests for an association between audit firm size and reporting accuracy are indirect and provide mixed results. Our study extends this line of research by examining whether the Big 4 audit firms exhibit higher quality reporting by having fewer “audit‐reporting errors” in the context of issuing going‐concern modified reports. Our analyses examine both types of going‐concern reporting errors (i.e., type I errors—modified opinions rendered to subsequently viable clients; and type II errors—unmodified opinions rendered to subsequently bankrupt clients) over an 11‐year period. We also examine reporting error rate differences between the national second‐tier firms and regional/local third‐tier firms. Our findings indicate that both type I and type II error rates for Big 4 audit firms are significantly lower compared to non‐Big 4 firms. In contrast, we find no significant differences between the n...

Regression Diagnostics: Identifying Influential Data and Sources of Collinearity

Abstract: 1. Introduction and Overview. 2. Detecting Influential Observations and Outliers. 3. Detecting and Assessing Collinearity. 4. Applications and Remedies. 5. Research Issues and Directions for Extensions. Bibliography. Author Index. Subject Index.

A Review of Archival Auditing Research

Abstract: We define higher audit quality as greater assurance of high financial reporting quality. Researchers use many proxies for audit quality, with little guidance on choosing among them. We provide a framework for systematically evaluating their unique strengths and weaknesses. Because it is inextricably intertwined with financial reporting quality, audit quality also depends on firms’ innate characteristics and financial reporting systems. Our review of the models commonly used to disentangle these constructs suggests the need for better conceptual guidance. Finally, we urge more research on the role of auditor and client competency in driving audit quality.

Audit Committee Characteristics and Restatements

Abstract: This study addresses the impact of certain audit committee characteristics identified by the Blue Ribbon Committee on Improving the Effectiveness of Corporate Audit Committees (BRC) on the likelihood of financial restatement. We examine 88 restatements of annual results (without allegations of fraud) in the period 1991–1999, together with a matched pairs control group of firms of similar size, exchange listing, industry and auditor type. We find that the independence and activity level (our proxy for audit committee diligence) of the audit committee exhibit a significant and negative association with the occurrence of restatement. We also document a significant negative association between an audit committee that includes at least one member with financial expertise and restatement. To test the robustness of the results we also consider a sample of 44 fraud and no‐fraud firms and arrive at largely similar findings. Our results underscore the importance of the BRC's recommendations as a means of strengthen...

The Relation between Auditors' Fees for Non-Audit Services and Earnings Management

Abstract: This paper examines whether auditor fees are associated with earnings management and the market reaction to the disclosure of auditor fees. Using data collected from proxy statements, we present evidence that non-audit fees are positively associated with small positive earnings surprises, the magnitude of absolute discretionary accruals, and the magnitude of income-increasing and income-decreasing discretionary accruals. In contrast, audit fees are negatively associated with these earnings management indicators. These results are robust to a variety of alternative variable definitions and model specifications. Specifically, contrary to the claims of Ashbaugh et al. (2002), the results are robust to the use of performance-matched discretionary accruals. Moreover, contrary to the claims of Francis and Ke (2002), the results for small positive earnings surprises are robust regardless of whether the comparison group is all other earnings surprises or small negative earnings surprises. Our final set of results provide evidence of a significant negative association between non-audit fees and share values on the date the fees were disclosed, although the effect is small in economic terms.