AUDIT QUALITY, TENURE AND REAL EARNINGS MANAGEMENT OF LISTED NONFINANCIAL FIRMS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Earnings management is volatile due to its asymmetric nature by managers of non-financial firms. Yet, very few studies have examined the issues that cause this manipulation, especially in non-financial firms. This study, therefore, examines the relationship between audit big4 and audit tenure on REM of 76 listed non-financial firms in Nigeria using a 10-year data set
(2010-2019). The MachammeRatios Database is used for data extraction. The results indicate that audit big4 shows significant positive effects on real earnings management. However, audit tenure shows in significant adverse effects on real earnings management. The paper, therefore, concludes that Audit Big4 is very important in mitigating real earnings management in the non-financial companies in Nigeria. The empirical findings are essential for non-financial firms' policy enhancement and further research and contributions to the body of knowledge. Managers should improve audit tenure while enhancing audit big4
independent to reduce incidence earnings management.