The auditor reputation hypothesis states that auditors conduct high‐quality audits to build a positive reputation in the marketplace so that they can retain clients and earn fee premiums. We consolidate the dispersed literature on this hypothesis and introduce a framework that presents auditor reputation as a cycle. The overall conclusions support the predictions of our framework regarding reputation as an incentive for audit quality. However, challenges remain in isolating and quantifying the impact. We observe moderating factors on both the supply and demand sides. We also find that existing research has emphasized certain aspects of our framework while addressing others more sparsely. Relatively little is known about how audit firms earn their reputation or how they rebuild it after an audit failure. Mixed evidence in some areas, along with research gaps in the framework, provides opportunities for future research on auditor reputation. Our framework can guide these endeavors.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to develop a research agenda on internal controls for offshored accounting processes. It further develops a linkage between internal controls of offshored accounting processes and auditing of the organization. Offshoring of accounting processes has become a common business practice, pursued by firms to reduce costs and focus on core competencies. However, our understanding about internal controls of these offshored processes is limited. Design/methodology/approach – Grounded in theory that is supported by prior literature and interviews with practitioners, this paper attempts to develop a research agenda on internal controls for offshored accounting processes. Findings – The main findings of our study suggest that while offshoring saves costs and allows the clients to focus on their core competencies, it also poses risks to the clients’ organizations. To mitigate these risks and comply with the regulatory requirements of the countries where the clients are located, clients and their offshore vendors need to effectively establish adequate internal controls for offshored business processes. Clients should seek those vendors who have appropriate processes in place and are willing to provide Service Organization Control (SOC) reports (or at least are capable of getting a SOC report in the near future). Moreover, clients should avoid offshoring the processes that would exist in defective internal control systems. Similarly, vendors should avoid undertaking those processes for which they are incapable of maintaining efficient internal controls. Practical implications – Our study has implications for academicians as well as practitioners on understanding the determinants and consequences of internal control for offshored processes. Originality/value – While internal controls for offshored accounting process and related regulatory changes have been increasingly important topics, little research has been devoted to explore their implications on accounting and auditing literature. We attempt to bridge this gap by synthesizing prior research on internal controls and auditing, and further developing a set of research questions for academic research. Our hope is to spur a new area of research that has not been explored before.

Using multiple indicators of audit quality, the study examines the impact of audit partner rotation on audit quality in India based on 1,694 firm years for the period of 2011-2017 when the institutional set up for audit partner rotation was voluntary. The empirical results indicate that the audit partner rotation had no significant impact on audit quality as measured by discretionary accruals and going concern audit opinion. The study finds that other factors like loss year, size of the firm, value, leverage have a statistically significant impact on audit quality. The empirical results also indicate an inverse relationship between audit fees and audit partner rotation implying, price-cutting of the audit. The findings are important to regulators regarding the significance of audit partner rotation in enhancing audit quality.

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Some researchers view information systems (IS) offshoring as extension of onshore IS outsourcing. However, others have the opinion that IS offshoring has its unique characteristics because of which, we cannot extend research made in onshore IS outsourcing without testing its applicability to the offshore context. This tension motivates our research to examine whether determinants of IS offshoring are indeed the same as determinants of onshore IS outsourcing? We examine the role of some firm level determinants of offshoring intensity. The four business related determinants that we analyze in this study are: business size, business cost, business financial leverage, and business performance. Results indicate a significant relationship between business size and offshoring intensity, and also between business financial leverage and offshoring intensity. Based on the results, we analyze similarities and differences between traditional onshore IS outsourcing and IS offshoring. Implications and contributions arising out of this study are also discussed.