This paper seeks to investigate the effect of audit committee characteristics on the company's performance. The sample consists of 165 non-financial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) over the period [2014][2015][2016]. The results of the study show that the audit committee size, independence and gender diversity have a significant positive relationship with firm's performance, whereas experience and frequency of meetings has an insignificant association. The results of the study could be beneficial for managers and boards in making suitable choices about audit committee characteristics and corporate governance mechanisms to enhance the company's performance. The study gives policy makers a better understanding of the different characteristics required of an audit committee, for incorporation in future policy preparation to protect the shareholders' interests. The relationship between audit committee characteristics and company performance is still ambiguous. This study contributes to the literature by identifying the role of audit committee characteristics in company performance, providing evidence for the view that performance is driven by specific audit committee characteristics.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical evidence of the relationship between female representation on the board and forward-looking information disclosures (FLIDs). Design/methodology/approach The study uses the content analysis to analyze the narrative evidence from the annual financial reports of non-financial Jordanian companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange. The final sample consists of 1,206 firm-year observations during the period 2008-2013. Findings The study provides evidence that gender diversity on boards positively affects the level of FLIDs. Further to this, the study reveals that family firms disclose more information than non-family firms. Practical implications Results of this study could be beneficial for a number of users of financial information such as, regulators, investors, auditors and lenders. The users might consider the findings of this study when they are using the company’s financial information. Consequently, users of this information could be better assisted to make right decisions. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by identifying the role of gender on the level of FLID, particularly on family and non-family, a relatively little researched area.

Purpose This study aims to examine the influence of the quality of voluntary disclosure (QVD) on earnings management (EM) amongst a sample of commercial banks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Design/methodology/approach Using a sample of 1,060 bank-year observations for the period 2006–2015, this paper developed a three-dimensional framework to measure the QVD, which considers the quantity, spread and usefulness of the information. Furthermore, this study examines the QVD-EM nexus using an ordinary least squares regression model. This technique is supplemented with conducting an instrumental variable regression model and a two-stage least squares model to overcome the potential occurrence of endogeneity problems. Findings The findings suggest that QVD is negatively attributed to EM in the context of MENA banks. The findings also confirm that the quality of financial reporting is enhanced by QVD dimensions that were considered in the framework, leading banks to less engagement in EM practices. In contrast, the influence of the quantity dimension (level) of the disclosed information has an insignificant impact on EM, while the spread and usefulness dimensions of VD are negatively and significantly associated with EM in the region. Research limitations/implications Although the results are robust to various measurements and to the possible occurrence of endogeneity problems, there are a few limitations should be acknowledged, which provides opportunities for future research. For example, the sample size is relatively small due to data accessibility issues. Likewise, the findings of the research might not be appropriate for non-financial sectors. These limitations provide a good opportunity for future studies to expand on the research by covering other developing economies and, thereby, enriching the understanding offered by this study. Practical implications This study offers several implications for bank managers, academics and policymakers. Firstly, it may help managers to appreciate the function and the importance of QVD in mitigating EM. Secondly, for academics, the study provides suggestive evidence on the impact of QVD on EM; however, future research may need to consider the role of morality and ethical behaviour across different environments in reducing excessive risk-taking and constraining earnings manipulation. Finally, it provides insights for policymakers and regulators to develop a framework or guidance that can help banks in providing high-QVD in the context of developing economies. Originality/value The study distinctively develops an innovative measurement for QVD using a new multi-dimensional model. This paper also bring new evidence on QVD complexity and its impact on EM practice from an under-researched developing context, namely, the MENA region.

Purpose This study aims to examine the effect of CEO’s personal characteristics on earnings management (EM) practices. Design/methodology/approach The authors use panel data for 201 non-financial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) for the period 2008-2013. The authors use random effect models to test the hypothesis of this study and extent the analysis to family versus non-family. Findings The study finds a positive relation between CEO’s overconfidence and EM practices in Jordan. Moreover, the findings reveal that managers in family companies are more likely to engage in EM practices than non-family companies. The findings shed more light on the intricate relationship between CEO’s characteristics, the decision-making process and financial reporting. Practical implications Results of this study could be beneficial for a number of users of financial information such as investors, auditors, regulators, lenders, as well other players in the capital market to make right decisions. Originality/value A literature review finds that much less studies have investigated the relationship between EM practices and personal CEO characteristics (gender and overconfidence) in developing countries such as Jordan. Furthermore, no study yet has examined the influence of CEO age on EM practices. The authors extend previous literature by providing empirical evidence about effect of some personal CEO’s characteristics on EM practices.

Manuscript Type -EmpiricalPurpose -This paper aims to examine the effect of CEOs' characteristics on the level of FLI disclosure.Design/methodology/approach -The study uses a disclosure index to measure the level of FLI and employs random-effect and panel data regressions to examine the relationship between CEOs' characteristics and the level of FLI disclosure. The sample consists of 201 non-financial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) for the period 2008-2013. Findings -The results show that the CEO age has a significant negative relationship with the level of FLI, whereas gender and overconfidence have a significant positive association with it.Practical implications -The results could be beneficial for a number of users of financial information, such as regulators, investors, auditors and lenders to make better decisions.Originality/value -The current study offers evidence of the effect of CEO characteristics on the level of FLI disclosure statements, particularly through narrative disclosures.

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PurposeThis study investigates the association between the estimates of fair value and external auditor's fees.Design/methodology/approachBased on a sample of 32 Jordanian financial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) over the period 2005–2018. We employ random effect models to test our hypothesis.FindingsWe found a positive relationship between audit fees and the proportion of fair value assets, which implies that external auditors are more likely to spend more effort for complex estimates, thereby increasing audit fees. We examined the relationship between audit fees and three levels of fair value inputs and found a positive relationship between the level of effort spent on assessment of higher uncertainty fair value inputs and audit fees. The findings are consistent with the expectation that more audit effort is required in a highly regulated environment due to the possibility of a higher cost of litigation.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study could be beneficial for a number of users of financial information, such as investors, regulators, auditors. This group of users might consider the results of this study when they are using a company's financial information, and consequently, better able to make the right decisions.Originality/valueAlthough prior studies have researched fair value, no study to date among developing countries has investigated its relationship with audit fees. This study, therefore, provides new empirical evidence that the complexity and risk of fair value estimates significantly influences auditors' motivation to expend additional effort, resulting in higher audit cost.

The study aims to examine the impact of board characteristics on firm performance of non-financial institutions in Jordan. The study employs the random effects regression model to analyze the panel data of 77 non-financial institutions of the industrial and services sector over the period 2008–2019. Firm performance is measured by return on assets ROA. While board characteristics were explained by board size, CEO duality, CEO tenure, non-executive directors (NEDs), and a number of board meetings. Firm age and firm size were added to our model as control variables. Our results reveal that board size, CEO tenure, non-executive directors (NEDs), firm age, and firm size have a positive significant impact on firm performance, whereas the CEO duality and a number of board meetings have a negative significant impact on firm performance. This paper will contribute to the ongoing debate on the relationship between the board characteristics and firm performance. Therefore, the current study extends previous literature by providing empirical evidence about the relationship between board characteristics and a firm performance. Particularly in developing countries, there is relatively a little researched area. Jordanian firms are needed to consider the significance of the board characteristics especially, for the non-financial institutions that can help them in designing the board strategies to enhance their performance. Therefore, Jordanian data will offer new empirical evidence in an emerging market, which will provide a better understanding of the relationship between board characteristics and firm performance.