Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the interrelationship between modified audit opinions and earnings management as measured by discretionary accruals and develop a thorough understanding regarding the moderating effect of audit quality on this relation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a sample of Tunisian listed firms on the Tunis Stock Exchange during 2006–2013. Four models are developed and tested by using panel logistic and Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) regressions.

Findings

The results show that earnings management increases the likelihood of receiving a modified audit opinions. Then firms receiving modified audit opinions manage earnings more than those receiving clean opinions. It is also discovered that audit quality moderates the relationship between audit opinion and earnings management.

Practical implications

This paper contributes to the literature of both audit and management studies and represents the first effort to examine the relation between audit opinion and earnings management, with audit quality as a moderating variable.

Originality/value

This study extends existing research on earnings management and audit opinion. Thus, this study has the potential to help stakeholders, board of directors, regulators and auditors, who are related with enhancing the supervision of firms and reducing the opportunities given to managers, to engage in earnings management. It constitutes an addition to previous knowledge about audit opinion in the Tunisian context before and after revolution.

中文翻译：

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审计质量对审计报告与盈余管理关系的调节作用：来自突尼斯的经验证据

目的

本研究的目的是检验修正后的审计意见与以可支配应计衡量的盈余管理之间的相互关系，并深入了解审计质量对这种关系的调节作用。

设计/方法/方法

本研究使用了 2006-2013 年在突尼斯证券交易所上市的突尼斯上市公司样本。通过使用面板逻辑回归和可行广义最小二乘 (FGLS) 回归开发和测试了四个模型。

发现

结果表明，盈余管理增加了收到修改后审计意见的可能性。然后，接受修正审计意见的公司比接受无保留意见的公司管理收益更多。还发现审计质量调节了审计意见与盈余管理之间的关系。

实际影响

本文对审计和管理研究的文献做出了贡献，并首次尝试以审计质量作为调节变量来检验审计意见与盈余管理之间的关系。

原创性/价值

本研究扩展了现有的盈余管理和审计意见研究。因此，本研究有可能帮助利益相关者、董事会、监管者和审计师，他们与加强对公司的监督和减少给予管理者的机会有关，参与盈余管理。它构成了对革命前后突尼斯背景下审计意见的先前知识的补充。