Purpose

This study aims to investigate the extent, level and pattern of key audit matters (KAMs) reporting by companies listed in the market for alternative investment (MAI) in Thailand, and to test for a relationship between the external auditors and KAMs reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

The population and sample used in this study were all companies listed in the MAI. Based on the annual reports issued by the sample of companies from 2016 to 2018, content analysis was used to quantify the KAMs reporting in the audit reports by using word counting and a checklist. Descriptive analysis, correlation matrix and multiple regression were used to analyse the data.

Findings

The results showed that the word counts of KAMs reporting fluctuated around 600 words during the three year period studied, while the number of issues on which KAMs reporting was performed was similar each year with an average of 1.63 KAMs issues per company. Moreover, the study found a significant positive relationship between auditor type, audit fees and the level of KAMs reporting.

Practical implications

This is the first longitudinal study of the KAMs reporting of companies listed in the alternative capital market in Thailand.

Originality/value

Communication and legitimacy theories were found to offer cogent explanations explaining the quality of and reasons for KAMs reporting by Thai listed companies as a reaction to the need for quality communication between external auditors and company stakeholders, based on external pressure due to societal expectations.

中文翻译：

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泰国另类资本市场的外部审计师和 KAM 报告

目的

本研究旨在调查泰国另类投资市场 (MAI) 上市公司报告关键审计事项 (KAM) 的范围、水平和模式，并测试外部审计师与 KAM 报告之间的关系。

设计/方法/方法

本研究中使用的人口和样本均为 MAI 中列出的所有公司。以样本公司2016-2018年年度报告为基础，采用内容分析法，通过字数统计和核对表对审计报告中的KAMs报告进行量化。采用描述性分析、相关矩阵和多元回归分析数据。

发现

结果显示，在所研究的三年期间，KAMs 报告的字数在 600 字左右波动，而每年进行 KAMs 报告的问题数量相似，平均每家公司有 1.63 个 KAMs 问题。此外，研究发现审计师类型、审计费用和关键审计事项报告水平之间存在显着的正相关关系。

实际影响

这是首次对泰国另类资本市场上市公司的 KAM 报告进行纵向研究。

原创性/价值

沟通和合法性理论被发现可以提供令人信服的解释，解释泰国上市公司报告 KAM 的质量和原因，作为对外部审计师和公司利益相关者之间质量沟通需求的反应，基于社会期望引起的外部压力。