Earnings management

This study examined the influence of audit characteristics on the financial reporting quality of deposit money banks listed on the Nigerian Exchange. The main objective was to assess the effects of audit firm tenure, audit firm size, and non-audit services on the credibility and transparency of financial reports. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design and utilized secondary data collected from annual reports of twelve listed banks covering the period 2016 to 2023. The data were analysed using panel regression analysis with robust standard errors to account for heteroskedasticity. The study finds that audit firm tenure has no significant impact on financial reporting quality, indicating that the duration of auditor-client relationships does not independently determine reporting outcomes in the Nigerian banking sector. However, audit firm size showed a significant positive relationship with financial reporting quality, suggesting that larger audit firms contribute to higher transparency and reliability due to their extensive expertise and stronger regulatory oversight. Additionally, non-audit services exhibited a significant positive effect on financial reporting quality, implying that when properly managed, these services can enhance auditors’ operational understanding and improve audit effectiveness rather than compromise independence. The study concludes that audit firm size and non-audit services are critical determinants of financial reporting quality among Nigerian deposit money banks, while audit firm tenure plays a limited role. The study recommends that regulators encourage the use of reputable large audit firms and implement guidelines to manage non-audit services effectively to strengthen overall audit quality and financial transparency in the sector

This study examined auditor independence and earnings management. A total number of 39 commercial and insurance companies of Nigeria Exchange Group out of which four insurance companies had incomplete data which restricted our research to 35 companies. About 175 firms were observed from 2020-2024. Jaque-berra test probability value was used on our broad objective out of 4 specific objectives. Our dependent variable was based on modified discretionary accrual model used as earnings management of firms which is the error term and our independent variables were collapsed into 4 which are audit fees, audit tenure, non-audit fees, and audit firms rotation as auditor independence. We used the panel least square regression technique with other statistical tests which are descriptive, correlation analyses to investigate the variables. The study found that audit fee has a positive and significant relationship with earnings management, audit tenure and non-audit fee have no significance but are positively related to earnings management while audit firm rotation is negatively insignificant with earnings management.

Accounting has been described as the science of recording, classifying and summarizing in a significant manner and in terms of money, transactions and events which are in part at least, of a financial character and interpreting the result thereof. Features characterize the tertiary institution that makes it quite distinct from many other areas. Although, accounting principles remain the same in application, accounting systems are normally designed to suite the nature and need of information of the organization. This project work therefore sets to find out and document the system applicable in the tertiary institution of higher learning? Are laid down procedures followed? Are required information obtained when needed? How are contracts accounted for? What principles are laid down for cash handling? These and many others shall be answered as the work progresses. Generally, the project results shall be an aid to the public who are conscious of accounting system not only in the college of education but also in other establishment.

This study examined the impact of audit committee effectiveness on financial reporting quality among one hundred (100) Nigerian listed companies from 2019 to 2024. Despite governance reforms under CAMA (2020) and the NCCG (2018), concerns remain about earnings management and reporting credibility. The study analyzed audit committee attributes, independence, financial expertise, size, meeting frequency, and committee effectiveness, using a quantitative panel design and fixed-effects regression. Financial reporting quality was measured using a composite index covering accrual quality, timeliness, audit opinion quality, and disclosure compliance.
Results show that independence, financial expertise, meeting frequency, and committee effectiveness significantly improve financial reporting quality, with financial expertise being the strongest predictor. Audit committee size was not significant. Among control variables, company size and committee independence positively affect reporting quality, while leverage has a negative effect. The study concludes that competence and active engagement enhance governance effectiveness more than structural compliance and recommends strengthening expertise, independence, meeting practices, etc.