Public accounting profession and fraud detection responsibility
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFC-07-2020-0140 |
| Pages | 613-627 |
| Date | 02 November 2020 |
| Published date | 02 November 2020 |
| Subject Matter | Accounting & finance,Financial risk/company failure,Financial crime |
| Author | Ni Wayan Rustiarini,Anik Yuesti,Agus Wahyudi Salasa Gama |
Public accounting profession and
fraud detection responsibility
Ni Wayan Rustiarini and Anik Yuesti
Department of Accounting, Universitas Mahasaraswati Denpasar,
Denpasar, Indonesia, and
Agus Wahyudi Salasa Gama
Department of Management, Universitas Mahasaraswati Denpasar,
Denpasar, Indonesia
Abstract
Purpose –The study aims to examine the influenceof auditor personal factors, such as goal orientation,
self-efficacy and professionalcommitment to auditor’s responsibility to detect the fraudulent,particularly in
small accountingfirms.
Design/methodology/approach –The authorssurveyed 86 auditors working in small accountingfirms
in Bali Province,Indonesia.
Findings –The results prove the role of self-efficacy as a mediating variable in the relationship of goal
orientation and auditor responsibility. This result at once confirms that self-efficacycan improve individual
performanceeven in complex tasks. This study also proves the roleof professional commitment as a mediator
variable.
Research limitations/implications –Given that the respondents came from small accounting firms,
these findingsare not intended to be generalized with auditors in largeaccounting firms.
Practical implications –These findings highlight essential efforts to reduce audit expectation gaps
between auditors and the public. The small accounting firms’leaders must to alignment workplace
organizational goals and organization professional goals. A dualismof purpose causes the auditor to fail to
fulfill the responsibilityof fraud detection.
Social implications –There is a severe audit expectation gap related to the auditor’s role in detecting
fraud. This findingexpected to answer public questions related to auditors’abilityand responsibility in small
accountingfirms in detecting fraud.
Originality/value –There is limited researchon auditor responsibility, particularly in small audit firmsin
developing countries. Also,there is still debate scientific about the influence of goal orientation, self-efficacy
and professionalcommitment to auditor performance.
Keywords Self-efficacy, Fraud, Goal orientation, Audit expectation gap
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The Enron scandal has raised public concernover fraud. This condition requires the auditor
profession to actively find illegal actions in the company (Alleyne and Howard, 2005).
Although Audit Standards (SAS) No. 99 has determined that external auditors can deliver
“reasonable assurance”(AICPA, 2002), the fact is not all auditors can fulfill this
responsibility (DeZoort and Harrison,2018). This study examines the effect of the auditor’s
characteristics, namely, goal orientation, self-efficacy and professional commitment to
responsibility in detecting fraud. Self-efficacy is a person’s belief in his ability to complete
specific tasks, whereas goal orientation refers to individual motives for completing tasks.
Public
accounting
profession
613
Journalof Financial Crime
Vol.28 No. 2, 2021
pp. 613-627
© Emerald Publishing Limited
1359-0790
DOI 10.1108/JFC-07-2020-0140
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