EFFECT OF FIRM AND AUDIT QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS ON EARNINGS MANAGEMENT OF LISTED CONSUMER GOODS COMPANIES IN NIGERIAN

This study examines the effect of firm and audit quality characteristics on earnings management of listed consumer goods companies in Nigeria. The manipulation of accounts by managers has made it difficult for stakeholders to know the true economic reality of firms. The consequence of this is poor decision making. This study therefore examines the effect of firm and audit quality characteristics on earnings management of consumer goods companies in Nigeria. The population of the study is the entire 21 listed firms of consumer goods firms quoted on Nigeria’s equity market as at 31st December 2019 of which twelve (12) firms were selected as the sample size using purposive sampling technique. The period of the study was from 2010 to 2019. The study used ex post facto research design. The technique for data analysis was the panel regression technique. The result shows that financial leverage and audit fees have positive and significant effect on earnings management. Furthermore, firm age and Big 4 audit firm have positive but statistically insignificant effect on earnings management. Finally, firm size has negative and statistically insignificant effect on earnings management. The study therefore concludes that financial leverage and audit fees have significant effect on earnings management, while firm size, firm age and Big 4 audit firm have insignificant effect on earnings management. This study recommends that investors should be cautious, over protracted increase in profit as the increase may be as a result of earnings management, this is because increase in financial leverage has effect on earnings management. In other words, investors should in addition evaluate non financial variables since profit may stem from earnings management.