Effects of Earnings Management Mediator on the Relationship between R&D Costs and Audit Services Fees

Abstract

This research aimed to raise awareness of the fundamental questions regarding cost of research and development as powerful instrument for profit management in business cycle and economic fluctuations, and that this may affect audit fees. This study examined the relationship between cost of R&D and cost of audit services in firms listed in the Tehran Stock Exchange. Also, this research assessed the effects of profit management on the relationship between R&D and audit services costs. The study sample includes 48 companies listed in the Tehran Stock Exchange in the period 2004 to 2015. Multiple regression method was used to test the research hypotheses, regarding panel data processing approach. Findings showed that R&D costs have significant positive relationship with audit fees. Additionally, earnings management strengthens such a relationship. Finally, this supports increasingly the hypothesis that corporate executives to do earnings management expand capital costs or spend research and development funds in recurrent costs.

Keywords

• audit fees
• audit risk
• cost of research and development
• earnings management