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- The relationship between soft skills, stress and reduced audit quality practicesPublication . Samagaio, Antonio; Morais Francisco, Paulo; Felício, TeresaPurposeThis study aims to identify the effect of soft skills as a driver of audit quality and their moderating role in the relationship between stress and the propensity for auditors to engage in reduced audit quality practices (RAQP).Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a sample of 130 auditors, whose data were collected through an electronic questionnaire. The results were derived from the partial least squares-structural equation modelling method.FindingsThe findings show that the propensity to incur RAQP increases when auditors are under job stressors but decreases when individuals have resilience and time management skills. Moreover, the results suggest that the moderating effect of these two soft skills can effectively reduce the auditors' propensity to engage in dysfunctional actions and judgments in auditing. Emotional intelligence and self-efficacy skills are shown not to affect RAQP.Originality/valueThis study adds to previous research on auditors' drivers for supplying audit quality, by providing evidence of auditor characteristics as a critical input to audit quality. The results emphasize the importance of researchers including in models the moderating effect of soft skills on the relationship between audit quality and determinants associated with audit firms, clients or the regulatory framework.
- A survey of corporate finance practices in micro-enterprises: an exploratory analysis conditional on firm and manager characteristicsPublication . Morais Francisco, PauloThis study outlines the findings from a survey of 208 micro-enterprises (MEs) in Portugal, focusing on their corporate finance practices, including working capital management (WCM), financing and investment decisions, the adoption of accounting information systems (AIS) and the use of financial data. Both an unconditional exploratory study and a study conditional on the characteristics of the ME and its manager are conducted. The unconditional results reveal direct CEO involvement in cash management and accounts receivable in MEs. While these companies use AIS for financial reporting, the use of financial ratios is uncommon. Additionally, these MEs do not frequently calculate the cost of capital and primarily rely on the payback rule as an investment decision criterion. With respect to the conditional analysis, the results indicate that factors such as size and managers' education, especially in finance, significantly influence the sophistication of corporate finance functions. Moreover, management diversity emerges as a key driver across various financial functions, and family businesses demonstrate heightened concern for these financial aspects. The study concludes by recommending the promotion of financial education for ME managers to enhance their financial management practices. Particularly, it advocates for targeted financial literacy policies and training and the adoption of advanced financial tools to support the growth and sustainability of MEs.
- The relationship between time pressure, ethical culture and audit qualityPublication . Samagaio, Antonio; Morais Francisco, Paulo; Felício, Teresa; Matos, Pedro VergaPurposeThis study aims to analyze the effect of time pressure and the ethical culture of audit firms on audit quality expressed through professional skepticism and reduced audit quality practices (RAQP). Furthermore, the study explores the moderating role of ethical culture in the relationship between the remaining variables.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a sample of 96 auditors, whose data were collected through an electronic questionnaire. The results were derived from the partial least squares-structural equation modeling method and necessity condition analysis.FindingsThe results show that the propensity to incur RAQP increases when auditors are subject to a context of greater time pressure and weak ethical culture. Moreover, ethical culture is positively associated with the auditors' skepticism trait. The study shows that ethical culture is a necessary condition for professional skepticism, and that time pressure is also a factor that must be present for RAQP to occur. We found no evidence that the skeptical trait is influenced by time pressure and that ethical culture moderates the relationship between time pressure and audit quality.Originality/valueThis study reinforces the empirical evidence that the characteristics of audit firms are relevant in improving audit quality. By combining the logics of sufficiency and necessity, it is possible to better understand the causal relationship between audit quality, time pressure and ethical culture, advancing the theorization of the phenomena observed in auditing firms. The findings of this work are equally valuable for regulators and auditing firms to take initiatives to improve their performance in order to reinforce their social function.