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Title: Agency costs and accounting quality within an all-equity setting: the role of free cash flows and growth opportunities.
Creator: Cabán, David, Kohlbeck, Mark, Florida Atlantic University, College of Business, School of Accounting
Abstract/Description: I investigate if all-equity firms are a heterogeneous group as it relates to agency costs and accounting quality. All-equity firms are a unique group of firms that choose a “corner solution” as their capital structure. Extant research, supported by well-established theories such as trade-off theory, free cash flow theory, and Jensen’s (1986) control hypothesis, generally conclude that agency conflicts motivate such structure. Research also supports the alternative argument that poor...
Show moreI investigate if all-equity firms are a heterogeneous group as it relates to agency costs and accounting quality. All-equity firms are a unique group of firms that choose a “corner solution” as their capital structure. Extant research, supported by well-established theories such as trade-off theory, free cash flow theory, and Jensen’s (1986) control hypothesis, generally conclude that agency conflicts motivate such structure. Research also supports the alternative argument that poor accounting quality makes debt so prohibitive that such firms are driven to this capital structure. I propose that an all-equity structure is not necessarily symptomatic of agency conflicts and poor accounting quality overall. I investigate if different motivations, within an all-equity setting, reflected by free cash flows and growth opportunities, result in different levels of agency cost and accounting quality. By anchoring on theories that link implicit costs of debt to free cash flow levels and growth opportunities, I hypothesize that free cash flows and growth opportunities are strongly linked to the justification or lack thereof for the pursuit of such strategy. I hypothesize and show that firms in the extremes of the free cash flow to growth rate spectrum exhibit significantly different levels of agency cost and accounting quality within the all-equity setting. These results support my main prediction that there exists agency costs and accounting quality differences within the all-equity setting which are associated with free cash flow levels and growth opportunities and that the pessimistic conclusions for pursuing an all-equity strategy reached by prior research should not be generalized to all such firms.
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Date Issued: 2015
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004432, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004432
Subject Headings: Business enterprises -- Valuation, Cash management, Corporations -- Finance, Corporations -- Growth, Financial risk management, Strategic planning, Venture capital
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: CEO CHARITABLE INCLINATION AND CORPORATE TAX AVOIDANCE.
Creator: Wang, Lin, Kohlbeck, Mark, Florida Atlantic University, School of Accounting, College of Business
Abstract/Description: Many CEOs are philanthropists and express their passion for social welfare through service to various charities and foundations. However, it is unclear whether these behaviors are driven by intrinsic motivations, such as prosocial value and altruism, or by extrinsic and egoistic motivations like reputation and social network building. To understand the underlying motivations and consequences of these behaviors, I build on the self-determination theory and investigate how CEO charitable...
Show moreMany CEOs are philanthropists and express their passion for social welfare through service to various charities and foundations. However, it is unclear whether these behaviors are driven by intrinsic motivations, such as prosocial value and altruism, or by extrinsic and egoistic motivations like reputation and social network building. To understand the underlying motivations and consequences of these behaviors, I build on the self-determination theory and investigate how CEO charitable inclination, defined as CEO sitting on charity boards, affects corporate tax avoidance. I further examine how CEO charitable inclination impacts firm value through corporate tax policies. I find that CEO charitable inclination is negatively associated with corporate tax avoidance. Specifically, firms with charitable-inclined CEOs pay higher cash taxes and are less likely to engage in aggressive forms of tax planning, such as tax shelters. The results are robust to different model specifications and alternative measures. Further, I conduct additional analysis examining the underlying motivations of CEO charitable inclination and find it positively associated with intrinsic motivations, such as prosocial values and high moral standards. These results provide strong evidence that charitable-inclined CEOs, driven by their intrinsic motivations, are concerned about social welfare and government revenue. These CEOs are less likely to engage in unethical or immoral behaviors, such as aggressive tax planning and tax evasion. However, I do not find evidence that CEO charitable inclination has a moderating effect on the relationship between corporate tax avoidance and firm value.
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Date Issued: 2022
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013903
Subject Headings: Corporations--Taxation, Charity
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Determinants and Outcomes of Goodwill Impairment Key Audit Matters.
Creator: Carlson, Tyler, Kohlbeck, Mark, Florida Atlantic University, School of Accounting, College of Business
Abstract/Description: The addition of Key Audit Matters (KAM) to standard audit reports is one of the most significant changes to the audit report in decades. However, research on the informativeness of KAMs to investors is mixed. I add to this literature by examining whether variation in how goodwill impairment KAMs (GIKAM) are determined influence their informativeness. I first develop a determinants model to predict when an audit client would receive a GIKAM and find that auditor quality (Big 4) and auditor...
Show moreThe addition of Key Audit Matters (KAM) to standard audit reports is one of the most significant changes to the audit report in decades. However, research on the informativeness of KAMs to investors is mixed. I add to this literature by examining whether variation in how goodwill impairment KAMs (GIKAM) are determined influence their informativeness. I first develop a determinants model to predict when an audit client would receive a GIKAM and find that auditor quality (Big 4) and auditor independence (fee ratio) are negatively associated with the likelihood a client receives a GIKAM. I then use this model to create measures of unexpected GIKAMs to test the relationship between unexpected GIKAMs and market outcomes (price and volume). Using annual report date and three-day cumulative abnormal returns and abnormal trading volume, I find no relationship between unexpected GIKAMs and price or volume reactions. In my third hypothesis, I predict and find that GIKAMs are positively associated with goodwill impairment recognition using pooled and propensity score matched samples. These findings contribute to the growing literature on the usefulness of expanded audit reports as well as audit literature in general.
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Date Issued: 2021
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013819
Subject Headings: Auditing, Auditors' reports
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: DO FIRMS’ BANKRUPTCY ANNOUNCEMENTS ALTER PEERS’ RISK FACTOR DISCLOSURES?.
Creator: Nam, Jiwon, Kohlbeck, Mark, Florida Atlantic University, School of Accounting, College of Business
Abstract/Description: Since 2005 corporate managers must discuss their firm’s significant risk factors that may materially and unfavorably affect corporate outcomes in the Item 1A Risk Factor Disclosure (RFD) section of their 10-K filings. However, there is limited research on whether firms change the sentiment of their mandatory disclosures after a significant economic event. I use bankruptcy announcements as a unique setting in this study to assess non-announcing firms’ responses to these events as a bankruptcy...
Show moreSince 2005 corporate managers must discuss their firm’s significant risk factors that may materially and unfavorably affect corporate outcomes in the Item 1A Risk Factor Disclosure (RFD) section of their 10-K filings. However, there is limited research on whether firms change the sentiment of their mandatory disclosures after a significant economic event. I use bankruptcy announcements as a unique setting in this study to assess non-announcing firms’ responses to these events as a bankruptcy announcement generates significant concern to non-announcing industry peer firms. I explore whether industry peers change four measures of sentiment (i.e., length, negative tone, specificity, forward-looking statements) of Item 1A RFDs after a rival firm’s bankruptcy filing. Using textual analysis methodology, I find that industry peer firms have shorter, less negative, and less forward-looking RFDs after another firm’s bankruptcy announcement. These results imply that industry peers are likely to adjust their tone of mandatory filings (i.e., Item 1A RFDs) in response to a rival firm’s bankruptcy announcement. I further provide evidence that firms do not use separate subsections to disclose their firm- and industry-specific risks within their Item 1A RFDs. Lastly, the lengths of financial, litigation, other-idiosyncratic, and other-systematic topic disclosures significantly decrease for non-announcing industry peers while the length of tax relevant risk topic does not significantly change after a bankruptcy filing. This study adds to mandatory research by identifying the spillover effect of a bankruptcy announcement on Item 1A RFDs. This research also contributes to accounting literature by providing evidence that non-announcing industry peers significantly adjust the sentiment of their risk factor information. Market participants including investors, shareholders, and financial analysts can improve investment decision accuracy by analyzing the industry peers’ risk factor information.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014189
Subject Headings: Bankruptcy, Risk, Accounting, Disclosure in accounting
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: DOES EMERGING GROWTH COMPANY INVESTOR SKEPTICISM DISSIPATE BEFORE THE FIRST REPORTED INDEPENDENT INTERNAL CONTROL AUDIT RESULTS? AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION.
Creator: Burke, Lawrence S., Kohlbeck, Mark, Florida Atlantic University, School of Accounting, College of Business
Abstract/Description: This study examines whether emerging growth company (EGC) investors respond to the annual required internal control disclosures over financial reporting (ICFR). I develop three hypotheses to test across the EGC lifecycle. Specifically, I investigate whether the first year ICFR disclosure, the remediation of a previously reported material weakness ICFR disclosure and the EGC exit are associated with the firm’s cumulative abnormal return over a three-day event window. Prior literature has...
Show moreThis study examines whether emerging growth company (EGC) investors respond to the annual required internal control disclosures over financial reporting (ICFR). I develop three hypotheses to test across the EGC lifecycle. Specifically, I investigate whether the first year ICFR disclosure, the remediation of a previously reported material weakness ICFR disclosure and the EGC exit are associated with the firm’s cumulative abnormal return over a three-day event window. Prior literature has observed that ICFR disclosures by management and the ICFR audit opinion can be shown to be informative to investors. However, I am not aware of any study investigating whether the EGC investors respond to this type of information. I find that the reported ICFR disclosures are not associated with cumulative abnormal returns during their initial ICFR report disclosure or upon exit as informative but do respond to the reporting of material weakness remediation.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014246
Subject Headings: Financial statements, Accounting
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Economic Consequences of Implementing the Engagement Partner Signature Requirement in the UK.
Creator: Liu, Min, Kohlbeck, Mark, Florida Atlantic University, College of Business, School of Accounting
Abstract/Description: I investigate the effects of requiring the audit engagement partner (EP) signature and individual EP’s quality on information asymmetry, analysts’ forecast errors and forecast dispersion. I predict and find that, ceteris paribus, there is a significant decline in information asymmetry, analysts’ forecast errors and forecast dispersion from the pre- to post-EP signature period in the UK over both of short-term (e.g., 2008-2010) and long-term (e.g., 2004-2014). These findings hold when using a...
Show moreI investigate the effects of requiring the audit engagement partner (EP) signature and individual EP’s quality on information asymmetry, analysts’ forecast errors and forecast dispersion. I predict and find that, ceteris paribus, there is a significant decline in information asymmetry, analysts’ forecast errors and forecast dispersion from the pre- to post-EP signature period in the UK over both of short-term (e.g., 2008-2010) and long-term (e.g., 2004-2014). These findings hold when using a control sample approach and a different proxy for the information asymmetry, which indicate that my results are not likely due to the effect of concurrent events and correlated omitted variables. These findings provide timely and important empirical evidence to the ongoing debate about whether the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board should pass a similar requirement in the U.S.
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Date Issued: 2016
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004651, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004651
Subject Headings: Auditing -- Standards -- United States, Corporate governance, Corporations -- Auditing -- Standards -- United States, Disclosure in accounting, Financial risk management -- Forecasting, Financial services industry -- Management, International standard on auditing, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: False News Implications for Auditors and Investors.
Creator: Vakilzadeh, Seyed Hamidreza, Kohlbeck, Mark, Florida Atlantic University, College of Business, School of Accounting
Abstract/Description: I examine the determinants and implications of false news on client business risk and firm credibility. False news is defined as information presented as factually accurate, but which contains fabricated facts and is deliberately made public to mislead the reader. Importantly, it is later denied by a credible source. There is a significant concern about the influence of false news on individuals’ decision-making and judgment processes. However, our knowledge regarding false news and its...
Show moreI examine the determinants and implications of false news on client business risk and firm credibility. False news is defined as information presented as factually accurate, but which contains fabricated facts and is deliberately made public to mislead the reader. Importantly, it is later denied by a credible source. There is a significant concern about the influence of false news on individuals’ decision-making and judgment processes. However, our knowledge regarding false news and its implications for financial markets is minimal. I investigate false news by focusing on negative false news that is not initiated from within the company. Building on financial and political motives behind incidents of false news, I examine whether industry competition and media coverage play a role in making a firm a target for false news. I further examine the impact of false news on the firm’s financial reporting behavior and investigate whether the firm’s auditor prices false news. Lastly, based on the argument that false news increases distrust and uncertainty, I examine whether false news decreases the credibility of the firm’s disclosures and test whether the earnings response coefficient (ERC) is lower after the release of false news. I find that lower competition and higher media coverage are associated with higher likelihood of false news. Consistent with my predictions, I also find that false news target firms have higher abnormal accruals, higher abnormal real earnings activities, and higher audit fees. However, I do not find support for the notion that false news reduces credibility of firm’s disclosure.
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Date Issued: 2019
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013273
Subject Headings: Fake news, Investors, Auditors
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Firm Social Network, Information Transfer and Information Environment.
Creator: Bhandari, Avishek, Kohlbeck, Mark, Florida Atlantic University, College of Business, School of Accounting
Abstract/Description: I investigate whether or not a firm’s social network size (also known as social capital) impacts the quality of its information environment. Following social capital theory, I posit three potential channels that help bring an informational advantage to wellconnected firms. First, well-connected firms are likely to have timely access to a broader set of information that affords them the opportunity to disclose this information. Second, a social network fosters trust among social peers, which...
Show moreI investigate whether or not a firm’s social network size (also known as social capital) impacts the quality of its information environment. Following social capital theory, I posit three potential channels that help bring an informational advantage to wellconnected firms. First, well-connected firms are likely to have timely access to a broader set of information that affords them the opportunity to disclose this information. Second, a social network fosters trust among social peers, which promotes the transfer of more accurate information within that network. Third, well-connected executives and directors have greater reputational capital at stake, which may encourage them to provide accurate information to the market. I provide evidence that well-connected firms have higher quality information environments. I further document that the beneficial impact of the firm’s social network size on the quality of the firm’s information environment is higher for complex firms. I also find that the beneficial effect of the firm’s social ties on the quality of the firm’s information environment is greater when the firm’s connections are in the same industry or are top executives or are industry leaders or are financiers in the capital markets. My study extends existing social network literature by investigating whether firm’s social connections to outside executives and directors impact the quality of the firm’s information environment. My paper focuses on the networking skills of the executives and directors and extends the literature on how executives’ and directors’ personal characteristics are important. Additionally, I respond to the call by Engelberg et al. (2013) to identify the mechanism by which a CEO’s network creates value to the firm and well-connected CEOs get paid higher compensation. This study also contributes to a growing debate in social network literature between social capital theory and agency theory. Finally, my study is important to the regulators and standard setters as they can provide further evidence on the impact of non-financial information on the information quality surrounding the firm.
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Date Issued: 2017
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004901
Subject Headings: Corporate governance., Social networks., Business networks., Information technology--Social aspects., Issues management., Work environment--Social aspects.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Government Procurement and Financial Reporting Quality.
Creator: He, Zhijian Chris, Kohlbeck, Mark, Florida Atlantic University, School of Accounting, College of Business
Abstract/Description: Government spending is essential for the US economy, and the amount of capital that flows from the government to US firms has increased substantially in recent years. Despite the economic importance of the corporate-government contracting relationship, we know little about the firm-level financial outcomes associated with government contracts. In this study, I investigate whether the corporate government contracting relationship affects firm-level financial reporting quality. Using a sample...
Show moreGovernment spending is essential for the US economy, and the amount of capital that flows from the government to US firms has increased substantially in recent years. Despite the economic importance of the corporate-government contracting relationship, we know little about the firm-level financial outcomes associated with government contracts. In this study, I investigate whether the corporate government contracting relationship affects firm-level financial reporting quality. Using a sample of 58,988 US publicly-traded firms from 2001 through 2017, I find that federal government contracting firms are associated with a lower level of discretionary accruals, lower probability of internal control material weaknesses, and lower probability of restatement and fraud as compared to non government contractors. However, this association is weaker when industry competition on government contracts are lower, and government switching costs in which the cost to find new suppliers are higher. Collectively, my empirical results suggest that having the government as a customer has a positive impact on the quality of financial reports.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013438
Subject Headings: Government purchasing, Financial statements, Government contractors
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Investor Connections and Non-GAAP Reporting.
Creator: Harwood, Chad, Kohlbeck, Mark, Florida Atlantic University, College of Business, School of Accounting
Abstract/Description: I investigate whether a firm’s social capital with investors impacts its non-GAAP reporting decisions. Critics of non-GAAP reporting suggest that non-GAAP earnings are incomplete, inaccurate, and can be misleading (Derby, 2001; Dreman, 2001; Elstein, 2001; Black et al., 2007). Firms might be hesitant to provide non-GAAP information if other means are available to transfer information. Social capital provides an alternate method of informing investors. However, social capital might also play...
Show moreI investigate whether a firm’s social capital with investors impacts its non-GAAP reporting decisions. Critics of non-GAAP reporting suggest that non-GAAP earnings are incomplete, inaccurate, and can be misleading (Derby, 2001; Dreman, 2001; Elstein, 2001; Black et al., 2007). Firms might be hesitant to provide non-GAAP information if other means are available to transfer information. Social capital provides an alternate method of informing investors. However, social capital might also play another role in the information environment by building trust between managers and investors (Gabarro, 1978; Gulati, 1995). This trust may reduce investor skepticism of non-GAAP information, enhancing the value of non-GAAP disclosures. Additionally, I examine what impact social capital might have on investors’ investment decisions with respect to non-GAAP reporting. Despite critics’ concerns over non-GAAP reporting, prior literature suggests investors’ reactions are more aligned with the non-GAAP definition of earnings (Bradshaw and Sloan, 2002; Bhattacharya et al., 2003), suggesting other factors might influence investors’ decisions. I investigate whether social capital plays a role in reducing skepticism in non-GAAP information leading to reduced information asymmetry and increased investor reaction to non-GAAP disclosures. I find that non-GAAP reporting is increasing in social capital with investors. However, I find no evidence that investor reactions to non-GAAP earnings information differ based on firms’ social capital with investors. I also find information asymmetry around earnings announcements is higher for non-GAAP reporting firms with greater social capital with investors in comparison to non-GAAP reporters with lower social capital. Taken together, my results suggest social capital impacts the decisions of firms in reporting non-GAAP earnings information, but not the decisions of investors. My results are relevant to the current disclosure environment in that non-GAAP reporting is a current topic of interest for regulators with several updates to non-GAAP guidance having recently occurred.
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Date Issued: 2019
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013214
Subject Headings: GAAP (Accounting), Investors, Social capital (Economics)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Is Corporate Scientific Research Still Important? A Study of Corporate Scientific Research, Future Profitability, and Cost of Capital.
Creator: HuangFu, JiangBo, Kohlbeck, Mark, Florida Atlantic University, School of Accounting, College of Business
Abstract/Description: I examine the importance of corporate scientific research. It is crucial to understand the role of corporate scientific research because such a knowledge could form an appropriate response to the current decline of corporate scientific research amidst the evolving innovation ecosystem featured with growing university research and tech companies’ research. R&D is often treated as a single construct in accounting and finance research for firm innovation. However, corporate scientific research (...
Show moreI examine the importance of corporate scientific research. It is crucial to understand the role of corporate scientific research because such a knowledge could form an appropriate response to the current decline of corporate scientific research amidst the evolving innovation ecosystem featured with growing university research and tech companies’ research. R&D is often treated as a single construct in accounting and finance research for firm innovation. However, corporate scientific research (“R”) has different implications for firm innovations, “R” creates new knowledge, and reduced investment in "R" may lead to a loss of internal research capability, disrupting the speed and quality of innovation. As such, it is necessary and meaningful to examine "R" separately from "R&D." Historically, corporate scientific research has played an important role in driving breakthrough innovations. Beginning in the 1980s, there has been a decline in corporate scientific research in favor of university research and tech companies’ research. Consequently, this raises a question: if corporate scientific research was important, is it still important? This is a fundamental question because if corporate scientific research is still important, declining or even stagnant corporate scientific research would present an issue of concern for firms and the economy.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014235
Subject Headings: Scientific research, Corporations--Research, Stocks, Research and development
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Managerial reputation and Non-GAAP earnings disclosures.
Creator: Cheng, Yun, Kohlbeck, Mark, Florida Atlantic University, College of Business, School of Accounting
Abstract/Description: I examine how managerial reputation affects the quality of non-GAAP earnings disclosures and how the market reacts to non-GAAP earnings disclosures associated with managerial reputation. Although there was an initial dip in the frequency of non-GAAP earnings disclosures after SOX and Regulation G, the frequency of non-GAAP earnings disclosures has increased in recent years (Brown, Christensen, Elliott and Mergenthaler 2012). Motivated by the efficient contracting theory and managerial...
Show moreI examine how managerial reputation affects the quality of non-GAAP earnings disclosures and how the market reacts to non-GAAP earnings disclosures associated with managerial reputation. Although there was an initial dip in the frequency of non-GAAP earnings disclosures after SOX and Regulation G, the frequency of non-GAAP earnings disclosures has increased in recent years (Brown, Christensen, Elliott and Mergenthaler 2012). Motivated by the efficient contracting theory and managerial reputation incentives, I investigate whether reputable managers are associated with higher quality non-GAAP earnings disclosures. I also investigate whether the market is more responsive to non-GAAP earnings disclosed by reputable managers. Using empirical models modified from prior research, I find that reputable managers are less likely to disclose non-GAAP earnings, which is consistent with the efficient contracting explanation. I also find that reputable managers exclude more recurring items that are related to future operating earnings when they disclose non-GAAP earnings, which is consistent with the rent extraction explanation in prior research. Finally, I find that managerial reputation has an incremental effect on the market reaction and that the market is more responsive to non-GAAP earnings disclosed by reputable managers if the unexpected earnings are positive. The study contributes to both non-GAAP earnings disclosures literature and managerial reputation incentives literature. It also has implications for investors, managers, and regulators.
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Date Issued: 2014
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004185, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004185
Subject Headings: Capital productivity -- Measurement, Disclosure in accounting, Industrial management, Investment analysis, Risk management
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: The Association of the Relative Informativeness of Market Risk Disclosures with Liquidity and Investment Efficiency.
Creator: Luo, Xin, Kohlbeck, Mark, Florida Atlantic University, College of Business, School of Accounting
Abstract/Description: In a 2016 comment letter, the SEC summarizes the ongoing debate regarding the usefulness of market risk disclosures and calls for additional discussion (SEC Concept Release 2016). In response to the SEC’s call, I investigate whether investors and firms benefit from market risk disclosures. Prior literature suggests that informative corporate disclosure is associated with improved liquidity and investment efficiency. I find that informative textual contents of market risk disclosures improve...
Show moreIn a 2016 comment letter, the SEC summarizes the ongoing debate regarding the usefulness of market risk disclosures and calls for additional discussion (SEC Concept Release 2016). In response to the SEC’s call, I investigate whether investors and firms benefit from market risk disclosures. Prior literature suggests that informative corporate disclosure is associated with improved liquidity and investment efficiency. I find that informative textual contents of market risk disclosures improve investors’ information environment, and as a result, are associated with higher liquidity level, lower liquidity uncertainty, and improved investment efficiency. My study is relevant to the ongoing debate regarding the usefulness of market risk disclosures, calls for more detailed regulatory guidance for market risk disclosures, and contributes to the literature on liquidity, investment efficiency, and risk factor disclosures.
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Date Issued: 2018
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005979
Subject Headings: Investments, Financial statements, Financial risk
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: The Effect of Financial Statement Transparency on the Likelihood of Restatement and the Effect of Restatement Announcements on Future Levels of Transparency.
Creator: Bressler, Paige D., Kohlbeck, Mark, Florida Atlantic University, College of Business, School of Accounting
Abstract/Description: I explore the impact financial statement transparency has on the probability of restatement and the effect a restatement announcement has on the levels of future financial statement transparency. Information theory suggests that a strong information environment increases accounting quality. Using financial statement transparency as a proxy for the information environment, I find that transparency is associated with a lower probability of financial statement restatement. There are competing...
Show moreI explore the impact financial statement transparency has on the probability of restatement and the effect a restatement announcement has on the levels of future financial statement transparency. Information theory suggests that a strong information environment increases accounting quality. Using financial statement transparency as a proxy for the information environment, I find that transparency is associated with a lower probability of financial statement restatement. There are competing theories to predict how restatement announcements affect future levels of transparency. Skinner’s (1953) theory of operant conditioning, which states that behavior is modified based on positive or negative conditioning suggests that the level of transparency increases after a restatement announcement. However, expectancy theory suggests that firms engage in certain behaviors in order to derive expected rewards or incentives. Motivation is eliminated if the rewards are deemed unobtainable thereby eliminating managers’ incentive to improve their reporting strategy suggesting that the level of transparency decreases after a restatement announcement. I find that restatement announcement has a negative association with the transparency measure and the magnitude of this effect decreases over time compared to non-restatement firms. These results are magnified if the restatement is due to fraud. However, the changes are not significant. Further, the transparency associations are mitigated if there is a change in CEO after the restatement announcement. In addition, using a sample of firms that made a restatement announcement matched with a sample of firms that did not make a restatement announcement, the difference in the transparency measure before and after the restatement announcement is statistically insignificant.
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Date Issued: 2018
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013008
Subject Headings: Financial statements, Transparency
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: The effect of shareholder rights and information asymmetry on option-related repurchase activity.
Creator: Golden, Nan, Kohlbeck, Mark, Florida Atlantic University, College of Business, School of Accounting
Abstract/Description: I investigate the effect of shareholder rights and information asymmetry on option-related repurchase activity. Prior research shows that the dilution effect of the exercise of the employee stock options on earnings per share (EPS) decreases the value of stock options. Thus, managers tend to use stock repurchases rather than dividends to return cash to shareholders (the dividend substitution effect). I document that the executive stock option incentives to repurchase stock as a substitute for...
Show moreI investigate the effect of shareholder rights and information asymmetry on option-related repurchase activity. Prior research shows that the dilution effect of the exercise of the employee stock options on earnings per share (EPS) decreases the value of stock options. Thus, managers tend to use stock repurchases rather than dividends to return cash to shareholders (the dividend substitution effect). I document that the executive stock option incentives to repurchase stock as a substitute for dividends are stronger when firms have weak shareholder rights and the level of information asymmetry positively influences managerial stock option incentives to repurchase stock. Furthermore, prior research indicates that information asymmetry is positively associated with stock repurchases. I also provide evidence indicating that the relationship between information asymmetry and stock repurchases is stronger when firms have weaker shareholder rights.
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Date Issued: 2015
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004373, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004373
Subject Headings: Corporate governance, Corporations -- Finance, Dividends -- Econometric models, Employee stock options, Investment analysis, Stock options -- Econometric models
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: TWO ESSAYS ON FINANCIAL REPORTING QUALITY: EXAMINING MANAGERIAL PLACE ATTACHMENT AND CREDIT ACCESS.
Creator: Frost, Tracie Sloop, Kohlbeck, Mark, Florida Atlantic University, School of Accounting, College of Business
Abstract/Description: In essay 1, I investigate the association of place attachment and financial reporting quality. Management characteristics affect a wide range of corporate decisions, including decisions affecting financial reporting quality; however, the influence of managerial place attachment on corporate decision-making has received relatively little attention - even though place attachment is thought to play a significant role in forming individual identity. Place attachment affects the decisions that...
Show moreIn essay 1, I investigate the association of place attachment and financial reporting quality. Management characteristics affect a wide range of corporate decisions, including decisions affecting financial reporting quality; however, the influence of managerial place attachment on corporate decision-making has received relatively little attention - even though place attachment is thought to play a significant role in forming individual identity. Place attachment affects the decisions that individuals make with regards to social and environmental policies, lifestyle, and, in the corporate context, firmlevel policies. Because firms hire local CEOs and CFOs five to eight times more often than expected if geography were irrelevant to the matching process, the question of how managerial place attachment affects financial reporting outcomes is an important one. I investigate the effect of managerial place attachment on financial reporting quality in a sample of publicly traded U.S. firms. My findings indicate that firms with place attached CEOs display higher financial reporting quality, indicating a significant caretaking bond between CEO and stakeholders. CFOs, on the other hand, are marginally associated with lower financial reporting quality, indicating that they are more likely than CEOs to extract personal gain when they are local to their firm headquarters.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013442
Subject Headings: Financial statements, Management, Chief executive officers, Chief financial officers, Place attachment
Format: Document (PDF)

Financial statements (5)	+ -
Disclosure in accounting (3)	+ -
Accounting (2)	+ -
Corporate governance (2)	+ -
Corporations -- Finance (2)	+ -

Investment analysis (2)	+ -
Investors (2)	+ -
Auditing (1)	+ -
Auditing -- Standards -- United States (1)	+ -
Auditors (1)	+ -
Auditors' reports (1)	+ -
Bankruptcy (1)	+ -
Business enterprises -- Valuation (1)	+ -
Business networks. (1)	+ -
Capital productivity -- Measurement (1)	+ -
Cash management (1)	+ -
Charity (1)	+ -
Chief executive officers (1)	+ -
Chief financial officers (1)	+ -
Corporate governance. (1)	+ -
Corporations -- Auditing -- Standards -- United States (1)	+ -
Corporations -- Growth (1)	+ -
Corporations--Research (1)	+ -
Corporations--Taxation (1)	+ -
Dividends -- Econometric models (1)	+ -
Employee stock options (1)	+ -
Fake news (1)	+ -
Financial risk (1)	+ -
Financial risk management (1)	+ -
Financial risk management -- Forecasting (1)	+ -

Florida Atlantic University (16)	+ -
School of Accounting (16)	+ -
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