Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Understanding the Disrupted Work Environment for Audit Professionals

• In Event: Norms, Culture, and Values in the Audit Context

Abstract

As companies attempt to rebound from the significant interruption to workplace modalities due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, employees have developed preferences for more flexibility, such as remote work options. Facing concerns about attracting and retaining talent, the auditing division of public accounting firms has an additional reason to reimagine the pre-pandemic work environment as they attempt to overcome long-held perceptions of high employee burnout and turnover. We conducted semi-structured interviews to explore inductively how the Pandemic has disrupted the work environment of the auditing profession. We interviewed 20 audit professionals of various levels in the public accounting firm. Our findings reveal three central themes that illustrate the shift in perceptions of the audit work environment due to the Pandemic— firm culture and work environment, professional development and work quality, and work-life balance. Our findings have important implications for firm accounting firm leadership.

Authors

• Gwen Almodovar, University of Denver

• Chauntel Graves, University of Denver

• Lisa M Victoravich, University of Denver