Mandatory Partner Rotation and Audit Quality: Evidence from U.S. Audit Firm Archival Data

• In Event: U.S. Audit Partners

Abstract

Although mandatory partner rotation has existed in the U.S. in some form since the 1970s, insufficient U.S. partner-specific data has limited researchers’ ability to examine the costs and benefits of mandatory U.S. partner rotation in the current audit environment. Using proprietary data from a large international audit firm, I provide evidence that mandatory rotation of the lead engagement partner increases audit quality in the year of rotation among larger audit offices only; audit quality is lower in the year of mandatory lead partner rotation in smaller offices. Further, rotation increases audit quality when the incoming lead engagement partner has industry expertise, but decreases audit quality when the lead partner lacks such expertise. Additional analyses show that mandatory concurring partner rotation has a similar, albeit weaker effect on audit quality. My results are robust to various proxies for audit quality, time periods, and model specifications. These findings provide evidence on the costs and benefits of partner rotation and informs practitioners, academics, and regulators as to the consequences of mandatory partner rotation in the U.S.

Author

• Brant E. Christensen, University of Missouri-Columbia