What is it about auditors that matters? An exploration of auditor personality, skills and audit quality

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Abstract

This paper investigates the role of an auditor’s personality as a possible driver of audit quality. Based on survey and internal audit firm data of around 1500 Dutch experienced auditors from all Big 4 and six medium- to small-sized audit firms, I provide descriptive evidence of significant variation in auditors’ personality traits and document that personality traits become more homogenous and more pronounced (i.e. extraversion, openness to experience and bravery) in the higher ranks. Next, I find that more extrovert and conscientious auditors are associated with stronger skills, commitment to the organization and profession, and overall better performance. Hierarchical linear regression analysis confirms the predictive power of personality for overall auditor performance. Collectively, these results contribute to our limited understanding of what characteristics matter for the documented differences in audit outcomes across audit partners.

Author

• Lena Pieper, Maastricht University