Company Age, Company Size and Earnings Management in Listed Industrial Goods Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria: A Moderating Role of Political Connection of Board Members

Abstract

1Department of Accounting, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria 2Department of Business Administration, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko, Nigeria Emails: 1temitayoay@pg.abuad.edu.ng, 2gbengaowoseni@gmail.com ABSTRACT The study analysed the effect of company age, company size and political connections of Board members on earning management of quoted industrial goods manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study include assessing the effect of company age, company size and evaluating the moderating effect of political connections of board members on earnings management of quoted industrial goods manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The study used 130 firm-year data involving thirteen (13) quoted industrial goods manufacturing companies purposely selected over the period of 2012-2021. The data were sourced from the annual audited reports and accounts of the companies obtained from the Nigerian Exchange Group. The study used E-Views 8.0 statistical package and used panel regression techniques to analyse the data after carrying out diagnostic tests such as normality test, Panel Unit Root Test, Multicollinearity Test, Redundant Fixed Effects Tests, Hausman test, Heteroskedasticity Test, Serial Correlation Test to select the most appropriate model and fixed effect model was used for the model. The findings revealed that company age and company size do not influence earnings management. Also, the study revealed that political connection of board members insignificantly moderated the effect of company age and company size on earnings management. The study recommended that increased attention be given to internal control mechanisms to help curtail aggressive corporate earnings manipulation, reduce the effect of political connection, and enhance the financial reporting quality, particularly in Nigeria. Keywords: Firm Characteristics, Political Connections, Accruals, Real Earnings Management. Journal Reference Format: Adesuyi, T. Y. & Owoseni, G. D. (2024): Company Age, Company Size and Earnings Management in Listed Industrial Goods Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria: A Moderating Role of Political Connection of Board Members. Humanities, Management, Arts, Education & the Social Sciences Journal. Vol. 12. No. 1, Pp 49-72. www.isteams.net/humanitiesjournal. dx.doi.org/10.22624/AIMS/HUMANITIES/V12N1P4