Effectiveness of new safeguards and prohibitions to protect audit independence: an empirical research with auditors

ABSTRACT The EU has faced the moral hazard problem of auditors by protecting their independence in two ways, with the formulation of a general principle of independence, and with the implementation of a preventive and sanctioning framework of safeguards and incompatibilities. The latest EU Directive, which reformed the auditing profession, adopted and extended such measures. This research fills a gap in the literature by showing the perception auditors have of the benefits of this new regulatory framework to promote auditor independence. With this purpose, we developed a qualitative study using a questionnaire addressed to a sample of 192 auditors. Following structural equation modelling methodology (SEM), we obtained results showing that the new and more restrictive European regulation of personal and service incompatibilities has a positive effect and improves the perceived independence of auditors.