The bridge to quality financial reporting: Audit committees’ mediating role in IFRS implementation for emerging markets

This study aims to examine the impact of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption on financial reporting quality in Saudi Arabia, with a specific focus on the mediating role of effective audit committees (ACs) and the specific characteristics of ACs that have a negative correlation with earnings management (EM) practices. The research collected financial data from 92 listed firms spanning the period from 2012 to 2020 encompassing both the years  before and after the IFRS adoption in 2017. The study used regression and rigorous mediation analysis based on the Baron and Kenny (1986) approach to investigate the relationship between IFRS adoption, ACs, and EM. The findings indicate that IFRS adoption has a negative and significant impact on EM practices. Additionally, the study found that AC expertise is positively influenced by the IFRS adoption, while the AC size has a positive correlation with EM levels. The study further revealed that AC expertise has a negative correlation with EM levels and fully mediates the relationship between IFRS adoption and EM. The research's findings carry significant practical implications for a range of stakeholders. Regulators and policymakers in Saudi Arabia should consider the positive impact of IFRS adoption on financial reporting transparency and accountability when evaluating their regulatory framework. Firms can strengthen their corporate governance practices by focusing on the recruitment and training of AC members with robust financial and accounting backgrounds. This emphasis on AC quality, rather than size, is crucial to mitigating EM practices and enhancing the effectiveness of IFRS implementation. Lastly, investors and analysts can utilize these findings to assess the reliability of financial statements and identify firms with robust governance structures. Furthermore, the study contributes to the discourse on financial reporting and governance dynamics in emerging markets, offering insights for future research and policy discussions.