Effective Factors in Client Acceptance Decision in Audit Firms

• Published in: مطالعات تجربی حسابداری مالی Vol. 5; no. 19; pp. 93 - 114
• Main Authors: Yahya Hassas Yeganeh, Ali Asghar Arab Ahmadi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Persian
• Published: Allameh Tabataba'i University Press 01.09.2007
• Subjects: audit risk; auditor business risk; client acceptance; client business risk; risk management
• ISSN: 2821-0166; 2538-2519

Despite information asymmetry between auditor and client that may result in adverse selection (undesirable client acceptance), auditor should evaluate all phases of audit engagement before establishing any relationship with prospective client. This is due to the fact that, the prospective clients that a firm accepts ultimately determine the nature of the firm's evolving client portfolio and as a result they affect the engagement quality. Professional standards state that firms should establish procedures for making the client acceptance decision. However, no guidance is provided about factors that should be considered in making the decision. Results of this research show that audit firms consider audit risk factors and auditor business risk factors at the time of biding to firm for perform audit services and thus making decision about prospective client. Finding of this study indicate that personnel assignment, as a risk management strategy, affects client acceptance decisions.