INVESTMENT DECISION: ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF QUALIFIED AUDIT REPORT. EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA

Abstract

This research work investigates investment decision as an analysis of the impact of qualified audit report using evidence from Nigeria. The problem associated with investment decision with recourse to the impact of qualified audit report can not be over emphasized. The broad objective of the study is to find out whether qualified audit report have a significant effect on share price of listed companies in the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE). The auditing process is completed with the drafting of the auditors opinion through an audit report prepared and signed by the auditor. The primary source of data collection was used and the survey method was used to gathered data from the respondents through the administration of questionnaire using a sample size of 30 for effective study. The findings revealed that it was discovered that it is the basic duty of the auditors to verify whether the company financial statement shows a true and fair view of the position of the company. The study recommends amongst others that the duties of the directors as regard the preparation of financial statement should be spelt out and any other relevant matter relating to the director in the engagement letter so as to enable both the directors and the auditor to be aware of their respective duties.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background to the Study

A company financial statements present managers, investors, creditors and general user with the company’s financial status. It should therefore be ensure that data shown in financial statement are actual and provide all necessary information. As such corporate financial statement is subjected to audit by external and independent auditors.

Audit report is a media of communication between auditor and financial statement users; it show the most important part of auditors activity and expenses the result of financial statement assessment to users (Salehi & Abedini, 2008).

The auditing process is completed with the drafting of the auditors opinion through an audit report prepared and signed by the auditor. In this report, auditors describe the finding of the audit and express their view on the true and fair condition of the company’s financial status through its published financial statement yet, the importance attributed by investors to those report and their contents is rather questionable and require further examination.

A considerable reason for demanding auditing is expected effects on decision making and demanding for audit services is generated by many causes including the expecting gap between the financial statement user and preparer’s (Salehi, 2007; Salehi & Azary, 2008); the conflict of interest between kinds of financial statements users (Salehi, 2007); the complicated economic environment and effect of the financial on decision making.

However, because the audit report is the medium of communication between the auditor and the users of the audit report, this report must be understandable, objective and accepted by the users as a relevant source of information.

The importance of audit reports is significant and the weight placed on the informational content is substantial. Many researchers examined audit report as part of their field of research both at a theoretical and empirical level. Studies have been performed not only in Africa and Europe but also in US, Australia and within the continuously growing auditing market of China. However result includes certain contradiction. This aim of this research is to examine the impact of audit reports that have been issued and published for companies, on the share prices, fluctuation at the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) during the period under review.

1.2   Statement of Problem

The problem associated with investment decision with recourse to the impact of qualified audit report can not be over emphasized.

Skepticism for auditing process and valve of audit report motivated in conducting the study. Since auditing is mandatory, researchers have debated over its importance and necessity. Nowadays, there is a wide criticism of the audit profession within the context of business and audit failures; the a1ve of the audit report continues to be scrutinized. However effort will be made to proffer solution to any.

1.3   Research Questions

The following will be answered in the course of this research study.

1.     Does the qualified audit report have a significant effort of share price of listed companies in Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE)?

2.     Is there a relationship between investment decision and qualified audit report?

1.4   Objective of the Study

The main objective of this study is to investigate investment decision as an analysis of the impact of qualified audit report using evidence from Nigeria. The sub-objectives are;

1.     to find out whether qualified audit report have a significant effect on share price of listed companies in the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE),

2.     to find out whether there is relationship between investment decision and qualified audit report.

1.5   Statement of Hypotheses

The study is based on the following hypothesis formulated which will be tested based on the information from structured Questionnaires.

Hypothesis One

HO:   Qualified audit report does not have a significant effect on share price of listed companies in Nigeria.

HI:    Qualified audit report has a significant effect on share price of listed companies in Nigeria.

Hypothesis Two

HO:   There is no relationship between investment decision and qualified audit report.

HI:    There is no relationship between investment decision and qualified audit report.

1.6   Significance of the Study

The significance of the study originates from the importance of relevant information for the process of decision making. If the audit report has no information content, there is no need for the audit process. Therefore, this study is expected to be of importance to the

Users of Financial Statements: Audit profession, investors, creditors and other users, as it is expected to provide them with useful information about the value of the audit report and the audit process. In particular, it is expected that the study will be very beneficial to the users of the financial statement in Nigeria as a result of the increasing demand therefore audit services and the increasing expectation from auditors.

Investors: Investors, shareholders and other interested persons to appreciate the importance of financial statement analysis aboutinvestment, disinvestment and asset management.

Future researchers: It will be a source of information and reference material to other researchers both in business enterprises and institution.

1.7   Scope of the Study

The scope of this research is to study the perspective of interested parts as regard companies with a qualified audit report. A geographical region of Benin City was used. Using a time frame of 5 years i.e. from 2011 to 2015 (both years inclusive), a sample size of 30 was used for effective result.

1.8   Limitations of the Study

The following were some of the limitation faced by the researcher as the researchers cannot be regarded as perfect and complete in all its ramifications.

1.     Unavailability of some vital material required for the researcher and the authority to give out information. Auditors by their peculiar nature considered all their dealing and information as strictly confidential
and are very highly sensitive to their affairs.

2.     The condition under which the project itself was carried out along side with normal academic program constitute a constrain.

3.     The library facilities were inadequate, however the researcher made enormous effort to use library facilities available in the polytechnic and also the in.: net.

4.     Financial resources is another major constrain which the researcher has to cope with

1.9   Definition of Terms

Auditing: Auditing is a systematic process of objectively obtaining an evaluating evidence regarding assertions about economic actions and events to ascertain the degree of correspondence criteria and communicating he results to interested users.

Audit Report: This is a report issued by an auditor of a company at the end of an audit assignment in which he expresses an opinion whether or not the financial statement present a true and fair view of the company financial statement at the end of the year under review.

Financial Statement: This determine whether the overall financial statement present fairly in accordance with the established criteria.

Investment: This involves an enquiring into facts behind the books and accounts on technical financial and economical position of business.

Qualified Audit Report: This is a report arising from the inability of the auditor to form an opinion on the account prepared show a true and fair view of the statement of the company.

Internal Control: Internal control is the whole
system of control, financial and otherwise established by the management in order to carry on the business of the enterprise in an orderly and efficient manner, ensure adherence to management policies, safeguard the assets and secure as far as possible the completeness and accuracy of the records.