The Image of Authorized Auditors in Relation to Audit Quality and Professional and Client Identification : A Swedish Quantitative Study

Abstract: Abstract Background: Auditors play a crucial role in financial statements. This paper discusses auditor image and its relationship with audit quality, professional identification, and client identification. Preserving a favorable auditor image can lead to auditor leniency, compromising the integrity of financial reporting. The auditor's independence and objectivity in ensuring high-quality audits are of utmost importance, and auditor image is a factor that is rarely considered. The image of auditors must be better understood to comprehend their behaviors better and what influences their performance and audit quality.  Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to test if there is a relationship between auditor image, professional identification and client identification, and audit quality. Additionally, the relationship between auditor image, professional identification, and client identification will be examined.  Method: The thesis draws upon a positivistic research approach with a deductive approach using a quantitative study where a survey was sent out to authorized auditors in Sweden. A multiple regression analysis, Spearman correlation matrix, and principal component analysis have been used to analyze the data collected.  Findings: The results show a significant positive relationship between perceived professional auditor image and audit quality with a focus on economic incentives. Further, the results show a significant positive relationship between client identification and a perceived trustworthy image. The results also show that older and more experienced auditors have a significant negative relationship with audit quality with a focus on economic incentives. In comparison, younger and less experienced auditors have a significant negative relationship with a perceived trustworthy auditor image. Another result was that auditors employed at a Big Four firm have a significant positive relationship with a perceived trustworthy auditor image.