دانلود رایگان مقاله انگلیسی هشداردهی برای سوء رفتارهای مرتبط با حسابداری - الزویر 2018

ABSTRACT

Whistleblowers have been credited for uncovering financial scandals in companies globally, including Enron, Olympus Corporation, and WorldCom. Despite increasing support and incentives for whistleblowing, there generally remains reluctance to blow the whistle. Thus, the purpose of this study is to review: (1) the determinants of internal and external whistleblowing on accounting-related misconduct, (2) U.S. whistleblowing legislation on accounting-related misconduct and related research, and (3) the effects of whistleblowing on firms and whistleblowers. Within each area, suggestions for future research are offered.

 Concluding comments

The accounting profession plays an important role in the whistleblowing process because accountants and auditors are often best positioned to detect and report fraudulent misconduct. This study provides a comprehensive review of whistleblowing research on accounting-related misconduct. This review first synthesizes the determinants of internal and external whistleblowing on accountingrelated misconduct. The review finds that factors relating to the characteristics of the whistleblower, the misconduct and wrongdoer generally have similar directional influences on internal and external whistleblowing. In contrast, organizational characteristics generally different directional influences on internal and external whistleblowing. In particular, organizational responsiveness and receptivity to whistleblowing increase internal whistleblowing and decrease external whistleblowing. This review also discusses U.S. whistleblowing legislation on accounting-related misconduct and synthesizes related research. The SOX Act requires U.S. companies to provide an anonymous reporting channel. Research findings suggest that providing an anonymous reporting channel helps to encourage whistleblowing when the perceived costs of reporting are high. The Dodd-Frank Act introduced financial rewards for whistleblowing. Research findings document that financial rewards are positively associated with whistleblowing intentions, suggesting that financial rewards are effective at encouraging whistleblowing. This review further synthesizes the research on the consequences of whistleblowing to firms and to whistleblowers. Research generally finds that firms subject to an external whistleblowing event experience negative firm economic consequences; such firms however are more likely to subsequently improve their financial reporting quality and corporate governance. Research also finds that whistleblowers are more likely to experience retaliation when they have lower responsibility for reporting, when there is less support for whistleblowing from organizational members, when the audit committee is of a poorer quality and when fraud is more severe. Avenues for future research have been provided in the respective sections. Addressing those questions will help contribute to a better understanding on whistleblowing on accounting-related misconduct.