How does this happen when newly-hired auditing staff are fostered to become auditors?

Auditors are important so that the economic system will function. But what really happens when newly-hired auditing employees at audit firms are fostered to become auditors? And why do so many newly recruited employees quit the profession after a couple of years? Researchers at Mälardalen University (MDH) are currently investigating this matter.

The research project, which is carried out in collaboration with researchers at Stockholm University, will mainly delve into questions about how values and attitudes about the auditor's profession and occupation change over time among employees at audit firms. The focus, according to Tobias Johansson, Professor of Business Administration, accounting and governance, will be on how and why these values and attitudes are shaped in certain ways.

Why is it important to carry out research on this?

“The values of the auditor's profession are central to understanding their function in the economic system. How they can balance the upholding of independence while at the same time generating revenue are examples of a conflict of values whose outcome affects the quality and functionality of the audit on the market. Another topical issue on which we need more knowledge is to better understand how the professional scepticism that governs the profession is created and occurs over time. That is to say, how does it happen that newly-hired audit employees at audit firms are fostered to become auditors?” says Tobias Johansson.

How can the results of research in this field be used?

“As we will use survey studies that span a long period of time, the results can help the audit firms understand how certain attitudes develop over time. This can help the auditing firms to understand better why many newly-recruited employees leave the profession after a couple of years and do not move on to become authorised auditors," says Tobias Johansson.

Research in cooperation

The research project "Från byrårekryt till revisor: (From agency recruit to auditor): En longitudinell studie om selektering och socialisering av revisionsmedarbetare.” (A longitudinal study on the selection and fostering of audit employees)” is being run together with two researchers from Stockholm University and is financed from funds from the Jan Wallander and Tom Hedelius Foundations and the Tore Browaldh Foundation.

More information about the research being conducted by the research group Accounting and Control: