Important Role of Audit Committee

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 63 views

The Effect of Good Corporate Governance, Auditor Quality, and Profitability on Earnings Management in Manufacturing Companies Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange

Introduction

Earnings management is a practice used by companies to manipulate their financial statements for various purposes, such as increasing their value in the eyes of investors or avoiding tax obligations. This practice can provide a misleading picture of a company's performance and have a negative impact on stakeholders. In Indonesia, the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) has implemented various regulations to ensure good corporate governance (GCG) and transparency in listed companies. However, the effectiveness of these regulations in preventing earnings management practices remains unclear.

This study aims to investigate the effect of GCG, auditor quality, and profitability on earnings management in manufacturing companies listed on the IDX during the 2013-2015 period. The researchers used a purposive sampling method to choose 69 manufacturing companies as a sample and analyzed the data using a multiple linear regression model through the SPSS program.

The Importance of Analyzing Earnings Management

Earnings management is a critical issue in the corporate world, as it can have a significant impact on stakeholders, including investors, creditors, and employees. By manipulating financial statements, companies can create a misleading picture of their performance, which can lead to incorrect investment decisions, financial losses, and even bankruptcy. Therefore, it is essential to analyze earnings management practices to ensure transparency and accountability in companies.

The Relationship Between GCG and Earnings Management

Good GCG is expected to suppress earnings management practices by providing a framework for companies to operate in a transparent and accountable manner. The Audit Committee, as an important part of GCG, plays a role in overseeing and controlling the company's financial activities, including accounting practices. The existence of a professional and experienced independent board of commissioners is also expected to improve the quality of supervision and transparency in the company.

Auditor Quality and Its Important Role

High-quality auditors are expected to minimize earnings management practices by identifying and preventing errors or manipulations in financial statements. Independent auditors with high competence can provide an objective opinion on a company's financial statements, which can help to prevent earnings management practices.

Profitability as a Driving Factor

Profitability is an indicator of company performance that is closely related to earnings management. Companies that want to increase their profitability may be tempted to manipulate numbers in financial statements. Therefore, it is essential to analyze the relationship between profitability and earnings management to understand the driving factors behind earnings management practices.

Research Implications

The results of this study provide some important implications:

Important Role of Audit Committee: The Audit Committee must continue to increase its role in overseeing and controlling company accounting practices to prevent profit manipulation.
Increased Transparency: The company needs to increase transparency of its financial statements so that investors can obtain accurate information about company performance.
The Importance of Auditor Quality: The government and IDX need to continue to strive to improve the quality and independence of auditors in Indonesia.

Suggestions for Further Research

Further research can be done by expanding the scope of research, for example by:

Involving Other Variables: Involving other variables that are thought to affect earnings management, such as leverage, company size, and ownership structure.
Examining the Effect of Earnings Management: Examining the effect of earnings management on the company's financial performance in the long run.
Comparing Research Results: Comparing research results with manufacturing companies in other countries.

Conclusion

This study provides an important contribution in understanding the factors that influence earnings management in manufacturing companies in Indonesia. The results of this study are expected to be useful for investors, regulators, and other stakeholders to increase company transparency and accountability in Indonesia.

Limitations of the Study

This study has some limitations, including:

Sample Size: The sample size of 69 manufacturing companies may not be representative of all manufacturing companies listed on the IDX.
Time Period: The study was conducted over a three-year period, which may not be sufficient to capture the full impact of earnings management practices.
Variables: The study only analyzed the effect of GCG, auditor quality, and profitability on earnings management, and did not consider other variables that may affect earnings management practices.

Future Research Directions

Future research can be done by:

Expanding the Scope of Research: Expanding the scope of research to include other variables that may affect earnings management practices.
Conducting Longitudinal Studies: Conducting longitudinal studies to examine the effect of earnings management on the company's financial performance in the long run.
Comparing Research Results: Comparing research results with manufacturing companies in other countries to identify best practices in preventing earnings management practices.

References

[1] Beasley, M. S. (1996). An empirical analysis of the relation between board composition and financial statement quality. Accounting Review, 71(4), 443-466.
[2] Dechow, P. M., & Skinner, D. J. (2000). Earnings management: Reconciling the views of accounting academics, practitioners, and regulators. Accounting Review, 75(2), 251-274.
[3] Healy, P. M., & Wahlen, J. M. (1999). A review of the earnings management literature and its implications for standard setting. Accounting Horizons, 13(4), 365-383.

Note: The references provided are a selection of the most relevant studies on earnings management and are not an exhaustive list.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Earnings Management in Manufacturing Companies Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange

Q: What is earnings management?

A: Earnings management is a practice used by companies to manipulate their financial statements for various purposes, such as increasing their value in the eyes of investors or avoiding tax obligations.

Q: Why is earnings management a concern?

A: Earnings management can provide a misleading picture of a company's performance and have a negative impact on stakeholders, including investors, creditors, and employees.

Q: What is good corporate governance (GCG)?

A: Good GCG is a framework for companies to operate in a transparent and accountable manner, which includes the existence of a professional and experienced independent board of commissioners and an Audit Committee that oversees and controls the company's financial activities.

Q: How does GCG affect earnings management?

A: Good GCG is expected to suppress earnings management practices by providing a framework for companies to operate in a transparent and accountable manner.

Q: What is the role of the Audit Committee in preventing earnings management?

A: The Audit Committee plays a crucial role in overseeing and controlling the company's financial activities, including accounting practices, to prevent profit manipulation.

Q: What is the importance of auditor quality in preventing earnings management?

A: High-quality auditors are expected to minimize earnings management practices by identifying and preventing errors or manipulations in financial statements.

Q: How does profitability affect earnings management?

A: Profitability is an indicator of company performance that is closely related to earnings management. Companies that want to increase their profitability may be tempted to manipulate numbers in financial statements.

Q: What are the implications of this study?

A: The results of this study provide some important implications, including the important role of the Audit Committee, increased transparency, and the importance of auditor quality.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: This study has some limitations, including the sample size, time period, and variables considered.

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: Future research can be done by expanding the scope of research, conducting longitudinal studies, and comparing research results with manufacturing companies in other countries.

Q: What are the practical implications of this study?

A: The results of this study are expected to be useful for investors, regulators, and other stakeholders to increase company transparency and accountability in Indonesia.

Q: How can companies prevent earnings management practices?

A: Companies can prevent earnings management practices by implementing good GCG, having a professional and experienced independent board of commissioners, and an Audit Committee that oversees and controls the company's financial activities.

Q: What are the consequences of earnings management practices?

A: Earnings management practices can have a negative impact on stakeholders, including investors, creditors, and employees, and can lead to financial losses and even bankruptcy.

Q: How can investors protect themselves from earnings management practices?

A: Investors can protect themselves from earnings management practices by conducting thorough research on the company, analyzing financial statements, and seeking advice from financial experts.

Q: What are the regulatory implications of this study?

A: The results of this study have implications for regulatory bodies, such as the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), to improve the quality and independence of auditors in Indonesia.

Q: How can regulators prevent earnings management practices?

A: Regulators can prevent earnings management practices by implementing strict regulations, increasing transparency, and improving the quality and independence of auditors.

Q: What are the future directions for research on earnings management?

A: Future research on earnings management can be done by expanding the scope of research, conducting longitudinal studies, and comparing research results with manufacturing companies in other countries.

Q: What are the practical implications of this study for companies listed on the IDX?

A: The results of this study are expected to be useful for companies listed on the IDX to increase transparency and accountability in their financial reporting.

Q: How can companies listed on the IDX prevent earnings management practices?

A: Companies listed on the IDX can prevent earnings management practices by implementing good GCG, having a professional and experienced independent board of commissioners, and an Audit Committee that oversees and controls the company's financial activities.

Q: What are the consequences of earnings management practices for companies listed on the IDX?

A: Earnings management practices can have a negative impact on companies listed on the IDX, including financial losses and even delisting.

Q: How can investors protect themselves from earnings management practices in companies listed on the IDX?

A: Investors can protect themselves from earnings management practices in companies listed on the IDX by conducting thorough research on the company, analyzing financial statements, and seeking advice from financial experts.

Q: What are the regulatory implications of this study for companies listed on the IDX?

A: The results of this study have implications for regulatory bodies, such as the IDX, to improve the quality and independence of auditors in Indonesia.

Q: How can regulators prevent earnings management practices in companies listed on the IDX?

A: Regulators can prevent earnings management practices in companies listed on the IDX by implementing strict regulations, increasing transparency, and improving the quality and independence of auditors.

Note: The FAQs provided are a selection of the most relevant questions and answers on earnings management and are not an exhaustive list.