ABSTRACT

This study examined the impact of audit characteristics on audit quality oflistedfirms in Nigeria. The study employed ex-post facto research design using a sample offour listed commercial banks for the period often years (2008-2018). Ordinary Least Square (OLS) multiple regression technique was employed in the analysis ofthepanel data collectedfor the study. The study found that audit independence has a significant positive impact on audit quality offirms in Nigeria, audit tenure has insignificant negative effect on audit quality of firms in Nigeria and thatjoint audit has significant negative effect on audit quality offirms in Nigeria at 99% confidence level. Thefindingsuggested that, audit independence ofauditfirms in the sampled banks in Nigeria have improved audit quality while longer audit tenure and joint audit has not improved the quality ofauditing in the sampled banks during the period under review. The study recommends that auditors should be monitored and there should be adequate regulatory provision to encourage the independence ofthe auditfirms. It is also recommended that external auditors oflistedfirms in Nigeria should uphold the ethics oftheir profession as they observe ethical codes such as integrity, objectivity and confidentiality to ensure that even during longer auditor-client relationships, the quality of auditing and financial reporting should not be hampered. Lastly, the engagement ofa single Big4 audit firm should be encouraged.