CEO Characteristics and Audit Quality of Listed Firms in Nigeria: The Moderating Role of Audit Committee Gender Diversity
Abstract This study examined the moderating role of audit committee gender on the effect of CEO characteristics on audit quality of listed firms in Nigeria. The study used a sample of 94 out of a population of 156 listed firms in Nigeria using their secondary data that spanned from 2013 to 2022. The study employed both robust fixed effect regression (audit fees) and logistic regression (Audit firm size) and discovered that CEO Ownership interaction with audit fees is not significant. However, it is positive and significant with audit firm size. CEO tenure interaction with audit committee gender has negative moderating effect on audit fees while exhibiting positive effect on audit firm size. The study concluded that a more gender diverse audit committee will weaken the negative influence of CEO tenure and CEO ownership on audit quality of listed firms in Nigeria. The study then recommends among others that listed firms in Nigeria should be encouraged or required to have gender-diverse audit committees, as this has been shown to improve governance ethics and promote higher audit quality. This could be achieved through stringent corporate governance policies and/or listing requirements by stock exchanges, particularly the Nigeria Exchange Group. Keywords: Audit quality, CEO characteristics, Audit Committee Gender, Audit Fees. JEL: M41, M47, M48 Empirical Research
Keywords: Audit quality, CEO characteristics, Audit Committee Gender, Audit Fees.
Citation: Ebele, E.E., Yahaya, O.A., Gambo, S.J., Okpanachi, J., & Finance, N.P.O.E.0.D.O.A.A. (2025). CEO Characteristics and Audit Quality of Listed Firms in Nigeria: The Moderating Role of Audit Committee Gender Diversity. International Journal of Innovative Research in Accounting and Sustainability, 10(1), 66-76.