Detail Cantuman

Abstract: Scandals in auditing have deteriorated the credibility of the accounting profession. The low law enforcement and concentrated ownership structure in Indonesia (La Porta et al., 1999; Siregar, 2006) has led to lower auditor independence. This study uses social cognitive theory in modeling. Based on social cognitive theory, law enforcement influences auditor’s concern to professional sanction. Then, the concern to professional sanction is cognitive which influence auditor's independence. The objectives of this research are to examine the effect of work context to the level of auditor’s concern to professional sanction, the role of auditor’s concern to professional sanction to his or her professionalism and independence. Based on scenario-based surveys in Jakarta, Surabaya, Semarang, Denpasar, Yogyakarta, we received 186 usable questionnaires (83 questionnaires from auditors working in non-big four accounting firms and 103 questionnaires from auditors who work in big four firms). This study uses multiple regression analysis and independent sample test. This study found that work context did not influence the level of auditor's concern to professional sanction but auditor's concern to professional sanction influences his or her independence to the audited. Finally, this research provides evidence that professionalism and concern to professional sanction have substitution effect to auditor’s independence.
Keywords: Concern to Professional Sanction, Auditor’s Independence, Work Context, Social Cognitive Theory