The effect of firm characteristics and good corporate governance characteristics to earning management behaviors

Abstract

Purpose: This research is carried out to investigate the influence of firm characteristics and good governance characteristics to earnings management behavior. Furthermore, the research is expanded to determine the predictive discretionary accruals models in Indonesia. The author utilizing firm listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange during 2014 – 2018 as research object. Design/methodology/approach: The research samples is selected by utilizing the purposive sampling method. In addition, the data analyze is conducted through E-Views version 10. Three discretionary accruals models is used to define earnings management behavior. The research assumed firm characteristics factors such as financial performance, firm size, leverage, and share issuance activity and good governance characteristics such as board of directors’ size and auditor’s size. Findings: The research discovers that firm characteristics can accentuate the earnings management behavior significantly. In other hand, in good corporate governance characteristics only big four auditor is significant. The research also find that discretionary accruals model of Jones, Dechow, and Kothari are predictive in Indonesia. Practical implications: The discoveries of this research provide understanding for investors that enforcement on both governance and monitoring mechanism are essential approach to reduce earnings management behavior. Originality/value: The research investigated three models of discretionary accruals’ capability in predicting earnings management behavior, and found out all discretionary accruals model are still relevant to be use in predictive to define earnings management behavior in Indonesia.