Supervisors: Claus Holm & Nikolaj Niebuhr Lambertsen
Discussants: Jakob Arnoldi & Ann-Kristina Løkke Møller

Abstract
This presentation will outline my PhD project with emphasis on the first paper, supplemented by a brief update on the completed (remaining) teaching hours and ECTS points.

My first paper investigates how audit quality is affected following the loss of a close family member. The study examines the impact of bereavement on professional performance for auditors who experience the loss of an immediate family member compared to auditors who do not. Using a difference-in-differences design and proprietary data from Danish Statistics, I assess how disruptive personal events affect audit quality in the years following the loss.

I expect my second paper will extend this analysis by exploring heterogeneity in the effects of bereavement, by examining factors such as the auditor’s relationship to the deceased, the circumstances of the loss, and individual or contextual factors. Thereby, offering a deeper understanding of how personal life events traverse with audit quality.

The project will contribute to the understanding of the emotional and cognitive effects of bereavement on decision-making in high-stakes professions. By incorporating and adding emotional and cognitive strain as audit inputs, this research broadens the understanding of what drives audit quality and extends the theoretical framework by Francis (2011). It underscores the need for audit firms and regulators to consider human factors - such as well-being - as essential to maintaining consistent and reliable audits.

The focus of the third paper remains open for the time being.

Literature:
Francis, J. R. (2011). A framework for understanding and researching audit quality. Auditing: A journal of practice & theory, 30(2), 125-152.

Everyone is welcome!