Size of audit fees and perceptions of auditors' ability to resist management pressure in audit conflict situations

Using a multi‐factor ANOVA design and forty‐nine bankers as subjects, this study examined the effects of audit fee size, management advisory services, audit firm size and competition on perceptions of the auditors'ability to resist management pressure in an audit conflict situation. It postulates that size of the audit fee is a major explanatory factor regardless of the provision of management advisory services, audit firm size or level of competition. Results supported the hypothesized effects of these variables and, in particular, that size of audit fee affects perceptions of the auditors'ability to resist management pressure regardless of the other variables. Copyright © 1991, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved