Strategic analysis of the impact of financial reports readability on auditor fees: emphasizing the moderating role of board gender diversity

Financial report unreadability may heighten auditors’ concerns regarding management’s intentions to obscure unfavorable information. Female managers may behave differently from their male counterparts, showing greater attention to shareholder interests, ethical considerations, strengthening internal controls, and ultimately reducing audit risk. Consequently, gender diversity on the board of directors can influence the readability of financial reports and audit fees.
This study investigates the effect of financial report unreadability on audit fees, considering the moderating role of board gender diversity. Using panel regression models, the study analyzes data from 107 firms listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange for the period 2016–2023. The findings reveal that firms with more readable financial statements tend to pay lower audit fees., the presence of female directors increases audit fees while reducing the readability of financial reports.
Hypothesis testing confirms that board gender diversity moderates the relationship between report readability and audit fees in a manner that strengthens the negative association between them, ultimately leading to lower audit fees. Readable financial statements influence auditors’ risk assessments, reducing audit time and workload, and thereby decreasing fees. Conversely, female directors’ inherent risk aversion, adherence to laws and regulations, and more responsible ethical conduct create demands for stricter monitoring, which raise audit fees. Additionally, their greater conservatism compared to male directors often results in more detailed and lengthy disclosures that are harder to interpret, lowering readability. Enhanced internal control monitoring and improved reporting quality in the presence of women on boards reinforce the inverse relationship between readability and audit fees.