Page: 01-07. Non-audit services and auditor independence: evidence from big-4-affiliated audit firms in Bangladesh.

M. S. ISLAM1 and M. J. RAHMAN2

1=Md. Shariful Islam, Assistant Manager, S. F. Ahmed & Co., Chartered Accountant of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Email:sharif5050bd@gmail.com and 2=Md. Jahidur Rahman, Assistant Professor, Department of Accounting & Finance, Wenzhou-Kean University, Zhejiang, China.

*Corresponding author’s Email: mdjahidr@kean.edu

 ABSTRACT

This paper attempts to investigate the effects of the prohibition of certain non-audit services on the independence of auditor and based on personal in-depth interviews with the Big 4 auditing firms that are affiliated with local accounting firms in Bangladesh. The approach selected for this research is a qualitative one and has a descriptive and explanatory nature.  From this research it becomes evident that independence has always been a central issue in auditing. All the respondents agreed that prohibition of non-audit services increase the appearance that the auditing firms are independent. The findings of this paper present an apparent picture of the field of auditing in Bangladesh. It will also guide the researchers for future investigations.

Keywords: Prohibition of non-audit services, Audit services, Non-audit services and Independence of the auditor.