The study identifies a gap in the existing literature on the relationship between audit

The gap

Evidence profile

Stated in the recommendations and cells research gap and cells future research sections of the source papers, classified as general, spanning 2 journals.

Supporting evidence — 5 representative gaps

• Audit Quality and Earnings Management: Effect of Auditor Industry Specialization in Nigeria (2026) · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · doi

  Based on the evidence presented, the following actionable recommendations are offered to distinct stakeholder groups: 7.1 For the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) The FRCN should consider amending auditor quality guidelines to explicitly include industry specialization among the criteria to be evaluated during audit firm registration and periodic quality review. Specifically, the FRCN should require audit firms to publicly disclose their industry engagement concentration metrics annually, enabling audit committees and market participants to assess the depth of sectoral expertise. This is consistent with the IAASB's recent emphasis on audit firm transparency in quality disclosures. 7.2 For the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria The SEC should revise the Corporate Governance Code to require audit committees of listed firms to document their consideration of auditor industry expertise — not merely auditor independence and fees — in the annual audit committee report. This would create a disclosure incentive for boards to prioritise specialization in auditor selection, aligning audit procurement practices with the evidence on earnings management reduction. 7.3 For the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) The NGX should incorporate auditor specialization data — derived from publicly available audit engagement disclosures — into its financial disclosure database to facilitate investor access and research. Institutional investors and analysts should incorporate auditor specialization scores into their financial quality screening models as a forward-looking indicator of earnings reliability. 7.4 For Audit Firms Audit firms — both Big 4 affiliates and national firms — should invest strategically in sector-specific audit teams, industry training programmes, and proprietary benchmarking databases that enable their auditors to identify and challenge unusual accruals more effectively than generalist practitioners. The evidence suggests that these investments translate into identifiable quality differentials that support both reputational positioning and the social value of auditing. 7.5 For Corporate Boards and Audit Committees Boards and audit committees should treat auditor selection as a governance priority rather than a compliance formality. The evidence that specialist auditors independently constrain earnings management — beyond what is achieved by Big 4 affiliation or board independence alone — underscores the strategic value of expertise-conscious auditor procurement. Audit committees should formalise assessment criteria that include industry specialization, sector-specific methodology, and the proportion of engagement team hours allocated to individuals with documented sector expertise.

  generalstated in recommendationsevidence 5/5
  Keywords: audit auditor quality industry specialization firms committees evidence expertise financial frcn engagement boards earnings sector
• The Role of Accounting Disclosure Quality in Advancing Sustainable Public Procurement Practices: Evidence from Nigeria (2026) · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · doi

  Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are made to strengthen accounting disclosure quality and enhance sustainable public procurement practices in Nigeria: 1. Strengthening Accounting Disclosure Frameworks: Public sector institutions should reinforce adherence to accounting standards by ensuring that financial Copyright © 2026 by the authors 602 Journal of Contemporary Academic Research and Methodologies (JCARM) Volume 1 | Issue 4 | May 2026 reports are accurate, timely, complete, and comparable. Regulatory bodies should intensify monitoring to improve compliance with disclosure requirements. 2. Adoption of Integrated Digital Reporting Systems: Government agencies should fully adopt integrated financial management and e-reporting systems to improve the speed, accuracy, and accessibility of procurement-related financial information. This will reduce manual errors and enhance transparency. 3. Capacity Building for Accounting and Procurement Personnel: Continuous training programmes should be implemented to equip accountants, auditors, and procurement officers with modern skills in financial reporting, sustainability reporting, and digital accounting systems. 4. Enhancing Enforcement and Accountability Mechanisms: Relevant regulatory institutions should strengthen enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with disclosure standards. Sanctions should be applied where institutions fail to meet required reporting standards.

  generalstated in recommendationsevidence 5/5
  Keywords: accounting reporting disclosure procurement financial institutions standards systems strengthen enhance public regulatory improve compliance integrated
• Audit Quality and Earnings Management: Effect of Auditor Industry Specialization in Nigeria (2026) · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · doi

  Prior studies have limitations in examining the effect of auditor industry specialization on earnings management. - The study addresses the gaps in prior studies by using a balanced panel dataset and panel regression models. - The study contributes to the empirical literature on audit quality in Sub-Saharan Africa by examining the effect of auditor industry specialization on earnings management among publicly listed firms in Nigeria.

  generalstated in cells research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: prior studies have limitations examining effect auditor industry
• Audit Quality and Earnings Management: Effect of Auditor Industry Specialization in Nigeria (2026) · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · doi

  Future research could develop finer-grained measures of auditor industry specialization using data on audit partner qualifications, industry-specific training hours, or engagement team composition. - Future research could examine the effect of real earnings management on financial reporting quality. - Future research could explore the implications of auditor industry specialization for financial reporting quality in other emerging markets.

  generalstated in cells future researchevidence 5/5
  Keywords: future research develop finer-grained measures auditor industry specialization
• Audit committee and financial reporting quality in an emerging market: Evidence from regulatory reform in Vietnam (2026) · Investment Management and Financial Innovations · doi

  The study identifies a gap in the existing literature on the relationship between audit committee attributes and financial reporting quality in emerging economies. - The study highlights the need to examine the impact of audit committees on financial reporting quality in weak institutional environments.

  generalstated in cells research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: study identifies gap existing literature relationship between audit

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