Do Audit Quality, Audit Tenure, and ESG Disclosure Enhance Earnings Quality? The Conditional Role of Firm Risk

Abstract

This study investigates whether audit quality, audit tenure, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure enhance earnings quality, while examining the moderating role of firm risk. The research is motivated by the increasing demand for reliable financial reporting and growing concerns over earnings management practices that undermine the credibility of corporate financial statements. Although previous studies have explored the individual effects of audit quality, audit tenure, and ESG disclosure on earnings quality, limited evidence exists regarding their combined influence and the conditional role of firm risk. This study employs a quantitative explanatory research design using panel data from non-financial companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) during the 2021–2025 period. Secondary data are collected from annual reports, audited financial statements, and sustainability reports, and analyzed using panel data regression with moderation analysis. The findings indicate that audit quality, audit tenure, and ESG disclosure significantly improve earnings quality by reducing discretionary accruals. Furthermore, firm risk significantly moderates these relationships, suggesting that the effectiveness of audit mechanisms and sustainability reporting depends on the firm's risk profile. The study contributes to the accounting and corporate governance literature by providing an integrated framework that links audit characteristics, ESG disclosure, and firm risk in explaining earnings quality. The results also offer practical implications for regulators, auditors, corporate managers, and investors in promoting transparent financial reporting and strengthening corporate governance practices.