Why do CFOs Become Involved in Material Accounting Manipulations?

43 Pages Posted: 1 Sep 2008 Last revised: 29 Jan 2013

See all articles by Mei Feng

Mei Feng

University of Pittsburgh - Katz Graduate School of Business

Weili Ge

University of Washington - Michael G. Foster School of Business

Shuqing Luo

University of Hong Kong

Terry J. Shevlin

University of California-Irvine; University of California-Irvine

Date Written: May 12, 2010

Abstract

This paper examines why CFOs become involved in material accounting manipulations. We find that while CFOs bear substantial legal costs when involved in accounting manipulations, these CFOs have similar equity incentives to the CFOs of matched non-manipulation firms. In contrast, CEOs of manipulation firms have higher equity incentives and more power than CEOs of matched firms. Taken together, our findings are consistent with the explanation that CFOs are involved in material accounting manipulations because they succumb to pressure from CEOs, rather than because they seek immediate personal financial benefit from their equity incentives. AAER content analysis reinforces this conclusion.

Keywords: earnings quality, accounting manipulation, CFO turnover, CEO power, incentive compensation

JEL Classification: G34, G38, M41, M43, K22

Suggested Citation

Feng, Mei and Ge, Weili and Luo, Shuqing and Shevlin, Terry J. and Shevlin, Terry J., Why do CFOs Become Involved in Material Accounting Manipulations? (May 12, 2010). AAA 2009 Financial Accounting and Reporting Section (FARS) Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1260368 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1260368

Mei Feng

University of Pittsburgh - Katz Graduate School of Business ( email )

Pittsburgh, PA 15260
United States

Weili Ge (Contact Author)

University of Washington - Michael G. Foster School of Business ( email )

Box 353200
Seattle, WA 98195-3200
United States

Shuqing Luo

University of Hong Kong ( email )

1216 K. K. Leung Building
Hong Kong, 119245
Hong Kong
852-39171533 (Phone)

Terry J. Shevlin

University of California-Irvine ( email )

Paul Merage School of Business
Irvine, CA California 92697-3125
United States
2065509891 (Phone)

University of California-Irvine ( email )

Paul Merage School of Business
Irvine, CA 92697-3125
United States
949-824-6149 (Phone)

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