فرشته امیریان

The audit fee is a function of the inherent risk. Given the role of inventory on reported earnings, audit efforts to substantiate related claims will be increased and as a result, audit fees will be affected by increased audit hours, hence the purpose of the present study is to investigate this puzzling relationship between inventories and audit fees.

104 listed companies in Tehran Stock Exchange from 2011 to 2019 were selected and hypotheses tested using panel data approach.

The results of our study show that the ending inventory and initial inventory ratio and also change in inventory have a positive and significant relationship with the audit fee. Also, for inventory segments, a raw material at the beginning of the period, and changes in work in process during the period has a negative and significant relationship with audit fees. Also, the results of our additional tests show that the inventory has a negative relationship with audit efforts and a positive relationship with abnormal audit fees.

Inventories are an influential factor in determining audit fees, and since they affect the volume of evidence, they reflect the inherent risk of the audit process. Much of the auditors' attention is focused on ending inventory figures, but begging figures especially those of the primary auditor especially in the auditor can strengthen this relationship.

Investigating the role of inventory in determining audit fees can develop the scope for inherent audit risk assessment and pricing models.