Title: Auditor size, tenure and the dual dating of audit reports

Authors: Henri Akono

Addresses: Maine Business School, The University of Maine, 5723 Donald P. Corbett Business Building Room 302, Orono, ME, 04469-5723, USA

Abstract: Using the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) AP Form data from 2017 to 2020, this study examines the association between auditor size, tenure, and the likelihood of dual dating of audit reports. Results show no significant effect of auditor type on the likelihood that the audit report is dual dated. However, auditor tenure is negatively associated with the likelihood of dual dating the audit report. Further analyses show that the tenure effect is more pronounced for non-Big 4 clients but is insignificant for Big 4 clients. The inferences are robust to the inclusion of control variables and various likelihood model specifications. In sum, the findings suggest that the dual-dating decision is driven by costs related to conducting additional testing, rather than by differential levels of audit quality across auditor type or tenure. Collectively, these findings add to the understanding of factors that drive the dual-dating decision.

Keywords: auditor type; auditor tenure; dual dating; litigation settings; PCAOB AP Form.

DOI: 10.1504/AJFA.2026.153117

American Journal of Finance and Accounting, 2026 Vol.9 No.2, pp.99 - 127

Received: 17 Feb 2025
Accepted: 15 Dec 2025
Published online: 22 Apr 2026 *

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