Determinants of Fraud Detection Ability Among Auditors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61255/jeemba.v4i1.847Keywords:
Auditor Ability, Competence, Independence, Professional Skepticism, FraudAbstract
Purpose – This study aims to examine the influence of competence, independence, work experience, time pressure, and professional skepticism on auditors’ ability to detect fraud, particularly in the context of Public Accounting Firms in Southern Sumatra, Indonesia, where prior studies have shown inconsistent results.
Design/methodology/approach – This research employs a quantitative approach using primary data collected through questionnaires distributed to auditors. A total of 64 auditors participated as respondents. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression with SPSS software to test the proposed relationships between variables.
Finding/Results – The results reveal that competence, independence, work experience, and professional skepticism have a positive and significant effect on auditors’ ability to detect fraud. However, time pressure does not have a significant effect on fraud detection ability.
Originality/Value – This study contributes to the auditing literature by providing empirical evidence from an emerging economy, specifically Southern Sumatra, Indonesia. It emphasizes the critical role of professional competence, independence, and skepticism in enhancing auditors’ effectiveness in fraud detection, offering practical implications for improving audit quality in similar contexts.
Abstract views: 51
,
PDF downloads: 51
Downloads
References
Al-Sendy, A. M. A., Jameel, S. Z. M., & Hamoudi, K. M. T. (2024). The Effect of Auditors’ Experience, Workload, Red Flags, and Personality Type on Their Ability to Detect Fraud: Empirical Study at a Public Accounting Office in Kurdistan Region. World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 20(3), 283–298. https://doi.org/10.47556/J.WJEMSD.20.3-4.2024.6
Amlayasa, A. A. B., Sanjaya, I. G. N., Pamungkas, I. D., Komaludin, A., & Darma, D. C. (2025). The Function of Intrinsic Motivation in Driving Self-Efficacy for Fraud Detection. International Journal of Accounting and Economics Studies, 12(5), 628–636. https://doi.org/10.14419/mn469x73
Appelbaum, D. (2022). Analytics and fraud detection. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, 19(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.2308/JETA-2021-018
Appelbaum, D., Kogan, A., & Vasarhelyi, M. A. (2022). Digital Transformation and the Future of Auditing: A Research Agenda. Journal of Information Systems, 36(3), 51–68. https://doi.org/10.2308/ISYS-2021-058
Atmanegara, A. W., Muda, I., & Adnans, A. A. (2021). Can the Risk Management Implementation Intensify the Internal Auditor Expertise Finding Risk in Local Government? Webology, 18(Special Issue), 646–653. https://doi.org/10.14704/WEB/V18SI05/WEB18252
Beyer, B., Draeger, M., & Rapley, E. T. (2026). Audit process ineffectiveness: evidence from audit report errors. Journal of Accounting Literature, 48(1), 359–390. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAL-09-2023-0159
Bierstaker, J. L., Brazel, J. F., & Carpenter, T. D. (2023). Fraud detection and emerging technologies in auditing. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, 20(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.2308/JETA-2022-012
Bratten, B. (2021). The audit of fair values and estimates. Accounting Horizons, 35(2), 127–152. https://doi.org/10.2308/HORIZONS-19-189
Brazel, J. F., Jackson, S. B., & Schaefer, T. F. (2021). Auditor judgment and professional skepticism in detecting fraud. The Accounting Review, 96(3), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.2308/TAR-2018-0453
Brown-Liburd, H., Issa, H., & Lombardi, D. (2021). Behavioral Implications of Big Data for Audit Judgment. Accounting Horizons, 35(1), 51–72. https://doi.org/10.2308/HORIZONS-19-157
Carpenter, T. D., Gaynor, L. M., & McDaniel, L. (2022). Professional skepticism and audit judgment. Journal of Information Systems, 36(1), 119–140. https://doi.org/10.2308/ISYS-2020-017
Coffee, J. C. (2020). Systemic Risk After Wirecard: What the Scandal Tells Us About Audit Failure. European Business Organization Law Review, 21(4), 603–630. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40804-020-00193-9
DeFond, M., & Zhang, J. (2014). A Review of Archival Auditing Research. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 58(2), 275–326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2014.09.002
Freida, A. O., Mustapha, N. D. B., Aronmwan, E., Hua, J. Y. S., & Bahari, S. N. B. A. (2024). Determinants of auditors fraud detection capability: Evidence from Malaysia. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2951(1). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0183235
Ghozali, I. (2018a). Aplikasi Analisis Multivariate dengan Program IBM SPSS 25. Badan Penerbit Universitas Diponogoro.
Ghozali, I. (2018b). Aplikasi Analisis Multivariate dengan program IBM SPSS 255. Badan Penerbit Universitas Diponegoro.
Griffith, E. E., Hammersley, J. S., & Kadous, K. (2021). Audits of complex estimates. Contemporary Accounting Research, 38(3), 1984–2016. https://doi.org/10.1111/1911-3846.12674
Griffith, E. E., Hammersley, J. S., & Kadous, K. (2022). Cognitive processes and auditor judgment in complex environments. The Accounting Review, 97(4), 145–168. https://doi.org/10.2308/TAR-2019-045
Gul, F. A., Chen, C. J. P., & Tsui, J. S. L. (2020). Audit experience and judgment. Contemporary Accounting Research. https://doi.org/10.1111/1911-3846.12551
Hammersley, J. S. (2021). Fraud Risk Assessment and Auditor Judgment. Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory, 40(2), 101–124. https://doi.org/10.2308/AJPT-19-037
Hamshari, Y. M., Ali, H. Y., & Alqam, M. A. (2021). The Relationship of Professional Skepticism to the Risks of Auditing and Internal Control, and the Discovery of Fraud and Core Errors in the Financial Statements in Jordan. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 10(2), 105–117. https://doi.org/10.36941/ajis-2021-0042
Hariyani, E., Putri, D., & Santoso, B. (2024). Auditor behavior and fraud detection in emerging markets. Asian Review of Accounting, 32(1), 55–70. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARA-2023-0123
Hope, O.-K., Langli, J. C., & Thomas, W. B. (2022). Auditor Independence and Audit Quality. The Accounting Review, 97(4), 215–243. https://doi.org/10.2308/TAR-2018-0482
Hope, O.-K., & Wang, J. (2022). Auditor independence and reporting quality. Contemporary Accounting Research, 39(1), 200–220. https://doi.org/10.1111/1911-3846.12745
Hurtt, R. K., Brown-Liburd, H., Earley, C., & Krishnamoorthy, G. (2020a). Research on Auditor Professional Skepticism: Literature Synthesis and Opportunities for Future Research. Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory, 39(1), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.2308/ajpt-52503
Hurtt, R. K., Brown-Liburd, H., Earley, C., & Krishnamoorthy, G. (2020b). Research on Auditor Professional Skepticism. Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory, 39(1), 1–29.
IAASB. (2021a). ISA 240: Fraud standard. IFAC.
IAASB. (2021b). ISA 240: The Auditor Responsibilities Relating to Fraud in an Audit of Financial Statements. International Federation of Accountants. https://www.ifac.org
Jensen, M. C., & Meckling, W. H. (1976). Theory Of The Firm: Managerial Behavior, Agency Costs And Ownership Structure. Journal of Financial Economics, 3, 305–360.
Jensen, M., & Meckling, W. (1976). Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs, and ownership structure. The Economic Nature of the Firm: A Reader, Third Edition, 283–303. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511817410.023
Khairunnisa, H., Zairin, G. M., Amirul, S. M., Prihatni, R., & Rachman, H. (2025). Unveiling the Auditor’s Lens: Impact of Workload, Time Pressure, Professional Skepticism, and Competence to Fraud Detection. Studies in Business and Economics, 20(1), 77–96. https://doi.org/10.2478/sbe-2025-0005
Knechel, W. R., & Salterio, S. (2021). Auditing: Assurance and Risk. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429280658
Messier, W., Glover, S., & Prawitt, D. (2022). Auditing and Assurance Services: A Systematic Approach. McGraw-Hill Education.
Mustikarini, A., Der, B. A., & Stuart, I. C. (2022). Applying ISA 240 for Fraud Detection and Resolution: Evidence from Indonesia and Ghana. Journal of International Accounting Research, 21(3), 103–125. https://doi.org/10.2308/JIAR-2021-024
Nelson, M., & Tan, H. (2021a). Judgment and Decision Making in Auditing. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 89, 101243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2020.101243
Nelson, M., & Tan, H. T. (2021b). Judgment and Decision Making in Auditing: A Research Synthesis. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 89, 101243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2020.101243
Nouraldeen, R. M. (2025). Competent and Independent Auditors but Cannot Detect Fraud!! Do They Exercise Professional Skepticism? International Journal of Disclosure and Governance. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41310-025-00296-1
Nurleni, Darmawati, M. (2024). Enhancing Fraud Detection Capacities: The Role Of Auditor Training, Professional Skepticism, And Integrity In Government Internal Control Mechanisms In Indonesia. Revista de Gestao Social e Ambiental, 18(8). https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v18n8-094
Piaget, J. (1977). The Development of Thought: Equilibration of Cognitive Structures. Viking Press.
Pratiwi, W., Rizal, N., Indrianasari, N. T., Wiyono, M. W., & Ifa, K. (2019). Auditor competence, auditor independence, auditor experience, audit fees and time budget pressure against fraud detection. Journal of Advanced Research in Dynamical and Control Systems, 11(12), 26–33. https://doi.org/10.5373/JARDCS/V11I12/20193208
Prianthara, I. B. T., Setini, M., & Munidewi, I. A. B. (2023). Effect of auditor experience, independence, professional skepticism, and ability to detect fraud on capital spirituality audit results quality as moderating factors. International Journal of Intellectual Property Management, 13(2), 101–129. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJIPM.2023.130461
Riadi, S., Nurrahmadini, E. P., Wijayani, D. I. L., & Harlan, F. B. (2025). Fraud Detection Unveiled: How Audit Quality Shapes Auditors’ Detection Capabilities? International Review of Management and Marketing , 15(2), 254–261. https://doi.org/10.32479/irmm.18188
Saidon, R., Abdullah, M., & Rahman, N. (2025). Toward understanding auditors’ fraud detection ability: An integrative framework. International Journal of Auditing. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijau.12245
Sihombing, E., & Muda, I. (2019). The effect of forensic accounting, training, experience, work load and professional skeptic on auditors ability to detect of fraud. International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research, 8(8), 474–480. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85071023316&partnerID=40&md5=f5cd44e3176c126bb8ae64ef6b05f8bf
Subawa, N. S., Ningrat, F. A., Utami, M. S. M., Prabarini, N. S. D., Yanti, N. K. W., & Basmantra, I. N. (2024). Auditors Ability in Detecting Fraud: Evidence from External Auditor in Bali. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, 924 LNNS, 506–515. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-53998-5_46
Sugiyono. (2017). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, dan R&D. Alfabeta.
Sulistyawati, A. I., A’yun, A. Q., Dwi Nugroho, A. H., & Dwianto, A. (2024). Determinant Factors of Auditor’s Ability to Detect Fraud: Auditor Proffesional Scepticism as Moderation. Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(3), 1067–1083. https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v3i3.3482
Svanstrom, T. (2022a). Time Pressure, Training Activities and Dysfunctional Auditor Behaviour. Managerial Auditing Journal, 37(6), 739–758. https://doi.org/10.1108/MAJ-05-2021-3147
Svanstrom, T. (2022b). Time Pressure and Audit Quality. Managerial Auditing Journal, 37(6), 739–758. https://doi.org/10.1108/MAJ-05-2021-3147
Trompeter, G., Carpenter, T., Desai, N., Jones, K., & Riley, R. (2021). A Synthesis of Fraud-Related Research. Journal of Accounting Literature, 47, 1–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acclit.2021.100513
Tuemmler, T., & Quick, R. (2025). Auditor judgment and fraud detection under environmental pressure. International Journal of Auditing.
Utami, L. W. (2023). Determinant of Auditors’ Judgment on the Detection of Fraudulent Financial Statements. Management and Accounting Review, 22(1), 181–200. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85156166635&partnerID=40&md5=e124aab9db4d6fa332554d156d91ad1b
Wahidahwati, W., & Asyik, N. F. (2022). Determinants of Auditors Ability in Fraud Detection. Cogent Business and Management, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2022.2130165.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Tertiarto Wahyudi, Umi Kalsum, Rika Henda Safitri

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
















Email: fadhila.della@gmail.com, andika.isma@unm.ac.id