THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BOARD INDEPENDENCE AND FINANCIAL REPORTING QUALITY OF NON-FINANCIAL LISTED FIRMS IN SAUDI ARABIA

This study examines the relationship between independent boards and Financial Reporting Quality (FRQ) of non-financial listed firms in Saudi Arabia. The current study uses abnormal accrual to measure FRQ. Alternatively, earnings persistence is used to enhance the validity of the study. The Logit model is also used as an additional test to test the endogeneity problem. Using a sample of 417 firms in the period of 2013-2016, this study found that the presence of an independent board is not related to improve FRQ of non-financial listed firms in Saudi Arabia. This result is consistent with the view that the corporate governance system works differently in an environment with structural and organizational biases, such as when firms are controlled by CEOs and top management.