AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERTISE AND FINANCIAL REPORTING LAG OF THE NIGERIAN LISTED COMPANIES

Abstract

This research assesses the effect of audit committee financial expertise on the financial reporting lag of Nigerian listed firms. The study sampled data of 68 companies from 2014 to 2023 and analysed it using the fixed effect method. The research outcome reveals that audit committee financial expertise has a significant negative effect on financial reporting lag, which is consistent with agency and resource dependency views. It was also found that audit committee independence, audit committee size, profitability, and institutional ownership may enhance timely financial reporting disclosure, while COVID and leverage may increase financial reporting lag.  The major finding implies that firms can reduce their financial reporting lags by constituting their audit committees with more financial experts. The research outcome has policy implications for managers and regulators on enhancing timely disclosure and boosting investors’ confidence.