Predicting Auditors’ Accountability Behavior Toward Environmental Issues Using Social Role Analysis

Authors

    Leyla Arab Department of Accounting, Zah.C, Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran.
    Reza Sotudeh * Department of Financial and Accounting, Faculty of Humanities, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran Sotudeh@meybod.ac.ir
    Abbasali Haghparast Department of Accounting, Zah.C, Islamic Azad university, Zahedan, Iran.
    Alireza Hirad Department of Accounting, Khas.C, Islamic Azad university, Khash, Iran.

Keywords:

ethical commitment, institutional pressure, social role, environmental issues, Accountability behavior, auditors

Abstract

The present study was conducted with the aim of predicting auditors’ accountability behavior toward environmental issues using social role analysis. In this study, the social role of auditors was considered as the main factor, institutional pressures as the mediating variable, and ethical commitment as the moderating variable. The statistical population included auditors active in the country’s major auditing organizations, from which 200 individuals were selected through stratified random sampling, and data were collected via questionnaire. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results showed that the social role of auditors has a positive and significant effect on environmental accountability behavior. Furthermore, institutional pressures acted as a mediator of this relationship, and ethical commitment played a moderating role. The findings confirm the importance of considering social and ethical dimensions in the auditing profession and highlight the key role of auditors in promoting environmental responsibility. This study provides practical recommendations for professional bodies, policymakers, and organizations to enhance auditors’ environmental accountability.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Akbari, H., & Pourzamani, F. (2020). Investigating the relationship between environmental auditing and financial reporting quality with an emphasis on corporate management structure. Quarterly Journal of Auditing and Management Accounting, 9(3), 22-35.

Alipour, K., Mohammadi, S., & Asadi, B. (2025). The role of modern technologies in improving environmental auditors' accountability. Journal of Information Technology and Auditing, 1(1), 34-50.

Brown, A., & Green, R. (2022). Technology Adoption and Environmental Auditor Responsiveness. Journal of Environmental Accounting, 14(2), 89-110.

Garcia, M., & Thompson, P. (2024). Institutional Pressures and Auditor Behavior in Environmental Reporting. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 105, 101-120.

Garcia, P., & Zhang, L. (2023). The role of auditing in ESG disclosure: A systematic literature review. Journal of Sustainability Assurance.

Hans, M., Vanderlaan, M., & Clark, L. (2024). Are ESG issues in key audit matters? Journal of Accounting Literature.

Jafari, N. (2022). Investigating the impact of international environmental reporting standards on the behavior of Iranian auditors. Journal of Accounting and Management, 6(4), 95-115.

Kamali, M. (2025). The role of auditors in maintaining social legitimacy of organizations with a focus on environmental reporting. Management Research Journal, 12(2), 75-90.

Karimi, S., Ahmadi, R., & Rezaei, F. (2025). Analyzing the social role of auditors in enhancing environmental accountability. Journal of Accounting and Organizational Sustainability, 7(2), 135-115.

Khani, M., & Safari, A. (2025). Examining the impact of social role analysis on auditors' accountability behavior regarding environmental issues. Iranian Journal of Accounting Sciences, 9(2), 145-167.

Lee, S., & Kim, H. (2023). The Impact of Professional Norms and Cultural Differences on Environmental Audit Practices. International Journal of Auditing, 27(3), 250-273.

Mohammadi, R., & Talebi, S. (2023). The role of modern technologies in improving environmental audit quality in Iran. Journal of Information Technology and Auditing, 3(1), 30-55.

Mohd Jamil, N., Abdul Ghani, N. M., & Rozali, N. H. (2023). The internal auditors' responses in environmental auditing practices: Problem solvers vs. checker. https://doi.org/10.22495/cgobrv7i3p14

Moradi, N. (2024). Analyzing the effect of institutional pressures on auditors' accountability regarding sustainability issues. Quarterly Journal of Auditing and Financial Management, 8(4), 45-65.

Najafi, R. (2025). The theory of the social role of auditors and predicting accountability behavior in environmental issues. Journal of Accounting and Management Sciences, 6(3), 138-155.

Nami Fard Tehran, F. (2024). Blockchain technology model in the management accounting unit of manufacturing companies. Strategic Management Accounting Quarterly, 1(1), 107-138.

Nasiri, A., & Hosseini, N. (2025). Investigating the impact of international auditing standards on accountability in environmental reports. Quarterly Journal of Management and Auditing, 10(3), 88-102.

Rajabi, M. (2025). The impact of cultural differences and professional norms on environmental auditors' behavior. International Journal of Auditing and Professional Ethics, 4(1), 50-72.

Saadati, E., Ansari, Z., Farahmandnia, A., & Asadi Mehr, K. (2025). A strategy-oriented approach to the application of artificial intelligence technology in accounting: With reference to auditing and management accounting trends. Strategic Management Accounting Quarterly, 2(2), 1-20.

Sadoff, J., & Colleagues. (2022). Auditor response to negative media coverage of firms' environmental performance. Accounting Horizons, 33(3), 1-25. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2308/acch-52450

Sharifi, M. (2024). The impact of institutional and cultural pressures on auditors' performance in environmental reporting. Quarterly Journal of Financial Management and Accounting, 8(3), 75-90.

Smith, K., & White, D. (2021). Legitimacy Theory in Environmental Auditing: An Empirical Review. Accounting Forum, 45(1), 45-62.

Soltani, M., Rezaei, E., & Mirzaei, K. (2025). The impact of stakeholder pressures on auditors' accountability behavior regarding environmental issues. Iranian Advanced Accounting Journal, 5(1), 102-123.

Sotoudeh, R., Faghani, M., & Pifeh, A. (2020). Investigating the capabilities of the internal processes of the Court of Audit of the country to be accountable to users. Government Accounting, 7(1), 193-208.

Sotoudeh, R., & Samet, H. (2022). Investigating the moderating effect of operational risk on the relationship between social responsibility and cost of equity capital in companies listed on Tehran stock exchange. Nexo Revista Científica, 35(01), 399-411.

Tahriri, M., & Afsaei, A. (2021). The impact of environmental, social, and governance disclosure on auditor effort and audit quality. Journal of Accounting and Control, 13(2), 55-70.

Tefang Saz, A., Sotoudeh, R., Gard, A., & Haqparast, A. (2024). Proposing a performance-based budgeting model and evaluating its impact on performance accountability. Government Accounting, 11(1), 131-146.

Wang, L., & Smith, J. (2025). Social Role Theory and Auditor Environmental Accountability: A Multinational Study. Journal of Accounting Research, 63(1), 123-150.

Downloads

Published

2025-09-21

Submitted

2025-06-10

Revised

2025-09-01

Accepted

2025-09-09

How to Cite

Arab, L. ., Sotudeh, R., Haghparast, A. ., & Hirad, A. (1404). Predicting Auditors’ Accountability Behavior Toward Environmental Issues Using Social Role Analysis. Accounting, Finance and Computational Intelligence, 3(2), 1-15. https://jafci.com/index.php/jafci/article/view/146

Similar Articles

1-10 of 74

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.