The Influence of Derivatives on Audit and Financial Reporting Risks

The use of financial derivatives to hedge economic risks presents several operational and financial reporting challenges to corporations. Special hedge accounting treatment is stringent and complex; different accounting treatments may be used for similar instruments, and risk management strategies, expertise, and judgment are necessary in valuing certain instruments; and careful monitoring and internal controls processes and procedures are necessary to ensure that risks are properly hedged. This study examines whether the use and the extent of the use of financial derivatives are associated with audit risk, financial restatements, and internal control weaknesses. Using a sample of over 6000 firms across non-financial industries from 2012 to 2022, I find that derivative use is associated with an increase in audit fees, restatements, and internal control weaknesses. The fair value of total derivatives used is associated with an increase in audit fees and internal control weaknesses. These findings provide evidence on the hidden costs of derivatives; the auditor’s price increased audit risk in audit fees, and the additional resources needed to support derivative hedges expose firms to additional financial reporting and internal control risks.