Do Audit Fee, Audit Opinion, and Auditor Switching Matter? Evidence on Audit Reporting Lag in Indonesian Manufacturing Firms

ABSTRACT: This study examines the determinants of audit reporting lag (ARL) in manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, focusing on audit fee, audit opinion, and audit switching. Using a quantitative approach with panel data regression based on firm-year observations over the 2020–2023 period, the study analyzes secondary data derived from audited financial statements and annual reports. The findings reveal that audit fee does not have a significant effect on ARL, indicating that higher audit costs do not necessarily accelerate the audit completion process. Similarly, audit switching is found to have no significant influence on ARL, suggesting that changes in auditors do not inherently disrupt audit efficiency or delay reporting due to standardized audit procedures and effective transition mechanisms. In contrast, audit opinion demonstrates a significant effect on ARL, where firms receiving unqualified opinions tend to report more timely compared to those receiving other types of opinions, reflecting the additional audit procedures and deeper evaluations required for non-standard opinions. These results highlight that ARL is more strongly influenced by audit complexity, regulatory pressure, and audit process dynamics rather than structural factors such as audit fee and auditor rotation. The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence from the Indonesian manufacturing context and offers practical implications for regulators, auditors, and firms in improving the timeliness and quality of financial reporting.