Implications of work-from-home mandates for certified public accounting firm management during the "wild west" of COVID-19

Abstract

This study investigated implications of social distance mandates on a local public accounting firm’s financial statement practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although prior literature has studied voluntary remote work programs using numerous perspectives and myriad industries, this is the first investigation of government-mandated remote work arrangements on a local CPA firm during a pandemic. Using unique, proprietary data, I examined the impact of a remote work modality on issuance delays, engagement fees, and both the level and distribution of professional effort invested by engagement professionals. I found that a remote work modality resulted in lower effort, increased delays, and diminished engagement fees. Results should inspire further investigation by both practitioners and scholars.