Cuong Nguyen Thanh

Audit fees and audit quality have received the attention of stakeholders, clients, audit firms, and third parties. Each subject has its own opinion on determining influencing factors and their relationship. This study aims to investigate the determining factors of audit fees and audit quality in Vietnam. Using random data collection, a questionnaire was created on Google forms and sent to auditors from the 4th quarter of 2020 to the end of the 1st quarter of 2021. 267 valid auditors’ responses in 28 audit firms were used for data analysis. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to determine relationships between observed variables and factors. The measurement model and recommended hypotheses were confirmed by structural equation modeling (SEM) using SPSS 26 and AMOS 26. The study results show that contract types and audit complexity, audit firms’ reputation, size, and risk significantly impact audit fees and audit quality. In addition, the specialization of the audit firms does not have a positive effect on audit quality but on audit fees. The audit tenure has no statistical impact on audit fees and audit quality. Notably, audit fees statistically affected audit quality. Several implications can be applied, such as increasing the firm size, performing the procedures in response to audit risk, separating audit contract types, and determining the complexity of audit projects and specialties.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
In emerging markets such as Vietnam, where firms face rapid growth and rising operational complexity, understanding how inventory efficiency interacts with business dynamics is vital. This study aims to examine the relationship between inventory management and firm performance, with a specific focus on how this relationship is moderated by business growth and management costs. Using a balanced panel dataset of 364 manufacturing firms listed on Vietnam’s stock exchanges from 2012 to 2023, this study employs panel data regression methods, including Fixed Effects Model, Random Effects Model, Feasible Generalized Least Squares, and, notably, the System Generalized Method of Moments to address issues of endogeneity and unobserved firm-level heterogeneity. Firm performance is measured by return on assets, and inventory management is proxied by average inventory days. The results show that average inventory days are negatively associated with firm performance, indicating that longer inventory cycles reduce profitability. The interaction term between inventory days and business growth is also negative, suggesting that growth exacerbates the adverse effects of inefficient inventory practices. In contrast, the interaction between inventory days and management costs is positive, implying that effective cost control can mitigate inventory inefficiency. These findings highlight the need for Vietnamese manufacturing firms to align inventory practices with growth strategies and cost management to sustain profitability in dynamic markets.

Acknowledgment
This research was conducted as part of the doctoral dissertation project under Decision No. 5379/QĐ-ĐHDT dated December 31, 2022, issued by Duy Tan University.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study examines the relationships among digital accounting implementation, financial reporting quality, usefulness of accounting information, top management support, and perceived operational performance in commercial banks. Data were collected from 562 accountants and managers working at 27 commercial banks in Vietnam, an emerging Asian economy. The study evaluated the proposed model using a two-stage Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling approach. The findings indicate that digital accounting implementation is positively associated with perceived operational performance. In addition, digital accounting implementation is indirectly associated with perceived operational performance through statistically significant indirect paths involving financial reporting quality and usefulness of accounting information. Financial reporting quality is also positively associated with the usefulness of accounting information. Furthermore, the positive associations between digital accounting implementation and both financial reporting quality and usefulness of accounting information were stronger at higher levels of perceived top management support, whereas the interaction between digital accounting implementation and perceived operational performance was not statistically significant. Collectively, the findings suggest that perceptions of digital accounting implementation are closely related to perceptions of information quality, information usefulness, managerial support, and perceived operational performance. This study contributes empirical evidence on the interrelationships among these perceived organizational constructs in the context of banking digital transformation in an emerging economy.