JRSSEM 2022, Vol. 01, No. 12, 2109 2119
E-ISSN: 2807 - 6311, P-ISSN: 2807 - 6494
DOI : 10.36418/jrssem.v1i12.224 https://jrssem.publikasiindonesia.id/index.php/jrssem/index
THE EFFECT OF PROFESSIONAL Skepticism,
INVESTIGATIVE AUDITOR'S EXPERIENCE AND
WHISTLEBLOWING SYSTEM ON AUDITOR'S ABILITY IN
DETECTING FRAUD
Monica Pamela Citranagari*
1
Universitas Trisakti, Jakarta, Indonesia
e-mail: monicapamelactanagari@gmail.com
*Correspondence: monicapamelactanagari@gmail.com
Submitted: 27 June 2022, Revised: 04 July 2022, Accepted: 15 July 2022
Abstract. There is a difference between fraud causing system errors and financial statement errors.
References to various national and international cases show that fraud can happen anywhere. This
study aims to determine the effect of professional skepticism, auditor experience, and
whistleblowing system on the auditor's ability to detect fraud. The population in this study were all
private internal and external auditors (Public Accounting Firms). Data collection techniques in this
study using a questionnaire. This type of research is a hypothesis testing research. The number of
samples collected is 56 respondents. The sampling technique used is convenience sampling. The
results of this study indicate that: 1) Professional Skepticism has a positive effect on the auditor's
ability to detect fraud. 2) The experience of the investigative auditor has a positive effect on the
auditor's ability to detect fraud. 3) The whistleblowing system has a positive effect on the auditor's
ability to detect fraud.
Keywords: skepticism; experience of investigative auditing; whistleblowing
Monica Pamela Citranagari | 2110
INTRODUCTION
System Errors and fraud have
differences that lead to errors in a
financial statement (Svabova et al.,
2020). Referring to various cases both at
home and abroad, it shows that fraud
can occur anywhere (Alissa et al., 2014).
The rise of the phenomenon of
providing Unqualified Audit Opinions
(WTP) does not guarantee that an
institution is free from fraud. This is
reinforced by the fact that until
December 2018 there were ten Regional
Governments that received Unqualified
Opinions, but their regional heads
committed corruption. In addition to the
scope of government, private
companies and state-owned enterprises
also received many unqualified
opinions, but after that it was revealed
that there were cases of fraud involving
the top brass of the state-owned
company. One of the cases is the
provision of Unqualified Audit Opinions
to PT Sunprima Nusantara Pemfundan
(SNP Finance) and PT Garuda Indonesia
for the 2018 financial statements.
Fraud or fraud is increasingly
happening in various ways that continue
to develop so that the auditor's ability to
detect fraud needs to continue.
improved. Currently, the limitations of
the auditor will cause a gap for users of
auditor services who hope that the
auditor can provide assurance that the
financial statements presented do not
contain misstatements. Many factors are
thought to be the cause of the auditor's
inability to detect fraud both internally
(within the auditor) and externally
(Ulimsyah, 2021). Revealed that one of
the causes of auditors in detecting fraud
is the low level of professional
skepticism owned by auditors. Auditors
with high skepticism will increase the
ability to detect fraud by developing
additional information searches when
faced with symptoms of fraud.
Profit mark-up, manipulation of
financial statement records, and
document omission are frauds that are
often carried out that can harm the
country's finances and economy
(Mamahit & Urumsah, 2018). This is for
the benefit of individuals and groups of
people. According to the results of the
Indonesian fraud survey (2016), internal
audit and media reports are the most
effective media for detecting fraud. The
reporting media in question is a system
that makes the public dare to report
fraud or what is known as the
whistleblowing system. Whistleblowing
is under the supervision of the audit
committee and reports through this
system will be followed up by internal
audit (Abdullah et al., 2018). Thus, in
recent times there have been many
incidents of fraud cases which were
finally uncovered thanks to the active
role of auditors who carried out
investigations and were assisted by the
existence of a whistleblowing system.
For this reason, efforts to prevent
and eradicate fraud need to be
improved and intensified. The
government's way of handling and
uncovering fraud that occurs, one of
which is by enforcing the law,
2111 | The Effect of Professional Skepticism, Investigative Auditor's Experience and
Whistleblowing System on Auditor's Ability in Detecting Fraud
conducting investigative audits and
implementing forensic audits in their
examinations as well as the public's
concern for reporting on the
whistleblowing system is also very
effective in revealing corruption and
fraud that occurred. Whistleblowing
system is an application to report
violations, which can support the
implementation of forensic audits and
investigative audits. As for someone
who notifies the public or officials in
power about alleged dishonesty, illegal
activities or mistakes that occur in
government, public or private
organizations, is called a whistleblower
(Verschuuren, 2020).
Sayyid (2014) states that forensic
accounting is the use of accounting
expertise combined with investigative
abilities to make financial statements or
allegations and then an investigative
audit is defined as an effort to prove an
error in a series of relationships in a
fraud examination. Thus accounting and
investigation are a series of relationships
in fraud examination.
Based on the description above,
many researches in the field of auditing
have been carried out, highlighting the
importance of the influence of
professional skepticism and
investigative experience on audit
examinations, but some are still
inconsistent. The results of research
conducted by (Rahim et al., 2019);
(Bayuandika & Mappanyukki, 2021);
(Agustina et al., 2021) found that
professional skepticism has a positive
effect on the auditor's ability to detect
fraud, where the higher the level of
professional skepticism of the auditor,
the higher the detection effort. fraud.
As for other research conducted by
(Lubis & Pohan, 2022) at the Regional
Revenue Service of Buleleng Regency, it
shows that partially there is a significant
influence between the whistleblowing
system and the competence of human
resources on fraud p revention.
Research conducted by (Dwiyanti et al.,
2022) shows that the whistleblowing
system strengthens the influence of the
audit committee and internal audit to
uncover cases of fraud.
Attribution theory is used to
examine the perspective of the factors
that influence fraud detection (Yuniarti,
2018). KAP and agencies that have
internal audits were selected as objects
because these KAPs and agencies are
entities that provide services to detect
fraud in a company. The object of the
research is the Auditor who works at
KAP DKI Jakarta and the Company Tbk.
Through this paper, combining and
applying the attitudes possessed by
forensic auditors, combined with the
experience of auditors supported by the
existing whistleblowing system and law
enforcement, the researcher believes
that some of these things are effective
components of fraud detection. Thus
the authors are interested in the title
"The Effect of Professional Skepticism,
Whistleblowing System And Investigative
Audit Experience On Auditor Ability In
Detecting Fraud". Effect of Auditor
Professional skepticism on Auditor
Ability to Detect Fraud. Auditor
Monica Pamela Citranagari | 2112
professional skepticism is an attitude of
distrust, always questioning the audit
evidence that must be owned by the
auditor. BPK Number 1 of 2017,
mentions the skepticism of the Auditor
who believes that the responsible party
is dishonest and that the honesty of the
responsible party is no longer in
question. In accordance with this,
hypothesis 1 is as follows:
H1: Professional skepticism of forensic
auditors has a positive effect on the
ability of auditors to detect fraud.
Effect of Investigative Auditor
Experience on Auditor Ability to Detect
Fraud (Samagaio & Felício, 2022). The
results of his research prove that the
experience of the auditor has no
significant effect on the effectiveness of
implementing audit procedures to
prove fraud. Thus, this article discusses
whether the experience of the
investigative auditor has a positive
impact on the auditor's ability to detect
fraud by using fraud by the BPKP
auditor's resource person representing
the Special Region of Yogyakarta. Based
on this description, hypothesis 2 is made
as follows: H2: Investigating the auditor's
experience has a positive impact on the
auditor's ability to detect fraud.
The effect of the Whistleblowing
system on the auditor's ability to detect
fraud. (Mamahit & Urumsah, 2018) state
that whistleblowing can affect fraud
detection, then also issue a
whistleblowing opinion in investigative
implementation that plays an important
role but not in fraud detection planning.
So what is obtained by the existence of
a whistleblowing system that is
implemented is proven to be effective in
supporting fraud detection. This
description means that the
whistleblowing system and fraud
detection have a positive relationship.
Based on the description above, the
hypothesis is as follows:
H3: Whistleblowing has a positive effect
on the Auditor's Ability to Detect Fraud.
METHODS
This type of research is a
quantitative research with a Hypothesis
Testing model. The population in this
study are internal and private auditors
(KAP). The research sample consisted of
56 samples consisting of 17 internal
auditors and 39 auditors from public
accounting firms. Data was collected
using a questionnaire method which
was distributed to respondents
according to the sampling target
described previously. The analysis
technique in this research consists of
descriptive analysis and statistical
analysis. Both of these techniques are
used to get optimal results. This
research uses simple regression analysis
and Moderated Regression Analysis
(MRA) to see the interaction effect of
Professional Skepticism, Investigative
Audit Experience and Whistleblowing
System. Population is a generalized area,
consisting of objects with certain
qualities and characteristics, which are
determined by researchers to study and
draw conclusions (Dźwigoł, 2019). The
population of this study are auditors
2113 | The Effect of Professional Skepticism, Investigative Auditor's Experience and
Whistleblowing System on Auditor's Ability in Detecting Fraud
who work in KAP and companies in the
DKI Jakarta area, totaling 59 auditors.
Sampling used multivariate analysis
involving Roscoe's (1975) perspective
with minimal data using the formula for
the number of variables used and using
multivariate regression analysis in the
test.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Investigative Audit Experience
Professional skepticism is the
attitude of the auditor who does not
easily believe in the audit evidence
provided by the client, so that in
carrying out his duties the auditor
always questions and critically evaluates
the audit evidence provided. To measure
Professional Skepticism using a Likert
scale.
Whistleblowing System
Moderating Variables in this
Research Whistleblowing System where
the author will test the use of
Whistleblowing system data by auditors
in the examination process. This
moderating variable is measured using
a Likert scale. The data collected in this
study were processed using the
Statistical Package for Social Science
(SPSS) version 25 program assisted by
multiple regression analysis, first testing
the classical hypothesis before analysis.
Normality Test
This research was conducted with
the aim of testing whether the
regression model of the confounding or
residual variables had a normal
distribution. As it is known that the F test
and t test assume that the residual value
follows a normal distribution. Basically
the normality test is a comparison
between empirical data and theoretical
data and the category is a type of
appropriate test (Goodnes Of Fit) in
(Khadivi, 2018).
Hypothesis Testing
In this study the researchers chose
two variables, namely 3 independent
variables and one dependent variable.
The analytical method used to test the
hypothesis is the multiple regression
method, which is the regression used to
determine how much influence the
independent variable has on the
dependent variable used to test Ha1,
Ha2, and Ha3, with an interaction
approach that aims to meet research
expectations. regarding the Effect of
Professional Skepticism, Whistleblowing
System and Investigative Audit
Experience on Auditor Ability to Detect
Fraud. The regression equation is as
follows:
The regression equation can be
explained
Y=α+β1X1+ 2X2+ 3X3 + e
Y = Auditor's Ability to Detect Fraud
= Constants
1, 2, 3 = Regression coefficient
X1 = Auditor Professional Skepticism
X2 = Experience Investigative Auditor
X3 = Whistle-Blowing System
e -= error
To prove the truth of the hypothesis
test, statistical tests are used on the
Monica Pamela Citranagari | 2114
output produced by the multiple
regression model, statistical tests
include:
a. Coefficient of Determination
Test The coefficient of
determination test (R2) aims to
determine how much is the ability of
the independent variable to explain
the dependent variable. In the SPSS
output, the coefficient of
determination is located in the
Model Summaryb table and is
written as Adjusted R Square. The
value of R2 is 1, meaning that the
fluctuations in the dependent
variable can be fully explained by the
independent variable and there are
no other factors that cause
fluctuations in the dependent
variable. If the value of R2 ranges
from 0 to 1, it means that the
stronger the ability of the
independent variable can explain
fluctuations in the dependent
variable (Ghozali: 2011).
b. Partial Regression Test (t test)
The t test was conducted to
determine the effect of each
independent variable individually on
the dependent variable. The results
of this t-test on the SPSS output can
be seen in the Coefficientsα table. To
determine whether there is an
influence of each independent
variable individually on the
dependent variable, it is done by
comparing the p-value in the Sig
column, each independent variable
with a significance level of 0.05 used.
If the p-value is less than 0.05 then
Ha is accepted and Ho is
rejected.0.05, then Ha is rejected
and Ho
This test is used as a test of the
assumption of normality of the data.
The results of normality testing
using the test in this study can be
seen in the table below.
Table 1. NPar Tests One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test
Unstandardized
Residual
N
59
Normal Parameters
a,b,
Mean
25,1267606
Std.
,26539868
Deviation
Most Extreme
Absolute
,050
Differences
Positive
,050
Negative
-,045
Test Statistic
,050
Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed)
,200
c, d
2115 | The Effect of Professional Skepticism, Investigative Auditor's Experience and
Whistleblowing System on Auditor's Ability in Detecting Fraud
a. Test distribution is Normal.
b. Calculated from data.
Hypothesis Test
a. Results Determination Coefficient Test Results (R2)
Table 2. Determination Coefficient Test Results (R2)
Model Summary
Model
R
R Square
Adjusted R
Square
Std. Error of
the Estimate
1
,708
a
,
501,475
3,29805
1) Predictors: (Constant),
X3,X2,X1
2) Dependent Varible: Y
The results of the model output
in Table 4.18 show that the adjusted
value of R2 (coefficient of
determination) adjusted) is 0.475.
This shows that the 47.5% change in
the auditor's ability to detect fraud
can be explained by three
independent variables, namely,
auditor professional skepticism,
investigative auditor experience,
and whistleblowing system.
b. Results of t test (Partial Test)
Table 2. T test (Parisal test)
Unstandardized
Coefficients
Standardized
Coefficients
Model
B
Std. Error
Beta
t
Sig.
1
(Constant)
14,148
3,644
5,529
,001
XI
Professional
,380
,182
-.262
2,442
,014
X2
Investigative
Audit
Experience
-,138
,393
-.133
-2,339
.849
X3
Whistleblowi
ng System
,008
,106
,011
2,078
,059
a. Dependent Variable: Y auditor's ability to detect fraud
Monica Pamela Citranagari | 2116
DOI : 10.36418/jrssem.v1i12.224 https://jrssem.publikasiindonesia.id/index.php/jrssem/index
Effect of auditor's professional
skepticism on auditor's ability to detect
fraud
The results of the first hypothesis test
(H1) show that auditor's professional
skepticism has a positive influence on
auditor's ability to detect fraud, the result is
professional skepticism -0.380 and t 2.442,
the value significant at the 0.05 level of
significance thus professional skepticism
has a positive and significant effect on the
auditor's ability to detect has been
supported.
The first hypothesis (H1) states that the
professional skepticism of forensic auditors
has a positive effect on the auditor's ability
to detect fraud. The results obtained from
the statistical tests performed showed a
coefficient of 0.380 with p 0.014.
Interpreting skepticism has an influence on
the auditor's ability to detect fraud at KAP
or companies in Jakarta.
We can understand that to disclose
fraud detection, it must be supported by a
high attitude of professional skepticism, so
that the implementation of fraud detection
will be more effective. To improve the
implementation of fraud detection, this is
to increase professional skepticism in the
implementation of fraud detection
detection.
The results of this test are in
accordance with the attribution theory,
namely the internal factors that a person
has will determine the person's behavior,
which states that the attitude of the auditor
affects the quality of the audit conducted
by Prwait and Glover 2014. This study
contradicts the results of stating that the
auditor's responsibility is not influenced by
the attitude of skepticism in detecting
fraud. by Sanjaya, 2017.
The Effect of Investigative Auditor
Experience on Auditor Ability to detect
fraud.
The result of the second hypothesis
(H2) which states that the investigative
auditor's experience has an influence on
the auditor's ability to detect fraud.
However, when viewed on the test results,
the regression experience value of the
investigation is 0.138, t is -2.339 and p-
value is 0.056. This shows that the
investigative auditor experience variable
(X2) has no effect on the auditor's ability to
detect fraud. Thus the experience of
investigating the auditor variable will not
affect the auditor's ability to detect fraud at
an important level of 5%, otherwise H2 will
not be supported.
The second hypothesis (H2) which
states that investigative auditor experience
has a positive effect on the auditor's ability
to detect fraud, it turns out that
investigative experience is -2,339 with a p
value of 0.56. This means that the
investigative auditor's experience has no
effect on the auditor's ability to detect
fraud at KAP and companies in Jakarta.
These results may occur because the
low level of experience of the investigative
auditor has little effect on the auditor's
ability to uncover fraud detection or other
factors due to the ability to detect fraud as
well.
The results of this study are in line with
research conducted by Supriyono (2014)
and Pramitasari (2017) which shows that
auditor experience will not affect the
2117 | The Effect of Professional Skepticism, Investigative Auditor's Experience and
Whistleblowing System on Auditor's Ability in Detecting Fraud
auditor's ability to detect fraud. This study
contradicts the findings of Yuniati (2015)
and Arsendy (2017) that audit experience
has a positive influence on the auditor's
ability to detect fraudulent behavior on the
quality of audit evidence.
The effect of the whistleblowing system
on the auditor's ability to detect fraud
Testing the third hypothesis (H3) which
states that the whistleblowing system has a
positive effect on the auditor's ability to
detect fraud. It is stated that the reporting
system (X3) is 0.008 and t is 2.078. The value
of this regression coefficient was
significantly supported at the 0.05 level of
significance and the p-value of 0.002. It can
be interpreted that the whistleblowing
system variable has a positive and
significant effect on the auditor's ability to
detect fraud at a significance level of 5% or
H3 is supported.
The third hypothesis (H3) which states
that the whistleblowing system has a
positive effect on the auditor's ability to
detect fraud. The whistleblowing system
coefficient value shows a value of 0.008
with a p value of 0.002. It can be proven
that the reporting system has a significant
positive effect on the ability of the auditors
of KAP and companies in Jakarta in
detecting fraud. In order to carry out
reliable audit disclosures, it must be
supported by an accurate and reliable
whistleblowing system, so that
whistleblowers can easily use it without fear
in reporting a fraud that occurs in the
surrounding environment.
The test results according to the
attribution theory, the whistleblowing
system is said to be an external factor
because it is used as a tool or support in
providing assessments such as detecting
fraud. So that it can assist auditors in
detecting fraud at KAP and companies in
Jakarta.
The results of this study support
research conducted by Nugroho (2015)
showing that the whistleblowing system
has an influence on fraud prevention and
research conducted by Utami et.al (2019)
shows that the whistleblowing system
strengthens the influence of the audit
committee and internal audit to uncover
cases of fraud. However, contrary to
another study conducted by Pratama.et, al
(2019). The results show that the reporting
system has no effect on the auditor's ability
to detect fraud.
CONCLUSIONS
This research was conducted to
determine the effect of professional
skepticism of forensic auditors, experience
of investigative auditors, and
whistleblowing system on the auditor's
ability to detect fraud.
Based on the results of the research that
has been done, it can be concluded that: 1)
Professional skepticism of forensic auditors
has a significant positive effect on the
ability of auditors to detect fraud, so the
higher the level of auditor skepticism, the
more fraud detection results will be
revealed. 2) The experience of the
investigative auditor has no effect on the
auditor's ability to detect fraud. 3) The
whistleblowing system has a significant
positive effect on the auditor's ability to
detect fraud, which means that the
existence of a whistleblowing system is a
Monica Pamela Citranagari | 2118
means for whistleblowers to report
violations that have occurred. Violations
that occur that are reported are an early
indication of fraud which will later assist the
auditor and then follow up on the incident.
The implementation of this whistleblowing
system is also a tool for internal control of
the organization that can narrow the
opportunities for people who work in the
organization to commit fraud. The better
the whistleblowing system is implemented,
the more helpful the auditor is in making
the search for evidence of violations faster
in detecting fraud and reducing losses
arising from fraud.
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for possible open access publication
under the terms and conditions of the Creative
Commons Attribution (CC BY SA) license
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).