Dinasti International Journal of Economics, Finance & Accounting (DIJEFA)
Vol. 7 No. 4 (2026): Dinasti International Journal of Economics, Finance & Accounting (September - O

Revisiting Auditor Independence through the Lens of Organizational Power: Evidence from a Quantitative Case Study in Management Accounting

Gilbert Rely (Universitas Bhayangkara Jakarta Raya Bekasi, Bekasi, Indonesia.)
Wahyudi Wahyudi (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Ekonomi Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia.)
I Made Sudana (Politeknik Negeri Bali, Bali, Indonesia.)



Article Info

Publish Date
06 Sep 2026

Abstract

Auditor independence is essential for ensuring objectivity and reliability in management accounting practices. However, organizational power structures may influence auditors’ professional judgment and independence. This study examines the effect of organizational power on auditor independence among internal auditors and management accounting professionals in Central Java, Indonesia. A quantitative explanatory survey was conducted involving 150 respondents from 15 medium- and large-sized organizations. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, validity and reliability tests, and multiple regression analysis. The results show that organizational power significantly influences auditor independence, explaining 42.8% of the variance in auditor independence (R² = 0.428). Legitimate power, reward power, and expert power were found to have positive effects on auditor independence, while coercive power had a negative effect. Among these dimensions, expert power emerged as the strongest predictor of auditor independence. The findings highlight the importance of organizational power as a determinant of auditor independence and suggest that effective governance mechanisms are needed to strengthen auditor objectivity and reduce power-related pressures. This study contributes to the auditing and management accounting literature by extending the application of organizational power theory to auditor independence.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

DIJEFA

Publisher

Subject

Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

The author is invited to submit a paper for Dinasti International Journal of Economics, Finance & Accounting (DIJEFA). Topics related to this journal include but are not limited to: Accounting and financial reporting Audit Accounting management Taxation Corporate finance Personal finance Financial ...