The Impact of Guanxi on the Ethical Decision-Making Process of Auditors – An Exploratory Study on Chinese CPAs in Hong Kong

Abstract

Using professional accountants as respondents in Hong Kong, this study strives to develop a model to depict the effect of ethical reasoning on the relationships between guanxi and auditors; behaviour in an audit conflict situation. The results of the study found that (1) there is a significant relationship between an auditor's ethical judgement and one's moral cognitive development; (2) there is a relationship between an auditor's ethical judgement and the existence of guanxi; and (3) the impact of guanxi on an auditor's judgement is depending on the level of ethical reasoning.