Does Working Remotely Make Auditors Happier?

Summary

The study investigates how remote work shapes external auditors’ job satisfaction in the post- COVID environment. Using a 2022 Qualtrics survey of 308 U.S. external auditors from both Big 4 and non-Big 4 firms, the authors examine remote-work frequency, self-monitoring of expressive behavior (SMEB), personality traits, technology adoption, job level, and remote onboarding experiences. On average, respondents worked remotely 3.64 days per week and reported a mean satisfaction score of 6.76 out of 10; 34 percent of identified respondents were from Big 4 firms and 19 percent were remotely onboarded.