Audit Committee Characteristics And Corporate Sustainability Disclosure Among Listed Firms In East Africa Community Member States

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between audit committee characteristics and corporate sustainability disclosure among listed firms in East Africa. Employing stakeholder and legitimacy theories as a framework, the research examines four key audit committee characteristics: meeting frequency, financial expertise, gender diversity, and size. Based on secondary data from 708 firm-year observations spanning 2012–2022, the findings reveal that audit committee attributes significantly enhance corporate sustainability disclosure. Gender diversity fosters diverse perspectives, while financial expertise ensures accurate and credible reporting. Frequent meetings and optimal committee size improve oversight and decision-making, further bolstering sustainability transparency. These insights highlights the essential role of audit committees in fostering corporate accountability and transparency in East Africa’s evolving regulatory environment.

Keywords: Audit Committee Characteristics, Corporate Sustainability Disclosure, Audit Committee Gender, Audit Committee Financial Expertise, Audit Committee Frequency of Meeting, Audit Committee Size

DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/17-3-09

Publication date: April 30^th 2025