Backdating: defining the role of auditors and corporate governance in a post SOX environment

This paper examines the implications of Sarbanes-Oxley on stock option backdating. The focus of this research analyses previous literature both pre- and post-Sarbanes-Oxley. As the literature presents, before SOX was implemented, the reporting lag for grant filings increased the degree of opportunistic behaviours subsequently increasing the likelihood of backdating. The establishment of Sarbanes-Oxley, promoting trust and transparency between companies and their respective stakeholders, sets forth additional regulations mitigating the issue of backdating. In order to contribute beyond previous studies, this paper additionally analyses the research supporting this conclusion and finds that corporate governance, internal controls, and a carefully defined role of the auditor can work in conjunction with regulations in order to further resolve additional backdating issues.