The Link Between Authentic Leadership, Work Meaningfulness, and Work Engagement in Auditors

Abstract

Purpose : This study examines whether authentic leadership of external auditors’ leader affect work engagement and if so, whether the effect is mediated by work meaningfulness.

Method : Data were collected using a web-based questionnaire from 159 external auditors in Jakarta, Indonesia and used SEM-PLS approach to test the hypotheses.

Findings : The findings indicated that authentic leadership had significant effect on work meaningfulness and work engagement, and all dimensions of authentic leadership and work engagement had significant correlation. Moreover, work meaningfulness was found to be partially mediate the relationship between authentic leadership of external auditors’ leader and work engagement among external auditors and their leader

Novelty : This is one of the first studies to look at the conduct of auditors from the Big Four and non-Big Four firms in a public accounting firm across all dimensions of authentic leadership, work meaningfulness, and work engagement.

Keywords : Authentic Leadership; Work Meaningfulness; Work Engagement