Abstract: That auditors use their knowledge capital to engage in audit activities is a dynamic process of knowledge integration on the basis of their existing knowledge capital stock. Taking the A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges from 2007 to 2015 and their auditors as the research samples, this paper conducts an empirical study. The findings show that the more the stock of auditor’s knowledge capital, the stronger the ability of knowledge absorption and acquisition, and the more conducive to knowledge integration in the process of practicing “learning by doing”. Along with the increase of the number of years of practicing “learning by doing” and the degree of knowledge integration, the positive relationship between auditor’s knowledge capital stock and audit quality becomes more significant. The access incentive mechanism for partner qualification selection has a strong incentive effect on the integration of knowledge capital, which can help the auditors with higher stock of knowledge capital to play a full role in improving the audit quality. Accounting firms should pay attention to knowledge capital archives management, give full play to the incentive effect of partner qualification selection mechanism, enhance the ability of knowledge integration of their auditors, so as to improve the professional level of the auditor group as a whole.

Key words: auditor; stock of knowledge capital; access; audit quality