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1 – 10 of over 37000Auditors of quality assurance systems contribute to technological excellence in many important ways. They gain much insight into modern technology through their various audits and…
Abstract
Auditors of quality assurance systems contribute to technological excellence in many important ways. They gain much insight into modern technology through their various audits and induce managers to make valuable improvements that raise quality and productivity. More specifically, computer‐based technology is transferred and disseminated through auditors. The interrelationship between the computer and quality auditing is analysed. Innovative and integrative auditing of quality assurance systems is shown to be instrumental in attaining technological improvements. The American Society for Quality Control (ASQC) Guideline for Quality System Auditing also has an important role to play in this respect.
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The purpose of this paper is to analyse the maintenance of the process‐based quality assurance system in a higher education institution.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the maintenance of the process‐based quality assurance system in a higher education institution.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper introduces the process management as the essential element of quality assurance in higher education and discusses the external quality audit of the quality assurance agency, extends the study to the quality management between the external audits and presents the procedure of internal quality audits. Finally, the results of the study are discussed and summarised. Action research methodology was adopted in this study. The paper shows that the process‐based quality assurance system makes the organisation responsive, agile and enables the achievement of strategic objectives.
Findings
The audit group must first evaluate the necessary improvements in the process. If no improvements are found, the quality deviations must be reported. The audit helps the institution take corrective actions to amend the process descriptions or maintain the processes.
Originality/value
The paper shows that the necessary processes of a higher education institution can be systematically described and audited.
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Internal auditing assumes an increased responsibility for the evaluation of entity operations as a service to management and the board of directors. Quality assurance review is…
Abstract
Internal auditing assumes an increased responsibility for the evaluation of entity operations as a service to management and the board of directors. Quality assurance review is the process through which assurance is obtained that the internal auditing department’s work is done in accordance with the Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing. This study examines the current practices of quality assurance review in South Africa. Although not all organisations surveyed do perform internal auditing quality assurance reviews, the organisations that do, benefit from them. Various methods are used in practice to perform internal and external quality assurance reviews. This study provides information on the processes and procedures used in quality assurance review programmes.
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Suggests that the expansion of academic quality audit methodologies within higher education institutions is a significant development in UK quality assurance. It reflects…
Abstract
Suggests that the expansion of academic quality audit methodologies within higher education institutions is a significant development in UK quality assurance. It reflects increasing demands for accountability and also a desire for more dynamic and efficient methods for review and evaluation. The adoption of common regulatory frameworks and centrally defined procedures and protocols; the more explicit specification of intentions and expectations; and the increased use of self‐assessment in quality review processes, have all assisted in creating an environment in which audit methodologies are more acceptable, appropriate and useful. Argues that the development of an audit capacity is essential to the notion of institutional self‐regulation. Such a capacity could form the basis for a type of national quality assurance framework different from that currently operated or proposed, in which there is a much closer articulation of internal and external audit processes.
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The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of audit quality, measured by financial statements audited by the big four accounting firms, on the investors' ability to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of audit quality, measured by financial statements audited by the big four accounting firms, on the investors' ability to predict future earnings for profitable and unprofitable firms.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses the returns‐earnings regression model and interacts all independent variables in this model with a dummy variable, AUDIT, which is set to equal one if financial statements audited by the big four accounting firms, zero otherwise. Future earnings response coefficient is the measure of earnings predictability.
Findings
The paper finds that investors are able to better anticipate future earnings when financial statements are audited by the big four accounting firms. However, the findings are not applicable for unprofitable firms.
Practical implications
The findings of the paper have implications for auditing related academic research and the users of financial statements. In particular, the study shows that the big four accounting firms have not lost their audit quality advantage and that financial statements audited by the big four accounting firms are arguably of higher quality than those audited by non‐big four accounting firms.
Originality/value
It is believed that there is no UK study to date examining the association of the quality of financial statements audited by the big four accounting firms and the returns‐earnings association. Consequently, this paper significantly contributes to the limited literature on the perceived value relevance of audit quality.
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In today’s fast‐paced and ever‐changing audit environment, an improved quality of the internal audit function is essential to the success of internal auditors. Suggests total…
Abstract
In today’s fast‐paced and ever‐changing audit environment, an improved quality of the internal audit function is essential to the success of internal auditors. Suggests total quality management (TQM) as a means of achieving continuous quality improvements in internal audit functions. Proposes primarily to: examine TQM principles and their relevance for internal audit functions; and discuss the benefits of proper implementation of TQM techniques and tools for internal auditing departments, internal auditors, and their organization. The TQM principles discussed should be useful for internal audit departments striving for continuous improvement of the quality of their services.
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The concept and method of dynamic auditing are discussed ‐ how they can support and guide auditors in their extended audit tasks. Differentiating between more conventional static…
Abstract
The concept and method of dynamic auditing are discussed ‐ how they can support and guide auditors in their extended audit tasks. Differentiating between more conventional static auditing and modern dynamic auditing, without judging one superior over the other, will be helpful to auditors and auditees. Each basic type of auditing has its merits and applications. Dynamic auditing complements existing audit practices and renders auditing itself more effective.
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Mahdi Salehi, Mostafa Bahrami and Fatemeh Alizadeh
– The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of academic education of auditors on the satisfaction of employees and the quality of audit reports.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of academic education of auditors on the satisfaction of employees and the quality of audit reports.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to collecting data a questionnaire designed and developed among the auditors, managers, and professors in Iran during November 20, 2014.
Findings
The results of the study reveal that the inability to fully understand the audit report is one of the major problems of customers. For the audit firm, issues such as observation of accounting standards in financial statements, preparation of sufficient documents for the auditor, strong internal control, and understanding the limitations and problems of auditors were considered important.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge the current paper is the first study which deals with the topic of the study in developing countries, especially Iran.
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William D. Cooper, W. Frank Kauder and Robert G. Morgan
For a number of years external auditors have advocated theextension of a peer review system to include internal auditingdepartments in order to improve the quality of an audit. A…
Abstract
For a number of years external auditors have advocated the extension of a peer review system to include internal auditing departments in order to improve the quality of an audit. A study is provided which explores how one company, a Fortune 500 manufacturing firm, implemented a quality assurance review programme and how the Institute of Internal Auditors has reacted to demands of its members towards implementing such reviews.
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Maryam Yousefi Nejad, Ahmed Sarwar Khan and Jaizah Othman
Financial statement fraud has become a global concern, and auditors are increasingly focused on identifying and investigating it. Auditors may play a crucial role in investigating…
Abstract
Purpose
Financial statement fraud has become a global concern, and auditors are increasingly focused on identifying and investigating it. Auditors may play a crucial role in investigating and reducing financial statement fraud, and this is particularly important in developing countries where fraudulent practices are more prevalent due to the lack of strict regulations and oversight. This study investigates whether enhanced audit quality has an impact on reducing financial statement fraud. The primary aim is to recognize whether a higher level of audit quality relates with a decrease in fraudulent activities in Indonesia, which is one such country that has not yet adopted IFRS.
Design/methodology/approach
This study investigates the effect of audit quality, as measured by audit tenure, audit fee, and audit size, on the dependent variable of financial statement fraud, as indicated by Dechow F-value. The sample for this study comprises 951 observations from 2015 to 2020, and the research design utilizes a panel data approach. To test the main hypothesis, OLS, and GMM estimation techniques are employed.
Findings
The analyses reveal a negative relationship between audit tenure and financial statement fraud. This suggests that shorter audit tenure may be associated with an increased risk of financial statement fraud. This heightened risk could stem from auditors having limited time to thoroughly understand the company's operations and internal controls, potentially making it more challenging to detect and prevent fraudulent activities perpetrated by the client. Conversely, a positive relationship is identified between audit fees and financial statement fraud, suggesting that companies paying higher fees may be engaging auditors less adept at detecting fraudulent activities. Furthermore, a negative relationship is observed between Big-5 and financial statement fraud, which may be due to the greater resources, expertise, quality control, scrutiny, reputation, and ethical conduct of Big-5 audit companies.
Research limitations/implications
This study only focused on listed companies in Indonesia, therefore, caution should be exercised when generalizing the findings to other developing and Muslim countries such as Malaysia. The findings may differ due to the adoption of IFRS in Malaysia. As such, it is important for future studies to include Malaysia as a sample and compare the results with those of Indonesia. This comparison would demonstrate the impact of IFRS adoption on the relationship between audit quality and financial statement fraud and provide insights for policy makers in Indonesia.
Practical implications
The findings of this study have important implications for developing countries that have been shown to be more susceptible to fraud than developed countries. This study contributes to the existing research on the role of audit quality in reducing financial statement fraud and emphasizes the need for auditors and accountants to take a proactive approach in detecting and investigating financial fraud.
Originality/value
This study is a new study because it investigates the relationship between audit quality and financial statement fraud in Indonesia, a developing Muslim country that has not yet adopted International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The study provides valuable evidence on the unique factors that influence fraud in Indonesia and fills a gap in the literature as previous studies on this topic have largely focused on developed countries. Additionally, the study recommends that policymakers in Indonesia consider implementing IFRS to improve the reliability of financial reporting and strengthen the effectiveness of the auditing process, thus reducing the incidence of fraud.
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