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I synthesize the extant experimental literature examining auditor evaluation of others’ credibility published in six top accounting journals over the last three-and-a-half decades. I adapt the original definition of credibility by Hovland, Janis, and Kelley (1953): the extent of perceiving someone as competent and trustworthy. Audit guidance requires auditors to consider credibility of management, internal auditors, and staff, yet the research literature on auditor evaluation of others’ credibility is fragmented and scarce, limiting our understanding of determinants and consequences of auditor evaluations. I develop a framework for analysis of research on auditor evaluation of others’ credibility and review extant literature by types of examined effects (determinants of credibility vs. consequences of credibility) and by examined credibility components (competence, trustworthiness, or both). Throughout the literature review I suggest areas for future research.

The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between internal audit organisational status, competencies, activities and fraud management. As a corollary, this paper examines the contribution made by the internal audit organisational status, the internal audit competence and the internal audit activities on fraud management in financial services firms.

This study is cross-sectional and correlational, and it uses firm-level data that were collected by means of a questionnaire survey from a sample of 54 financial services firms in Kampala – Uganda.

Results suggest that the internal audit organisational status and the internal audit competence are significant predictors of fraud management. Contrary to previous thinking, internal audit activities do not significantly predict fraud management. Therefore, once internal auditors have appropriate status and are competent in an organisation, they are likely to perform activities that enhance fraud management.

This study focuses on financial services firms in Uganda, and it is possible that these results are only applicable to the financial services sector. More research is therefore needed to further understand the contribution of the internal audit constructs on fraud management in other sectors such as the public sector.

The results are important for internal audit policy development, for example, in terms of prescribing the competences and reporting lines for the internal auditors to enhance fraud management in the financial services sector.

As far as the authors are aware, no research has hitherto been undertaken that investigates the individual contribution of internal audit organisation status, competence and its activities as internal audit constructs on fraud management.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the compliance of Saudi shareholding companies with the requirements of corporate governance issued by the Board of Capital Market Authority in the Kingdom and their impact on earnings management.

A questionnaire was used to collect data about the compliance of the Saudi shareholding companies with corporate governance requirements and discretionary accruals (DAs) were calculated from the financial statements of these companies using the modified Jones model, then multiple regression was used to test the relationship between the variables.

The results of the study revealed that there was no statistically significant linear dependence of the mean of DAs on corporate governance. Additionally, no statistically significant effect for internal audit, audit committee and board of directors on earnings management was detected. However, the results revealed that there was a slight negative effect for internal audit scope of work and independence and audit committee independence on DAs.

This research paper is applied on Saudi Arabia, a Middle East country with specific characteristics, that is, a specific context, and, therefore, the results must be interpreted within this context

Regulators of Saudi corporations may need to reassess the effectiveness of corporate governance requirements issued by the Capital Market Authority and the actual implementation of these requirements. Researchers also may need further investigation of this phenomenon within its context.

The results of the study are very important to the Saudi society because they put a big question mark on the relevance of corporate governance of the Saudi shareholding companies

The paper provides new evidence about the effect of corporate governance mechanisms on earnings management in a Middle East environment, which may suggest that there is a need to expand this study using other methodologies to delve into the depths and understand this phenomenon within its context.

Examines the nature of professional competence, using the field of Internal Audit as an exemplar. Attempts to describe the professionalization process and thus the context in which the concept is normally encountered. Reviews the nature and influence of pressures for change currently affecting the Internal Audit profession. Examines the differing approaches to the definition and interpretation of professional competence, including the consideration of the factors which underpin it and the role therein played by knowledge. Considers current UK and US proposals and developments in Internal Auditor education in the light of conclusions drawn from the preceding sections. Concludes that it is likely that a major influential role will be played by current developments in NVQ methodology and that, at least in the short term, a case study approach to teaching and assessment would be beneficial. It further posits that there will be, in all probability, a major role to be played in the future by formally structured workplace based competence led assessment.

This study aims to examine the association between internal audit quality and the involvement of UK companies in earnings management practices.

To measure the internal audit quality, this study uses 115 responses for a postal questionnaire that was addressed to the heads of internal audit departments in a sample of non-financial listed companies in the UK context. The other financial and governance data for the respondent companies were collected from the Datastream and the companies’ annual reports. The present study uses the signed abnormal accruals as a proxy for earnings management and uses both logistic and ordinary least squares regression models to test the research hypothesis.

This study finds a negative relationship between the internal audit quality and the abnormal accruals, implying the prominent role of internal audit in reducing the upwards earnings management. The study also finds a significant impact of the internal audit competence on reducing the engagement of UK companies in income-increasing earnings management compared to the internal audit independence. This remarkable result suggests the companies need to focus more on enhancing the internal audit competence to reduce the opportunistic management’s behaviour.

This study has important implications for the internal audit’s practice, regulation and research.

This is the first study that investigates the relationship between internal audit quality and earnings management in the UK context. Furthermore, it uses a comprehensive measure for the internal audit function (IAF) quality covering different aspects of IAF quality based on the global Institute of Internal Auditor standards and prior internal audit literature.

This paper aims to investigate the association between internal audit function (IAF) characteristics and internal control quality.

Using data gathered from 59 chief audit executives from Tunisian listed companies, this paper uses a regression model to examine research hypothesis related to the association between IAF characteristics and internal control quality.

The findings of the current study reveal that internal control quality is significantly and positively associated with IAF competence, internal audit quality control assurance level, follow-up process and audit committee’s involvement in reviewing the internal audit program and results.

The findings have significant implications for IAF wishing to enhance their effectiveness, by recognizing the impact of the IAF’s characteristics on internal control quality. The findings of this study also have significant implications for regulatory bodies who are concerned with the internal control quality, managers and audit committees who determine IAF investment, oversight IAF activities and assess internal auditors’ performance.

This study helps fill a gap in the extant literature where existing empirical evidence of how the IAF characteristics influences the quality of the financial reporting process in emerging markets is scant.

This study aims to explore the effectiveness and reliability of the performance of internal auditor by the stakeholders for their decision making. The absence of rules and regulations generates the debate that the non-standard reporting of the assessment of the internal controls system’s assessment by internal auditor and reliance by the external auditor.

The study used the mixed-method (triangulation) for the analysis quantitative data was used for regression with Smart PLS 3.2.8, and the qualitative data was used to prove and strengthen the results. The data is collected for five IVs (Objectivity of IAF, Work Performance, Competence, Internal Control System’s Assessment and Sourcing of IAF) and their impact on two DVs (Effectiveness and Reliance). This study used five areas as the target audience (Internal Auditor, External Auditor, Professional bodies, Shareholders, SECP and SBP). A total of 150 respondents were approached and received a valid response of 98 respondents.

The study explores the positive relationship between Objectivity of IAF, Work Performance, Competence, Sourcing of IAF on Effectiveness and Reliance. Internal Control System’s Assessment having significant relation with Effectiveness and non-significant with reliance because the absence of rules makes it unreliable for stakeholders.

The study found that the system for reporting the internal control needs rules and regulations advancement on the immediate basis for the betterment and safeguard of stakeholders to avoid the events like WorldCom and ENRON.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the determinants of internal audit workplace learning success for developing early career internal audit professionals in South Africa.

A qualitative research design was used to collect data through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews from 65 internal audit stakeholders including internal audit employers’ early career; internal auditors’ workplace learning assessors; and presenters and members of the education and training committee of the professional body in South Africa on their experiences of the determinants of workplace learning success for internal auditors.

In line with workplace learning theories, it was found that there are five determinants of internal audit workplace success: the learning environment, management support, the early career internal auditors’ commitment (attitude and motivation to learn) and a relevant, structured and effective formal workplace learning programme.

Internal audit employers, early career internal auditors, workplace learning assessors and presenters as well as the Institute of Internal Auditors globally and in South Africa can use the results of this study as a benchmark for their internal audit workplace learning practices.

This paper provides insight into the determinants of workplace learning success for internal auditors and contributes to the limited body of knowledge in auditing on developing professional competence in the workplace.

The purpose of this study is to examine the nature and extent of interaction and the relationship between internal auditors (IAs) and external auditors (EAs) from the perspective of the IAs in a developing country, Zimbabwe.

This study was carried out by soliciting the opinions of chief audit executives (CAEs) in Zimbabwe through an online survey that was distributed via e-mail.

The study finds that the interaction between the IAs and EAs is limited and that EAs may not be making full use of the internal audit function (IAF). Findings also suggest that the relationship between the auditors is, in some instances, strained and that the actions of management do not always facilitate the fostering of a good, productive relationship between the auditors.

Results of this study contribute to the understanding of the nature and extent of interaction between the IAF and EAs in an African setting. The study also solicits qualitative data about the relationship between IAs and EAs where previous research has largely focused on objective measures, failing to take into account factors such as attitudes and biases, which can affect this relationship. Finally, the results of this study bring to light important, previously under-explored issues, which provide opportunities for future research.

Statement on Auditing Standards No. 9 (SAS 9) discusses the role of a client′s internal audit department (IAD) in the independent auditor′s examination. Despite the benefits of reliance on the client′s IAD to both the auditor and client, evidence indicates that SAS 9 has not been effectively implemented in practice. This article illustrates the use of the Analytic Hierarchy Process to develop a judgement aid for determining the overall reliance to be placed on a client′s IAD. The judgement aid illustrated may represent an initial step towards effectively implementing auditing standards requiring a great deal of subjective judgement in practice.