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Article
Publication date: 30 December 2021

Khurram Ashfaq, Shafique Ur Rehman, Moeez Ul Haq and Muhammad Usman

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…

Abstract

Purpose

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.

Design/methodology/approach

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.

Findings

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.

Originality/value

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.

Article
Publication date: 28 February 2023

Magda Siahaan, Harry Suharman, Tettet Fitrijanti and Haryono Umar

The phenomenon of corruption requires extra handling to achieve zero corruption. The purpose of this paper is to examine the integrated governance, risk management and compliance…

Abstract

Purpose

The phenomenon of corruption requires extra handling to achieve zero corruption. The purpose of this paper is to examine the integrated governance, risk management and compliance (GRC) implementation, the quality of internal audits and management's commitment to improving the ability to detect corruption and its impact on the company's financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used primary and secondary data. Financial statement data and survey results from participants in 69 state-owned companies were analyzed using the Partial Least Square method.

Findings

There was a positive and significant effect of the integrated GRC implementation, quality of internal audit and management's commitment to increasing the organization's internal capability in detecting corruption. However, the failure to detect corruption mediates the effect of management commitment on financial performance. Besides, the organization's three internal factors could be better because their functions could be more optimal and require further improvement.

Research limitations/implications

State-owned companies are continuing to be restructured, so these results can be helpful for now. However, they must update continuously with developments related to the composition and classification of state-owned companies.

Practical implications

Organizations can improve their ability to detect corruption in the workplace by using an early warning system such as the integrated GRC, internal audit quality and a high commitment from management.

Originality/value

To the author's limited knowledge, empirical research on integrated GRC implementation, internal audit quality and management commitment are still rare if they improve the detection of corruption ability. It uses the factors that cause corruption in the fraud hexagon to analyze the financial performance.

Details

Journal of Financial Crime, vol. 31 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-0790

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 September 2023

Gislaine Borges and Leander Luiz Klein

This paper aims to analyze the factors that influence the quality of internal audits in Brazilian federal educational institutions.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the factors that influence the quality of internal audits in Brazilian federal educational institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The study consisted of a survey whose target participants were members of the internal audits and members of the senior management of Brazilian Federal Educational Institutions. The analyses included descriptive statistics of the sample, exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis.

Findings

The results showed that the internal audit functions, continuous improvement practices and relationship between internal and external auditors as factors had a positive impact on the internal audit quality dependent variable. The internal audit functions and continuous improvement practices as factors influenced both models that were created (audit members and senior management), whereas the relationship between internal and external auditors was only relevant to senior management. Organizational support and internal audit autonomy, on the other hand, were not statistically significant.

Originality/value

Considering the recent Brazilian research on internal auditing in Educational Institutions, this study differs from others in that it covered all the Universities (63), Federal Institutes (38), Federal Centers of Technological Education (2) and Colégio Pedro II. Another relevant issue refers to the target audience, addressing both the members of the internal audits (supply side) and the Senior Management (one of the main parties impacted by the work of the internal audits).

Details

Managerial Auditing Journal, vol. 38 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0268-6902

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 August 2023

Catarina Lopes, Bruno Almeida, Joana Leite and Maria Morais

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the voluntary implementation of an internal audit department (IAD) by municipalities has any influence on external auditors'…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the voluntary implementation of an internal audit department (IAD) by municipalities has any influence on external auditors' opinions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study population comprises the 308 Portuguese municipalities, from which the authors extracted a sample of 179. Financial and audit reports were collected from the period under analysis (2014–2017). The sample was then divided into two groups: municipalities that had voluntarily implemented an IAD and those that had not. Internal audit departments were characterized according to their robustness – whether they were more or less robust. First, a descriptive statistical analysis of the dataset was performed to analyze the representativeness of the sample and to extract insights. To address the research questions, ordinal random effect regression models were considered.

Findings

Contrary to the authors' expectations, the voluntary implementation of an IAD had no influence on the audit report type. However, when the authors refined the approach to include the robustness of the IAD, it became clear that this variable does influence the report issued by the external auditor.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the current literature by determining the effects of the robustness of IADs on municipality audit reports. As far as the authors know, this paper is novel. Since auditing plays an important role in the transparency of public financial statements and in promoting equity, this study shows that a robust IAD is an advantage in the pursuit of these goals.

Details

Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, vol. 35 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1096-3367

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 December 2022

Salvatore Polizzi, Fabio Lupo and Sara Testella

Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP) is defined as “an ongoing and periodic assessment of the entire spectrum of audit and consulting work performed by the internal…

Abstract

Purpose

Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP) is defined as “an ongoing and periodic assessment of the entire spectrum of audit and consulting work performed by the internal audit (IA) activity”. QAIP is an important component of internal auditors’ commitment to improve internal audit (IA) quality. The pressure towards improvement is urgent for central banks, in light of the vulnerabilities of their IA functions identified by the International Monetary Fund. The authors analyse the professional standards and the literature on IA and QAIP, aiming to propose general considerations to enhance IA quality and to develop and maintain a QAIP, with reference to central banks, also shedding light on the synergies among IA, QAIP and total quality management (TQM).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews the most relevant professional standards in light of the professional and academic literature regarding IA quality, QAIP and their relationship with TQM. The analysis of these sources represents an important step to identify general measures to improve IA quality and develop effective QAIP in central banks.

Findings

This analysis shows that it is important to understand the rationale behind the development of an IA function and its theoretical and practical foundation, especially for complex organisations such as central banks. In addition, the authors show that QAIP represents an important tool to exploit the synergies between TQM and IA. These synergies could result in higher levels of quality for the IA function and more effective implementation of TQM within the whole organisation. Lastly, the authors provide practical suggestions to support the implementation of an effective QAIP in central banks and to spread TQM philosophy within the organisation.

Originality/value

The authors contribute to the scant literature on IA quality and QAIP by focusing on central banks and shedding light on the relationship with TQM. Regardless of their importance, these topics have been largely neglected by the extant literature.

Article
Publication date: 9 November 2023

Kwok Yip Cheung and Chung Yee Lai

This study aims to investigate the impact of the audit committee chair’s trust on the quality of interactions between the external auditor and the audit committee chair in Hong…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of the audit committee chair’s trust on the quality of interactions between the external auditor and the audit committee chair in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses a questionnaire survey to gather data from the audit committee chairs of the listed companies in Hong Kong, with a response rate of 19.2%. Partial least squares structural equation modelling is used in this study.

Findings

The results reveal that the audit committee chair’s trust in the external auditor’s competence, integrity and goodwill is an important determinant of the interaction quality. The findings also show that interaction quality during the pre-engagement stage is important to mediate the relationships between the three dimensions of trust and interaction quality during the audit performance stage.

Originality/value

This is the first study, to the best of the author’s knowledge, that examines the impact of the audit committee chair’s trust in the external auditor on the quality of their interactions. The findings provide insights for board of directors, auditors and policymakers to implement policies that enhance trust between them to improve audit quality.

Details

Managerial Auditing Journal, vol. 39 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0268-6902

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 March 2023

Yulianti Yulianti, Mohammad Wahyudin Zarkasyi, Harry Suharman and Roebiandini Soemantri

This study aims to examine the effect of professional commitment, commitment to ethics, internal locus of control and emotional intelligence on the ability to detect fraud through…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of professional commitment, commitment to ethics, internal locus of control and emotional intelligence on the ability to detect fraud through reduced audit quality behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis unit is the internal auditor in internal control unit at state Islamic religious higher education in Indonesia. Data processing used covariance-based structural equation modeling using Lisrel Software and the Sobel test to verify the direct and indirect effects.

Findings

This study found empirical evidence that professional commitment and emotional intelligence positively impact the ability to detect fraud. Commitment to ethics and emotional intelligence has a negative effect on reduced audit quality behaviors. Furthermore, this study also provides that commitment to ethics and emotional intelligence indirectly impacts on the ability to detect fraud through reduced audit quality behaviors.

Practical implications

The organization periodically monitors auditors’ behaviors, especially reduced audit quality behaviors, during the audit process and encourages regulators to formulate policies related to increasing the ability to detect fraud.

Originality/value

This study provides knowledge regarding the driving force of internal auditors to mitigate reduced audit quality behaviors and increase the ability to detect fraud.

Details

Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research, vol. 15 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1759-0817

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 January 2024

Dereck Barr-Pulliam, Marc Eulerich and Nicole Ratzinger-Sakel

This study aims to examine the extent to which external auditors (EAs) use the work of the internal audit function (IAF) based on the purpose of its primary activities. The…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the extent to which external auditors (EAs) use the work of the internal audit function (IAF) based on the purpose of its primary activities. The authors rely on attribution theory, which suggests that individuals search for meaning when an event occurs. In this setting, the authors explore how the overall (assurance vs advisory) or specific (e.g. risk management and evaluating internal controls) focus of IAF activities influences perceived EA reliance on the IAF’s work.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors first explore the research question with data extracted from a broad, longitudinal survey conducted triennially by the national chapters of the Institute of Internal Auditors in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. The data includes responses from 2014, 2017 and 2020 administrations of the survey. The authors conduct a parallel survey with practicing EAs attending two training sessions of a European office of a global network firm. Hypotheses were tested using ordered logistic regression.

Findings

Among the chief audit executive (CAE) participants, the authors observe that a balanced or primarily assurance-related purpose of the IAF, relative to a primarily advisory-related purpose, is associated with higher perceived EA reliance. The authors observe similar perceptions of the extent of reliance among the EA participants.

Originality/value

With a unique data set of practicing internal auditors from three countries, coupled with a sample of EAs, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine differences in EA reliance across the IAF’s primary roles. The study relies on data from three European countries, which differs from prior EA reliance literature with a largely North American focus. Further, comparison between perceptions of EAs and CAEs is a novel approach and this paper’s findings suggest that perceptions of CAEs could be a reliable proxy for EA-intended behavior.

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 4 July 2023

Henry Jarva and Teresa Zeitler

The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on internal auditing as the pandemic forced individual internal auditors and audit teams to…

2588

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on internal auditing as the pandemic forced individual internal auditors and audit teams to conduct the work remotely.

Design/methodology/approach

Five in-depth semi-structured interviews of internal audit experts that work in German retail and manufacturing industry were conducted between February and April 2021.

Findings

The authors find that the importance of audit technologies did not change significantly due to the pandemic, as audit technologies were already an integral part of internal audits. Interestingly, the transition to remote audits occurred with remarkable speed and efficiency. The presence of well-functioning information and communication technologies emerges as a critical facilitator for effective remote communication, collaboration and data exchange. However, audit technologies can only partially replace physical on-site examinations and human interaction. The main challenges of remote audits are related to the auditing of non-digitalized processes and the inherent limitations of auditee interviews and interactions.

Research limitations/implications

The authors' interview approach does not allow to cover variations between industries and between countries. While internal audit experts provided notably consistent responses during the interviews, acknowledging that the sample size is very small is important.

Practical implications

The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a catalyst for increased digitalization and technology adoption within the realm of internal auditing. A hybrid approach combining the benefits of on-site and remote audits is expected to prevail in the future.

Originality/value

The paper is among the first to document the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work of internal auditing using field-based research methods.

Details

Journal of Applied Accounting Research, vol. 25 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0967-5426

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 May 2023

Nathanaël Betti, Steven DeSimone, Joy Gray and Ingrid Poncin

This research paper aims to investigate the effects of internal audit’s (IA) use of data analytics and the performance of consulting activities on perceived IA quality.

Abstract

Purpose

This research paper aims to investigate the effects of internal audit’s (IA) use of data analytics and the performance of consulting activities on perceived IA quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct a 2 × 2 between-subjects experiment among upper and middle managers where the use of data analytics and the performance of consulting activities by internal auditors are manipulated.

Findings

Results highlight the importance of internal auditor use of data analytics and performance of consulting activities to improve perceived IA quality. First, managers perceive internal auditors as more competent when the auditors use data analytics. Second, managers perceive internal auditors’ recommendations as more relevant when the auditors perform consulting activities. Finally, managers perceive an improvement in the quality of relationships with internal auditors when auditors perform consulting activities, which is strengthened when internal auditors combine the use of data analytics and the performance of consulting activities.

Research limitations/implications

From a theoretical perspective, this research builds on the IA quality framework by considering digitalization as a contextual factor. This research focused on the perceptions of one major stakeholder of the IA function: senior management. Future research should investigate the perceptions of other stakeholders and other contextual factors.

Practical implications

This research suggests that internal auditors should prioritize the development of the consulting role in their function and develop their digital expertise, especially expertise in data analytics, to improve perceived IA quality.

Originality/value

This research tests the impacts of the use of data analytics and the performance of consulting activities on perceived IA quality holistically, by testing Trotman and Duncan’s (2018) framework using an experiment.

Details

Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change, vol. 20 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1832-5912

Keywords

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