Are Internal Audits Associated with Reductions in Perceived Risk?

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 55-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph V. Carcello ◽  
Marc Eulerich ◽  
Adi Masli ◽  
David A. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Management Training ◽  
Internal Auditing ◽  
Business Units ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Increase Risk ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
Changes In Risk

SUMMARY We examine whether internal auditing provides value to organizations by reducing risk. We compare the changes in risks between audited business units and matched non-audited units within the same company. This design allows us to isolate the importance of an internal audit while holding constant changes in risk due to the organization and time period. Based on ratings from the heads of audited and non-audited units, we find that managers of audited units perceive a greater decline in risk as well as a greater increase in performance compared to managers of non-audited units. We also find that companies that have had a quality assurance review and are used as a management training ground are associated with greater reductions in risk and improved overall performance. Our study contributes to the academic literature by documenting a new facet of internal audit benefits—risk reduction—and internal audit characteristics that increase risk reduction.

The Effects of Using the Internal Audit Function as a Management Training Ground or as a Consulting Services Provider in Enhancing the Recruitment of Internal Auditors

2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Greg Burton ◽  
Matthew W. Starliper ◽  
Scott L. Summers ◽  
David A. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Internal Audit ◽  
Management Training ◽  
Job Applicants ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
Internal Auditing ◽  
Business Professionals ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Internal Auditors ◽  
Consulting Services

SYNOPSIS This paper examines factors that influence job applicants' willingness to apply for positions in internal auditing. We predict and find evidence that job applicants are dissuaded from applying for internal audit positions. In two separate experiments involving participants at seven universities, we discover that this phenomenon is most prevalent for applicants with business experience. Experienced applicants are 20 and 33 percent less willing to apply for a position if it is labeled as “internal audit” versus “accounting” in the two experiments, respectively. In addition, we find that the only experimental condition that increases interest in applying for an internal audit position for experienced applicants occurs when the position advertises the combination of (1) a short stint in internal auditing and then a move from internal audit into a management position, and (2) work primarily related to consulting services rather than assurance services. As a potential explanation for these findings, we find evidence that participants believe other business professionals have negative stereotypes of internal auditing—which likely dissuade potential job applicants from applying to work in internal audit. The results should prove informative to practitioners, internal audit professional organizations, and business professionals concerned with high-quality corporate governance. Data Availability: Contact the authors.

Factors that Influence the Internal Audit Function's Maturity

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 57-74
Author(s):  
Giuseppe D'Onza ◽  
Gerrit Sarens ◽  
Steven DeSimone
Keyword(s):  
Internal Audit ◽  
Management Training ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Internal Auditing ◽  
Internal Auditors ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Internal Audit Function ◽  
The Common ◽  
Components Analysis ◽  
Future Practice

SYNOPSIS We identify several dimensions of the internal audit function (IAF) as a composite measure of IAF maturity by using a Principal Components Analysis (PCA). Our data are from the Common Body of Knowledge in Internal Auditing (CBOK) 2015 dataset. We find confirmation for our four hypotheses, where the support the IAF receives from the board, diversified training programs, the use of the IAF as a management training ground (MTG), and the maturity of the risk management (RM) system are significantly related to IAF maturity. Our hypotheses are verified both at a global and a regional level. Regarding control variables, IAF age, chief audit executive (CAE) tenure, CAE certifications, and unlisted companies are also significant at a global level. We discuss implications of these findings for future practice and research. Data Availability: Please contact the Institute of Internal Auditors Research Foundation.

Clinical Update: Functional Capacity Evaluations—An Update

1999 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 4-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Welch
Keyword(s):  
Job Performance ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Disability Evaluation ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Submaximal Effort ◽  
Lack Of Sleep ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Specific Limitation

Abstract Functional capacity evaluations (FCEs) have become an important component of disability evaluation during the past 10 years to assess an individual's ability to perform the essential or specific functions of a job, both preplacement and during rehabilitation. Evaluating both job performance and physical ability is a complex assessment, and some practitioners are not yet certain that an FCE can achieve these goals. An FCE is useful only if it predicts job performance, and factors that should be assessed include overall performance; consistency of performance across similar areas of the FCE; consistency between observed behaviors during the FCE and limitations or abilities reported by the worker; objective changes (eg, blood pressure and pulse) that are appropriate relative to performance; external factors (illness, lack of sleep, or medication); and a coefficient of variation that can be measured and assessed. FCEs can identify specific movement patterns or weaknesses; measure improvement during rehabilitation; identify a specific limitation that is amenable to accommodation; and identify a worker who appears to be providing a submaximal effort. FCEs are less reliable at predicting injury risk; they cannot tell us much about endurance over a time period longer than the time required for the FCE; and the FCE may measure simple muscular functions when the job requires more complex ones.

Factors Associated with U.S. Public Companies' Investment in Internal Auditing

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph V. Carcello ◽  
Dana R. Hermanson ◽  
K. Raghunandan
Keyword(s):  
Audit Committee ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Financial Service ◽  
Company Size ◽  
Internal Auditing ◽  
Public Companies ◽  
Ability To Pay ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Operating Cash Flows

Internal auditing has been the focus of much attention in recent years. This study examines factors associated with U.S. public companies' investment in internal auditing. Data from a survey administered to Chief Audit Executives of midsized U.S. public companies were supplemented with publicly available data. Based on data from 217 companies, the results indicate that total internal audit budgets (inhouse plus outsourced portions) are related to several factors associated with company risk, ability to pay for monitoring, and auditing characteristics. Specifically, we find evidence that internal audit budgets are positively related to company size, leverage, financial, service, and utility industries, relative amount of inventory, operating cash flows, and audit committee review of the internal audit budget. Total internal audit budgets are negatively related to the percentage of internal auditing that is outsourced. This study contributes to our understanding of internal audit services, and it allows companies to benchmark their investment in internal auditing.

scholarly journals Comments by the Auditing Standards Committee of the Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association on IIA’s Exposure Draft of 2010 International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. C1-C4 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Bierstaker ◽  
Lawrence Abbott ◽  
Susan Parker
Keyword(s):  
Professional Practice ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Exposure Period ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Internal Auditing ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Auditing Standards ◽  
Audit Standards

SUMMARY: Recently, the Institute of Internal Auditor’s (IIA) Internal Audit Standards Board (IASB) conducted a comprehensive review of the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing (Standards). The IIA proposed changes to some of the Standards and also recommended new Standards. The IIA provided for a 90-day exposure period (from February 15, 2010, to May 14, 2010) for interested parties to examine and provide comments on the proposed changes and new Standards. The Auditing Standards Committee of the Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association provided the comments in the letter below to the IIA on the 2010 International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing exposure draft.

New perspective on the black box of internal auditing and organisational change

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 804-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aviv Kidron ◽  
Yuval Ofek ◽  
Herztel Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Organisational Change ◽  
Internal Auditing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Internal Auditors ◽  
The Public ◽  
Innovative Model ◽  
Audit Information

Purpose The shift from the traditional audit towards performance audit implies that internal auditors in the public sector function as change agents who underpin the fundamental change process. This paper aims to propose a model that identifies the determinants of organisational change in the public sector that result from internal auditing and the way internal auditors facilitate it. Design/methodology/approach The conceptual discussion of this paper is based on a review of relevant literature, both practical and academic. Findings This paper develops an innovative model that describes the factors leading to auditees’ change readiness after undergoing internal audit processes. The independent variable is audit information quality and the dependent variable, organisational change. Auditees’ perceptions is the mediator variable, and accessibility to audit information is the moderator variable. Practical implications The proposed model suggests the advantages that can be gained by audit-related services, which in turn will add value to the organisation. The relationships between the variables inform practitioners on how to support effective audits as a means of increasing performance and influencing organisational change. Originality/value As the paper offers an innovative model, it may open up new research areas in internal auditing that can be studied by using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Fraud Reporting within an Organization and the Use of the Internal Audit Function as a Training Ground for Management

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alisa G. Brink ◽  
C. Kevin Eller ◽  
Karen Y. Green
Keyword(s):  
Internal Audit ◽  
Management Training ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Internal Auditors ◽  
Internal Audit Function ◽  
Management Accountants ◽  
Reporting Behaviors ◽  
Reporting Decisions ◽  
Willingness To Report ◽  
Sense Of Urgency

This study examines the effects of using the internal audit function as a management training ground (MTG) and fraud magnitude on internal fraud reporting decisions. Two experiments examine (1) internal auditors’ reporting behaviors, and (2) other employees’ willingness to report directly to internal audit. In the first experiment, experienced internal auditors indicate that the use of internal audit as a MTG may negatively impact fraud reporting likelihood by internal auditors to the Chief Audit Executive (CAE). Further, using the internal audit function as a MTG inhibits the sense of urgency internal auditors feel to report large fraudulent acts. The second experiment compares management accountants’ preferences for reporting to an anonymous third-party hotline versus reporting directly to internal audit. The results indicate a preference for the hotline that increases with a MTG. This preference is fully mediated by the perceived trustworthiness of internal audit, which is negatively impacted by a MTG.

scholarly journals The impact of internal audit in the activation of risk management under the governance of banks

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Afsar Ali Alimoradi ◽  
Chya Kareem Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Internal Auditing ◽  
Audit Risk ◽  
Internal Auditor ◽  
Risk Management Process ◽  
Statistical Program ◽  
Bank Governance ◽  
The Impact

The research aims to measure and evaluate the impact of internal audit on the efficiency of risk management under the principles of the bank governance in a sample of banks. Thus, internal audit is an important function of controlling financial and administrative performance. It has the impact of evaluating and measuring the efficiency of the use of available resources and strengthening the so-called governance as well as contributing to the assessment and management of risks, which enhances the opportunities of economic units and banks in the optimal use of resources.Internal Audit assists senior management and the board in the process of  theidentifying, assessing and responding to risks, by providing various assurance and advisory services during the implementation of the risk management process. In order to achieve the objectives of the study and test its hypotheses, the study was based on primary and secondary data and the questionnaire was designed and the researchers used the Statistical Program (SPSS) to analyze the data. It was concluded during the research that there is a clear impact of the internal audit profession on the risk management by improving its effectiveness and efficiency under the principles of bank governance shows through the internal audit has a prominent position in banks and because it is linked to the highest levels of management as an independent control and advisory tool. The researchers present a set  of recommendations, the most important of which is the need to provide adequate financial and human resources for internal auditing in banks. The study also recommended to strengthen the components of the independence of the internal auditor in order to be able to perform his duties to the fullest. Key words :  Internal Audit , Risk Management , Banking Governance, Internal Auditor.

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