scholarly journals The concept and the appearance of internal audit committees

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (2018) ◽  
pp. 111-114
Author(s):  
Cristian Dragan

The Audit Committee is a concept of Corporate Governance, whose main concerns are focused on organizing and ensuring the proper functioning of internal control, internal audit, and its relationship with external audit. Audit committees have emerged from the need to send recommendations to the general management or board, to understand them and provide needed assistance for their implementation. For these reasons, the boards of directors thoroughly oversee the qualifications of committee members, their autonomy towards managers, the information they receive from auditors, and what they report.

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-390
Author(s):  
Kathleen Rupley

From a sample of firms reporting internal control deficiencies (ICD), I compare corporate governance structures to industry, exchange, and size – matched firms. I examine market reactions to reports of ICDs in 8-K filings. Additionally, I examine shifts in corporate governance characteristics since the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). Results indicate that weaker boards, larger audit committees, less independent nominating committees, and high growth companies are associated with ICDs. Market reaction is negative to ICD disclosures when they are associated with controls over revenue. Firms have made changes post-SOX including reduced non-audit services, more frequent audit committee meetings, formation of nominating and governance committees, creation of internal audit functions, and implementation of corporate governance policies.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad Naimi Mohamad Nor ◽  
Suhaimi Ishak

The importance of internal audit function in improving the company’s internal control risk management and corporate governance has been emphasized in the Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance (MCCG) and Bursa Malaysia Listing Requirements. Based on the Listing Requirements, Malaysian listed companies are required to establish the internal audit function, which is independent and this function must be supervised by the audit committee. Although the importance of internal audit function has been highlighted in various code of corporate governance, little is known about the investment made by the company in internal audit activity. This study capitalizes the publicly available data on internal audit cost and the type of internal function provider in Malaysia setting. The primary purpose of this study is to describe internal audit practices, especially on the internal audit budget in Malaysia for the year 2017 for top 300 companies. Based on the descriptive analysis, it is found that the internal audit fee is relatively lower than the cost of external audit and most of the companies’ internal audit function was carried out by in house teams. Also, the benefit from economies of scale is less pronounced in internal audit as compared to external audit services. Some further analyses were also conducted, and the article is ended recommendations for future research to be undertaken in investigating the internal importance audit in Malaysia.


Author(s):  
Lamis Jameel Banasser, Maha Faisal Alsayegh

The study aimed to identify the role of accounting mechanisms for corporate governance in reducing creative accounting practices in telecommunications sector companies in Riyadh city. A descriptive analytical approach was followed to conduct the field study. Sample of the study consisted of members of the audit committee, internal auditors, accountants from the surveyed telecommunications’ sector companies, and the external auditors in the audit offices that specialized on auditing the examined sample of companies. Questionnaire was used as a data collection method. Results showed that activating the role of accounting mechanisms for corporate governance can greatly contribute in limiting creative accounting practices. As they are controlling mechanisms that capable of protecting companies, shareholders and stakeholders from any manipulation or misleading information in the financial statements. Further, internal audit plays a major role in limiting creative accounting practices by examining and evaluating the effectiveness of the internal control system. Furthermore, the independence and competence of the external auditor and his commitment to the rules of conduct and ethics of the profession contribute greatly in limiting creative accounting practices in the examined companies. The study recommended the necessity of holding specialized training courses for members of audit committees, internal auditors and external auditors on methods of detecting creative accounting practices to combat and reduce them.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-98
Author(s):  
Shewangu Dzomira

This article seeks to examine corporate governance and the performance of audit committee and internal audit functions in an emerging economy’s public sector. These two functions form a part of imperative corporate governance aspects, and their effective performance ensures better service delivery by public sector agencies. The study is premised on stakeholder theory, which has turned out to be the central point of public sector discourses. The study is based on qualitative content analysis, which aspires to present information about corporate governance and effectiveness of audit committees and internal audit units in South Africa’s public sector. The findings suggest that there is good corporate governance in terms of the existence of audit committees and internal audit functions in the public sector. However, the results suggest that the audit committees and internal audit units in South Africa’s public sector are not effective. Absence of advice, implementation of recommendations and inadequacy of resources have undermined the performance of audit committees and internal audit units in South Africa’s public sector. The leadership and other assurance bringers ought to consider the findings elevated by the audit committees and internal audit and execute their commendation. Their findings should be urbanised into action plans that are implemented by management. Audit committees must improve their oversight on internal audit functions so that both units would effectively perform. The subsistence of successful audit committee and internal audit components in the public sector certifies proficient and effectual exploitation of resources for the gain of all stakeholders.


2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 288-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hazem Ramadan Ismael ◽  
Clare Roberts

Purpose This study aims to identify the factors that lead non-financial companies listed in the UK to use an internal audit function (IAF) as a monitoring mechanism. Although the use of an IAF in the UK is voluntary, no prior research has examined the drivers for using one. Design/methodology/approach Financial and non-financial data were collected from the annual reports of 332 UK non-financial companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) Main Market. Univariate tests and multivariate logistic regression tests were used to test the research hypotheses. A theoretical framework based on both agency theory and transaction cost economics (TCE) theory was used to explain the economic factors affecting the use of an IAF. Findings The study provides evidence that firm size, level of internal risks, agency problem between owners and managers and existence of an effective audit committee are associated with the existence of an IAF. Thus, the need to have strong internal control and risk management systems and to reduce both internal and external agency costs drives companies to have an IAF. These results suggest the importance of IAF as an internal corporate governance tool and the effectiveness of UK governance regulations in monitoring the effectiveness of internal control systems. Practical implications Given the importance of the IAF’s corporate governance role, the study provides some policy implications. Regulators should pay more attention to the issue of maintaining an IAF, especially by large companies, the relationship between the IAF and other governance parties, especially the audit committee, and the disclosure of more relevant information about the IAF’s characteristics and practices. Originality/value This is the first study to examine the factors affecting the existence of the IAF within the UK’s distinctive regulatory approach of “comply or disclose reasons”. Furthermore, it provides a theoretical framework that explains how both the agency theory and TCE theory can interpret the adoption of internal audit.


2014 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 495-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew S. Ege

ABSTRACT Standard-setters believe high-quality internal audit functions (IAFs) serve as a key resource to audit committees for monitoring senior management. However, regulators do not enforce IAF quality or require disclosures relating to IAF quality, which is in stark contrast to regulatory requirements placed on boards, audit committees, and external auditors. Using proprietary data, I find that a composite measure of IAF quality is negatively associated with the likelihood of management misconduct even after controlling for board, audit committee, and external auditor quality. This result is robust to a variety of other specifications, including controlling for internal control quality and separate estimation during the pre- and post-SOX time periods. A difference-in-differences analysis indicates that misconduct firms have low IAF quality and competence during misconduct years and improve IAF quality and competence in the post-misconduct years. These findings suggest that regulators, audit committees, and other stakeholders should consider ways to improve IAF quality.


2000 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark S. Beasley ◽  
Joseph V. Carcello ◽  
Dana R. Hermanson ◽  
Paul D. Lapides

This paper provides insight into financial statement fraud instances investigated during the late 1980s through the 1990s within three volatile industries—technology, health care, and financial services—and highlights important corporate governance differences between fraud companies and no-fraud benchmarks on an industry-by-industry basis. The fraud techniques used vary substantially across industries, with revenue frauds most common in technology companies and asset frauds and misappropriations most common in financial-services firms. For each of these three industries, the sample fraud companies have very weak governance mechanisms relative to no-fraud industry benchmarks. Consistent with prior research, the fraud companies in the technology and financial-services industries have fewer audit committees, while fraud companies in all three industries have less independent audit committees and less independent boards. In addition, this study provides initial evidence that the fraud companies in the technology and health-care industries have fewer audit committee meetings, and fraud companies in all three industries have less internal audit support. This study of more current financial statement fraud instances contributes by updating our understanding of fraud techniques and risk factors in three key industries. Auditors should consider the industry context as they evaluate the risk of financial fraud, and they should compare clients' governance mechanisms to relevant no-fraud industry benchmarks.


2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 309-316
Author(s):  
Hashanah Ismail

This paper reports on interviews with audit partners of listed companies on their perspectives of impact of corporate governance on the audit process. Based on responses received the study finds that audit risk framework is dynamic enough to incorporate expected changes in control environment brought about by greater consciousness on the part of directors on the need for good internal control. However there is still skepticism that good governance practice has filtered through clients’ control environment as auditors believe dominant CEO’s may still moderate the effectiveness of audit committees


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 66-85
Author(s):  
Feren Frisca Tania ◽  
. Mukhlasin

This study aims to analyze the effect of the effectiveness of internal control, independent commissioners, the expertise of the board of commissioners, the number of audit committees, and the expertise of the audit committee on tax avoidance in manufacturing companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange period 2016-2018. This research is expected to be a material consideration for companies in making decisions related to taxation. The deductive approach used in this study by developing hypotheses based on relevant theories and findings of previous studies. Agency theory is used to see the effect of corporate governance on tax avoidance. The data collection method uses secondary data from the company's financial statements and annual reports according to specific criteria. Data analysis was performed by descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. The results of the regression analysis prove that effectiveness of internal control and number of audit committees had a positive effect which means higher effectiveness of internal control and number of audit committees cause more tax avoidance, conversely independent commissioners and expertise of the board of commissioners had a negative effect which shows greater independent commissioners and expertise of the board of commissioners cause less tax avoidance. Another result claim that the expertise of the audit committee did not affect on tax avoidance. In contrast to previous studies, this study is more varied by combining several independent variables. JEL Codes: G34, H26.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 59-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mo’taz Amin Al-Sa’eed ◽  
Soud M. Al-Mahamid

This study aims to understand the features of an effective audit committee and its role in strengthening financial reporting. A questionnaire based survey was circulated to public listed companies on the Amman Stock Exchange (Banking, insurance, and financial institutions). The study was aimed at internal audit managers and finance managers. Out of 156 questionnaires, we received 110 back which represents a 71% response rate. The study results show that the research respondents have a good level of education and experience. In addition, there is a relationship between internal controls, international standards on auditing, institute of internal audit; Jordan securities commission requirements, external audit, understanding of audit committee functions, and financial reporting. Furthermore, the internal control, international standard on auditing and institute of internal audit, Jordan securities commission requirements, External audit, understanding of audit committee functions can explain a significant amount of the variability in financial reporting. Finally, the research results also show that age and gender make a difference for our respondents when they evaluate financial reporting. The study like other cross sectional studies is not free of limitations. Managerial implications and new avenues of future research are supplied. Future research also can borrow the research model and apply a longitudinal study to solve the cross sectional study problems.


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