scholarly journals A qualitative analysis of the internal audit function in the banking sector

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 161-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasoava Rijamampianina

In South Africa, the financial sector contributes approximately 10.5% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Although the 2007-2009 global financial crisis did not directly impact the domestic market, it threatened the profitability of the financial sector and triggered changes that affected the role of the internal audit function. In particular, stakeholders’ expectations from the function have significantly increased. Against this background, the study seeks to identify the key success factors of performing internal audit reviews of capital markets business areas within the big four South African banks. For this purpose, in-depth interviews with experienced internal auditors, risk managers and traders were carried out. The study suggests several implications and recommendations for the risk management, internal audit and audit committee functions that can also be adopted by interested parties from non-financial institutions. Keywords: internal audit, value creation, skills, stakeholders, capital markets. JEL Classification: G31, M42

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samiul Parvez Ahmed ◽  
Rahatul Zannat ◽  
Sarwar Uddin Ahmed

A well governed institution is expected to use its resources optimally and, thus, perform more efficiently and contribute positively to economic development of a nation. However, often, it can be seen that poor management of the stakeholders leads to less than optimal strategic directions for an institution. Due to recent global financial crisis and rising issues of the Bangladeshi banking sector, corporate governance is one of the factors that have gained considerable attention. Recent drive of the governance issues of the banking sector of Bangladesh is expected to bring positive change in the financial sector and, hence, it is crucial to assess whether complying with governance codes leads to desired outcome or not. Specifically, the main purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between performances of commercial banks with corporate governance factor along with some internal and macroeconomic variables. Thus, the listed commercial banks in the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) of Bangladesh were considered for the study. Subsequently, considering data availability of the time period (2011-2014), 29 listed commercial banks in the DSE have been considered and, hence, Ordinary Least Squared (OLS) regression models were used through Eviews 8.0 for analyzing the data. Though the study shows a positive relation between corporate governance and performances of banks, the statistical insignificance of the relation raises concern regarding various issues of corporate governance in the financial sector of Bangladesh. Keywords: corporate governance, financial institutions, performances of commercial banks. JEL Classification: G21, G30, G38, G39, O16


Author(s):  
Mária Bordáné Rabóczki

A cikk a belső ellenőrzésnek a hatékony társaságirányításhoz való hozzájárulását és ennek a versenyképességre gyakorolt hatását vizsgálja. A belső ellenőrzés és a társaságirányítás kölcsönös összefüggésben áll egymással. Nemcsak a belső ellenőrzés hat a társaságirányításra, hanem a releváns társaságirányítási struktúrák, emberi kapcsolatok és magatartásformák jelentős hatást gyakorolnak a belső ellenőrzés színvonalára és hatékonyságára. A cikk ezért különös figyelmet szentel a belső ellenőröknek az igazgatósággal, az auditbizottsággal/felügyelőbizottsággal, a menedzsmenttel és a könyvvizsgálóval való kapcsolatainak vizsgálatára. Rávilágít a belső ellenőrzés legfőbb funkciójára, amely objektív bizonyosságot nyújt az igazgatóság és a felső vezetők számára a kockázatok azonosítására, kezelésére és elfogadható szintre történő csökkentésére szolgáló kontrollfolyamatok megfelelőségéről és hatékonyságáról. A bemutatott belső ellenőrzési modell azt a szemléletet közvetíti, hogy a belső ellenőrzés által nyújtott objektív bizonyosság megszerzése nemcsak a jogszabályoknak vagy az ajánlásoknak való megfelelés, hanem a társaságok versenyképessége szempontjából is kiemelkedő jelentőségű. _________ The purpose of this paper is to consider the contribution of internal audit to the sound corporate governance and the impact of that on the competitiveness of the companies. There is a mutual dependency between internal audit and corporate governance. Not only the internal audit has impact on the corporate governance but the relevant governance structures, relationships and behaviour influence the level and effectiveness of the internal audit. Therefore the present paper is highly concerned with the internal auditors` relationships with the board, audit committee/supervisory board, senior management and the external auditor. It highlights the internal audit function, that provides objective assurance to the board and senior management about the adequacy and effectiveness of the processes by which risks are identified, managed, controlled and mitigated to acceptable levels. The internal audit model demonstrated represents an approach, according to that getting objective assurance provided by internal audit is important not only to be in line with laws and recommendations but to facilitate the corporate competitiveness.


2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Shariful Islam ◽  
Nusrat Farah ◽  
Thomas F. Stafford

Purpose The purpose of the study is to explore the factors associated with the extent of security/cybersecurity audit by the internal audit function (IAF) of the firm. Specifically, the authors focused on whether IAF/CAE (certified audit executive [CAE]) characteristics, board involvement related to governance, role of the audit committee (or equivalent) and the chief risk officer (CRO) and IAF tasked with enterprise risk management (ERM) are associated with the extent to which the firm engages in security/cybersecurity audit. Design/methodology/approach For analysis, the paper uses responses of 970 CAEs as compiled in the Common Body of Knowledge database (CBOK, 2015) developed by the Institute of Internal Auditors Research Foundation (IIARF). Findings The results of the study suggest that the extent of security/cybersecurity audit by IAF is significantly and positively associated with IAF competence related to governance, risk and control. Board support regarding governance is also significant and positive. However, the Audit Committee (AC) or equivalent and the CRO role are not significant across the regions studied. Comprehensive risk assessment done by IAF and IAF quality have a significant and positive effect on security/cybersecurity audit. Unexpectedly, CAEs with security certification and IAFs tasked with ERM do not have a significant effect on security/cybersecurity audit; however, other certifications such as CISA or CPA have a marginal or mixed effect on the extent of security/cybersecurity audit. Originality/value This study is the first to describe IAF involvement in security/cybersecurity audit. It provides insights into the specific IAF/CAE characteristics and corporate governance characteristics that can lead IAF to contribute significantly to security/cybersecurity audit. The findings add to the results of prior studies on the IAF involvement in different IT-related aspects such as IT audit and XBRL implementation and on the role of the board and the audit committee (or its equivalent) in ERM and the detection and correction of security breaches.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juma Bananuka ◽  
Stephen Korutaro Nkundabanyanga ◽  
Irene Nalukenge ◽  
Twaha Kaawaase

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the contribution of internal audit function and audit committee effectiveness on accountability in statutory corporations (SCs). Design/methodology/approach This study is cross sectional and correlational. Data have been collected through a questionnaire survey of 52 SCs in Uganda through their Chief Internal Auditors and Chief Finance Officers. Data have been analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Findings The internal audit function significantly contributes to accountability of SCs in Uganda and audit committee effectiveness is not where effective internal audit is present in such organisations. However, audit committee effectiveness significantly contributes to accountability when an internal audit function is not present. Research limitations/implications The use of hierarchical regression is prone to problems associated with sampling error. However, the likelihood of these problems is mitigated by the interface with data. Originality/value Whereas hitherto both internal audit function and audit committee effectiveness had been viewed as explanations of accountability, this study only confirms the internal audit function as a significant predictor of SCs’ accountability relative to audit committee effectiveness.


2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-70
Author(s):  
Bartłomiej Iwanowicz ◽  
Tomasz Borowy

This article attempts to analyze the metrics of internal audit function effectiveness. The authors review and discuss the metrics perceived as most relevant and appropriate to the banking sector. The literature review is supported by an attempt to introduce an additional metric of the internal audit function effectiveness. The methodology adopted in this paper bases strongly on the qualitative approach. The article involves an analysis of available literature and own studies, as well as authors’ professional experience in auditing. The metrics of internal audit function effectiveness presented in modern studies strongly favor qualitative approach, focused on assessing the input, process and output of internal auditors, and most notably recommendations issued and their implementation by organizations’ management. The authors suggest supplementing the list of available metrics with an additional method, strongly connected to financial performance of the banks employing the internal audit function. This article introduces an additional possible way of measuring the effectiveness of the internal audit function. This metric can be considered by the banks and can be further empirically verified for appropriateness by entities from other industries, from both private and public sector.


2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence J. Abbott ◽  
Susan Parker ◽  
Gary F. Peters

SYNOPSIS: In this paper, we investigate the association between the audit committee’s oversight of the internal audit function (IAF) and the nature of IAF activities. The importance of internal controls and of the roles of both the audit committee and the internal audit function in monitoring control activities have grown in recent years. Despite the importance of these topics, relatively little regulatory or best practices guidance addresses the distribution of IAF activities and amount of audit committee involvement with the IAF. We hypothesize that when the balance of oversight over the IAF lies with the audit committee (vis-a`-vis management), the committee will steer the IAF toward a more internal-controls-oriented focus. Our hypothesis is based on the existing practice guidance in this area and the relative incentives of management and the audit committee. To test our hypothesis, we survey 134 chief internal auditors from Fortune 1000 firms regarding the amount of internal audit resources allocated across internal audit activities in fiscal year 2005. We then construct a composite measure of audit committee oversight contingent on the relative control that the audit committee has over IAF vis-a`-vis management. Our composite measure is derived from three key facets of the audit committee/internal audit relationship: reporting duties, termination rights, and budgetary control. Consistent with our hypothesis, we document a strong, positive association between our audit committee oversight variable and the amount of IAF budget allocated to internal-controls-based activities.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 161
Author(s):  
Shir Li Ng ◽  
Dennis W Taylor

The aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which an Audit Committee (AC)’s own governance characteristics impact on its role effectiveness in achieving enhanced resourcing and by extension, improved the scope and quality of the Internal Audit Function (IAF). Sample is drawn from top 300 companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). This study combines data from a questionnaire administered to the Internal Audit Executive (IAE) with information from annual reports and financial databases. Hypotheses are developed and tested using multiple regression analysis. This analysis is supplemented by insights from a comparative case study for two companies in the sample. Results reveal that AC size is significantly positively related to the financial resources (budget) allocated to IAF, while both AC financial expertise and AC size are significantly positively related to IAF labour hours. Results also confirm that IAF’s with higher resourcing are able to concentrate those resources on areas expected of a high quality IAF. Further, comparative case study analysis gives insights to the superior ways a larger size AC can be effective in fulfilling its oversight role, building its working relationships and obtaining resources for the IAF. Study contributes to current auditing-related governance literature by introducing a comprehensive empirical model of AC effectiveness in facilitating the scope and quality of the IAF’s work. Also, the findings have implications for regulators and the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) in terms of the composition and functioning of ACs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 152-167
Author(s):  
Saed Ahmed Sulub ◽  
Zalailah Salleh ◽  
Hafiza Aishah Hashim

Purpose This paper aims to identify the effects of some corporate governance (CG) mechanisms and Shariah Supervisory Board (SSB) strength on the voluntary use of internal audit function (IAF) by Islamic banks in Sudan. Design/methodology/approach Based on Agency and Stakeholder Theories, this paper hypothesizes that IAF is likely used by Islamic banks with strong CG and Shariah governance systems. To test these hypotheses, we examine the annual reports of 14 Sudanese banks for a period of five years following the global financial crisis in 2008, using logistic regression analysis. Findings This paper found that IAF is likely used by Islamic banks with higher CG disclosure (CGD) and strong SSB. While the findings showed that the audit committee and IAF are likely used as substitutes, this paper also indicated that there is a negative association between levels of Unrestricted Investment Account Holders’ (UIAH) ownership and the use of IAF. However, the evidence of this study did not find any impact for the board of directors’ strength on the use of IAF. Research limitations/implications There may be better measures for some variables in the study model. Additionally, the restriction of the study sample to Sudanese banks may limit the generalization of the results. Therefore, future studies may refine the model and expand the sample to Islamic banks in other countries. Practical implications This paper highlights the importance of IAF for Shariah governance in Islamic banks. Moreover, the insignificant association between the use of IAF and the strength of board of directors has important implications for the board’s effectiveness in Islamic banks. Originality/value This is the first study to investigate the factors associated with the use of IAF by Islamic banks.


2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Urton L. Anderson ◽  
Margaret H. Christ ◽  
Karla M. Johnstone ◽  
Larry E. Rittenberg

SYNOPSIS This study develops and tests a conceptual model articulating factors associated with internal audit function size in the post-SOX era. These factors include audit committee characteristics, internal audit characteristics and mission, internal audit activities performed by others (including outsourced providers and other divisions within the organization), and organization characteristics. Results from a survey of 173 public and private companies reveal that internal audit function size is positively associated with: (1) better audit committee governance, (2) greater organizational experience of the chief audit executive, (3) missions involving IT auditing, (4) the use of sophisticated audit technologies, (5) the use of a staffing model in which internal audit is used for rotational leadership development, (6) organization size, and (7) the number of foreign subsidiaries that the organization possesses. Further, internal audit function size is inversely associated with: (1) the percentage of internal audit employees that are Certified Internal Auditors, and (2) the extent of assurance and compliance activities outsourced to outsiders. These results contribute to prior literature on internal audit function size by considering a variety of factors that are associated with internal audit function size in the contemporary era. Data Availability: Contact the authors.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document