scholarly journals A mixed methodology to view internal audits internal control functioning

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 302-311
Author(s):  
Christo Ackermann

The purpose of this paper is to holistically examine internal audit’s internal control functioning, by adopting a data transformation triangulation design. This entailed using questionnaire data and transformed qualitative content analysis data, to perform triangulation. It was found that internal audit functions (IAFs) are important role players in assisting audit committees in their internal control oversight responsibility and that a broad range of internal control work is performed by internal audit. However, in the public eye, there is scant information on IAFs’ functioning and a gap exists between what IAFs actually do and what is presented in public annual reports. The methodology used can be useful for future mixed method studies exploring the broad field of internal auditing. The results of this paper can be used as a starting point to create guidance on internal audit disclosure in public reports and to cultivate further research in the area of internal audit disclosure.

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.


2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (01) ◽  
pp. 63-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Serra-Sutton ◽  
Alejandro Allepuz ◽  
Mireia Espallargues ◽  
Gerold Labek ◽  
Joan M. V. Pons

Objectives:Registers have proven to be a valuable instrument in the evaluation of arthroplasty procedures and the performance of implants. The aim of this study was to describe the structure, functioning, and content of arthroplasty registers in Europe and other parts of the world.Methods:A search of technical reports was carried out through the Internet and in Medline/PubMed. The exhaustiveness of the information was confirmed using the links to Web pages of other registers and contacts with key people. Aims, methods in data collection and evaluation, internal structure and organization, participants, validity of the data, and other variables were assessed for each arthroplasty register using a qualitative content analysis of the texts.Results:Fifteen arthroplasty registers were identified which published sufficient information to conduct a comparative analysis. Eight additional registers were identified but no information was available on the Internet or in English. Most registers were initiatives of an orthopaedic society receiving governmental funding. Data were collected using standardized clinical forms and additional information from clinical-administrative datasets or other registers (mortality, implant costs, hip fractures). The main outcome measure of these registers is survival of the prostheses. Registers use the Internet and their annual reports as the main strategy for the dissemination and feed-back of their results.Conclusions:Scientific or professional societies and the public health administration should collaborate in the development of arthroplasty registers. To adequately assess the results of observational data information on the structure, the process of arthroplasty interventions and patients characteristics should be collected.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Vadasi ◽  
Michalis Bekiaris ◽  
Andreas G. Koutoupis

Purpose This paper aims to provide empirical evidence of the association between audit committee characteristics and internal audit quality through internal audit professionalization. Design/methodology/approach The investigation of the research question was based on 45 usable responses that were received from a survey of chief audit executives from firms listed on the Athens Stock Exchange and combined with publicly available information from annual reports. Findings The results indicate that audit committee characteristics (independence, diligence through frequent meetings and interaction with internal audit through valuation) influence internal audit professionalization. In addition, they demonstrate that internal audit professionalization is also influenced by CEO duality and firm’s external auditor. Practical implications The findings of this study have implications for audit committees wishing to improve their overall effectiveness, by identifying areas with substantial impact on internal audit quality. Moreover, regulators of corporate governance bodies can also benefit from the results to strengthen audit committee’s efficiency regarding internal audit function oversight. Originality/value The results add to the literature on the discussion of internal audit professionalization and complement the work of other researchers in the field of audit committee’s impact on internal audit quality/effectiveness. This study attempts to fill a gap in the literature on the effect of audit committee characteristics on internal audit professionalization, an element introduced from an institutional theory perspective.


2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lien De Cang ◽  
Katia Segers

How to serve the audience? The Belgian National Radio Institute (N.I.R.) in search of putting into practice the public service remit through its music and audience policy before the era of television (1930-1953). How to serve the audience? The Belgian National Radio Institute (N.I.R.) in search of putting into practice the public service remit through its music and audience policy before the era of television (1930-1953). This article questions in what way the Belgian radio-broadcaster was searching how to put into practice the central public service remit through its music and audience policy from the start of the institute in 1930 till the launch of television in 1953. Departing from a theoretical reflection on the concept of Public Service Broadcasting, this article presents the results of a qualitative content analysis of policy documents (minutes, annual reports) as well as writings of key members of the N.I.R.-staff. It reveals a shared paternalistic vision on the public service remit as well as oppositional views upon the audience and how to serve it.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Marx ◽  
Ronald Henry Mynhardt

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose an implementation framework for governance in the Ghanaian securities trading industry. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research approach was followed, using participatory action research (PAR) by involving stakeholders from the Ghanaian securities trading industry. Findings A governance framework for the Ghanaian securities trading industry is proposed, taking into account the regulatory environment of Ghana, the role of ethical leadership, boards of directors, audit committees, the governance of risk, information technology and internal audit. Research limitations/implications This study used PAR because it is a recognised research methodology aimed at problem resolution, knowledge creation and improving professional practice, through the involvement of the interest group. This paper provides a starting point – a practical solution for the securities industry of Ghana, but not generalisable results. Practical implications Applying the governance framework will create safeguards against corruption and mismanagement, promote transparency in economic life and assist Ghana in attracting investment, ultimately lowering its cost of capital and contributing to economic growth and development in the country. Social implications The implementation of the governance framework will benefit all stakeholders (employees, suppliers and the community at large) as a result of a culture conducive to influencing behaviour, strategy planning and implementation, as well as corporate results and financial sustainability. Originality/value The use of PAR assists the practitioners from the Ghanaian securities trading industry in improving their competencies (knowledge, skills, values and attributes) whilst generating a workable solution for their current governance challenges.


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.


2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline S. Hammersley ◽  
Linda A. Myers ◽  
Jian Zhou

SUMMARY In this paper, we study a sample of companies that fail to remediate previously disclosed material weaknesses (MWs) in their internal control systems and, thus, disclose the same MWs in two consecutive annual reports. Their failure to remediate is surprising given that regulators, credit rating agencies, and academics contend that the remediation of MWs is important. We form a control sample of companies that initially disclosed MWs in their internal control systems, but subsequently remediated these weaknesses, and investigate the characteristics of the remediated and unremediated MWs, the characteristics of remediating versus non-remediating companies, and the consequences to non-remediating companies. Regarding the characteristics of companies failing to remediate, we find that companies are less likely to remediate previously disclosed MWs when the weaknesses are more pervasive (i.e., when they are described as at the entity level, when there are more individual weaknesses) and when their operations are more complex (i.e., they have more segments and have foreign operations). In addition, companies with smaller audit committees are less likely to remediate. Regarding the consequences, we find that companies failing to remediate MWs experience larger increases in audit fees and a higher likelihood of auditor resignation as the number of MWs increases. We also find that non-remediating companies are more likely to receive modified audit opinions and going-concern opinions. Finally, we find that companies failing to remediate are more likely to miss filing deadlines and experience increased cost of debt capital (i.e., they receive poorer credit ratings when entity level MWs are present, and are charged higher interest rates). Data Availability: Data are publicly available from sources identified in the text.


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.


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.


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.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document