scholarly journals The role of effective audit committee in strengthening the financial reporting: Evidence from Jordanian listed companies

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.

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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nor Hafizah Zainal Abidin

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine, from the agency perspective, the influence of internal audit and audit committee attributes, as well as risk management and internal control systems, on the implementation of risk-based auditing among public-listed companies in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey was distributed to the in-house internal audit function in approximately 620 public-listed companies. Consequently, data from 117 heads of the internal audit function was collected and analyzed. Findings The findings indicate that “audit committee review and concern” and “risk management system” are significantly and positively related to the implementation of risk-based auditing. Most importantly, the results indicate the importance of audit committee inputs and concerns in reviewing internal audit activities. Empirically, the findings also suggest that a more formalized risk environment would foster the existence of a strong risk-aware culture and hence provides a strong foundation for internal audit to implement risk-based auditing. However, internal audit experience, size of internal audit function, audit committee qualifications, and internal control system are not found to be significant predictors of the presence of risk-based auditing. Research limitations/implications This study examined only risk-based auditing practices in the in-house internal audit function of public-listed companies; hence, the findings cannot be generalized to all Malaysian-listed companies that outsource or co-source their internal audit activities. Social implications An effective internal monitoring mechanism and better quality of internal audit work will minimize potential risks that prevent the achievement of company objectives, reduce propensity to falsify financial information, and improve financial reporting quality. Originality/value This study contributes evidence concerning the relationship between internal monitoring mechanisms and the implementation of risk-based auditing among in-house internal audit activity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Atef Oussii ◽  
Neila Boulila Taktak

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether there is any relationship between the effectiveness of an audit committee and the financial reporting timeliness of Tunisian listed companies as proxied by external audit delay (AD). Analysis focuses on five audit committee characteristics: authority, financial expertise, independence, size and diligence. Design/methodology/approach Empirical tests address 162 firm-year observations drawn from Tunisian listed companies during 2011-2013. Findings Multivariate analyses indicate that audit committees with members who have financial expertise are significantly associated with shorter AD. Thus, the results suggest that audit committee financial expertise contributes to the improvement of financial statements’ timeliness. Research limitations/implications The audit committee attributes examined in this study were based on DeZoort et al. (2002) framework. There could be other aspects of audit committee effectiveness such as audit committee tenure and audit committee chair characteristics, which were not addressed in the present study. Thus, future research may consider and examine these other components of audit committee effectiveness. Practical implications Findings have managerial implications. Companies can re-look into how to further improve audit committee composition in order to enhance the timeliness of financial reporting. The issues of audit committee effectiveness and timely reporting also affect regulators and policy makers since they need to play a role in the establishment of effective audit committees and the improvement of financial reporting timeliness. Originality/value This study is one of few that have examined the impact of audit committee effectiveness on ADs in an emerging market country. Findings lend credence to the belief that audit committee members’ financial expertise enhances the quality of financial reporting by firms in a North African market criticized for the lack of maturity of its corporate governance system (Klibi, 2015; Fitch Ratings, 2009).


2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. A31-A50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana R. Hermanson ◽  
Jason L. Smith ◽  
Nathaniel M. Stephens

SUMMARY Based on survey responses from approximately 500 Chief Audit Executives (CAEs) and other internal auditors, this article provides an insider's view of the perceived strength of organizations' internal controls (i.e., internal control over financial reporting) in the Control Environment, Risk Assessment, and Monitoring components of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations' (COSO 1992a) Internal Control—Integrated Framework. Although the respondents largely rate control strength as relatively high, we identify several areas for potential improvement of internal controls, especially related to assessing the “tone at the top,” as well as following up on deviations from policy and management override of controls. In analyzing individual control elements, we find that public companies' controls are consistently rated as more effective than those of other organizations. We also find a number of interesting differences across key industries, especially in the Monitoring component, where banks and other financial services firms appear to have more robust Monitoring controls than do healthcare and other services firms. The component-level analysis reveals that internal control component strength is positively related to the CAE reporting primarily to the audit committee, public company status, and the average tenure of the internal audit function staff, among other findings. Based on the survey findings, we describe key implications relevant to internal and external auditors, accounting researchers and educators, and management.


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.


2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
Redhwan Al-Dhamari ◽  
Almahdi Almagdoub ◽  
Bakr Al-Gamrh

<p class="Default"><span lang="EN-US">An audit committee is viewed as an essential self-regulatory internal governance instrument that is expected to provide an oversight role over the entire process of financial reporting. An internal audit is also one of the corporate governance cornerstones that is essential for the effective monitoring of the operating performance of internal control. To ensure its effectiveness, the audit committee monitors the resources available to the internal audit, and internal control functions should be directly reported to the audit committee. This study analyses the effect of audit committee characteristics on internal audit budget in Malaysia, where data on internal audit budget is available and how well audit committee monitors the internal audit function is questionable. Our study also opens the door to an unanswered question, that is, whether an audit committee index is related to internal audit budget. Data of 96 companies listed on Bursa Malaysia for a three-year period, 2012-2014, was utilized to achieve this end. The regression results show that audit committee meeting and index are significantly and positively associated with internal audit budget. They also indicate that audit committee tenure has a significant and negative impact on internal audit budget. The findings of the study support the recent policy initiatives in relation to audit committee and internal audit. They also serve as a wake-up call to policy makers in requiring more committed and skilled members on the audit committee.</span></p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-46
Author(s):  
Md. Jahidur Rahman ◽  
Rob Kim Marjerison

This study conducts a comprehensive review of the literature published during 1989-2020 to identify the factors that can cause internal control weakness. This review is organized around five main groups, namely: 1) rapid growth and restructuring, 2) financial reporting complexity, 3) auditor tenure, 4) cultural differences, and 5) corporate governance. We perform an integrated literature review approach. Among the several factors found, some factors (the proportion of managerial ownership, Individualism, power distance, financial reporting complexity, rapid growth, and auditor-customer geographic distance) have a positive relationship with internal control weakness while others (the quality of the board of directors and auditing committees, directors’ compensation, and uncertainty avoidance) have a negative relationship. The findings contribute to future research by examining the factors that can cause internal control weakness from different perspectives, which will prove to be useful for investors, auditors, audit committee members, managers, and other stakeholders regarding the prevention of internal controls weaknesses through the application of solid internal controls as well as a path towards the improvement of existing problems of internal control weakness.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.38) ◽  
pp. 1338
Author(s):  
Sunita Lylia Hamdan ◽  
Nahariah Jaffar ◽  
Ruzanna Ab Razak

This study aims to examine the effect of interaction between internal auditor and audit committee on fraud detection in Malaysia.  Specific interaction is firstly; audit committee approving the appointment of chief audit executive, the evaluation of chief audit executive, the dismissal of chief audit executive, the internal audit budget and the internal audit plan or program.  Secondly, audit committee’s involvement in reviewing internal auditor’s work specifically; providing input for the internal audit plan, reviewing the results of internal auditing related to financial reporting, reviewing the results of internal auditing related to internal control, reviewing the results of internal auditing related to compliance with laws and regulation, reviewing the internal audit involvement in management responses to internal audit suggestions, reviewing the difficulties or scope restrictions encountered by internal auditors and reviewing the coordination between internal auditors and external auditors.  Survey questionnaires were mailed to internal auditors attached to 782 companies listed on Bursa Malaysia’s main market. The results of this study suggest that involvement of audit committee in approving chief audit executives’ matters is insignificant on internal auditors’ contribution to fraud detection.  However, audit committee’s involvement in reviewing internal auditors’ work significantly influence the internal auditors’ contribution in fraud detection.       


2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Marx

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate and analyse the effective functioning of audit committees at the largest listed companies in South Africa.Problem investigated: The modern audit committee is often seen as the panacea of the corporate world and as such is looked upon to cure all the financial reporting and control-related problems of entities. Audit committees are, however, not always as effective as they are held to be, as is evidenced by the many well-known corporate scandals and business failures that occurred where audit committees existed and fraudulent financial reporting, audit failures, internal control breakdowns and other irregularities prevailed. The modern audit committee will be of value only if it is properly constituted, is functioning effectively and if its role is clearly understood by all the parties concerned. The research problem investigated stems precisely from this issue, and the paper therefore aims to analyse the effective functioning of the audit committees at the largest listed companies in South Africa. Methodology: The study empirically tested the audit committee practices at the largest listed companies in South Africa. This was done through questionnaires addressed to the CFOs and audit committee chairs. Findings: The study found that audit committees at the largest listed companies in South Africa are well established, properly constituted, have the authority and resources to effectively discharge their responsibilities and consist of members who act independently and who have the right mix of appropriate experience, financial literacy and financial expertise amongst their members. The audit committee's role was found to be generally well understood and supported by the board and the Chief Financial Officers. It was further found that the audit committees are effective in discharging their oversight responsibilities on the board's behalf, with the only real exception being their effectiveness regarding IT-related aspects. Value of research: The study provides valuable information on audit committee practices and the effectiveness of audit committees at the largest listed companies in South Africa. These findings can therefore serve as guidelines for best practice standards for audit committees at other companies and institutions. Conclusion: Audit committees at the largest listed companies in South Africa were found to be well established and according to the views of the CFOs and audit committee chairs to be functioning effectively. Further research regarding the subject field of audit committees should focus on the status and effective functioning thereof at smaller companies, unlisted entities, higher education institutions and public sector entities.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-115
Author(s):  
Abdul Aziz A. Abdul Rahman ◽  
Othman Hel Ajmi Al-Dhaimesh

This study aims to test the effect of applying the model of the Committee Sponsoring Organizations for enterprise risk management (COSO-ERM) on reducing fraudulent financial reporting in commercial banks operating in Jordan. Furthermore, the study identifies the role of each board of directors, audit committee, executive management, human resource management, and internal audit as one of the corporate governance mechanisms in enhancing the effectiveness of internal control systems. The study revealed an impact of applying the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations model for enterprise risk management (COSO-ERM) on preventing fraudulent financial reporting, where it reached influence around 77.8% on the dependent variable (fraudulent financial reporting). The study also found that each of internal control, event identification, risk assessment and response, and control activities variables affects dependent variable (fraudulent financial reporting) in commercial banks operating in Jordan.


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