Obtaining Assurance for Financial Statement Audits and Control Audits When Aspects of the Financial Reporting Process Are Outsourced

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 209-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Bierstaker ◽  
Long Chen ◽  
Margaret H. Christ ◽  
Matthew Ege ◽  
Natalia Mintchik
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Service Organization ◽  
Future Research ◽  
External Auditors ◽  
And Control ◽  
Control Risk

SUMMARY Businesses increasingly outsource organizational functions that have financial reporting implications, which requires auditors to adjust their risk assessment and audit procedures for this practice. However, PCAOB inspection reports cite deficiencies indicating that external auditors frequently do not perform proper procedures before relying on controls maintained by service organizations. In this paper, we examine the audit implications of clients' use of service organizations. Using the audit risk and control risk models and drawing on the extant research on using the work of others and internal audit outsourcing, we develop a framework that describes how clients' use of service organizations affects financial statement and internal control audits. We propose that three characteristics of outsourcing: the client, the service organization, and the auditor of the service organization affect inherent risk, control risk, and control detection risk for clients who outsource these functions. Based on this model, we develop specific research questions to guide future auditing research. We also use this model to provide insights for future research on external auditors' reliance on outsourced internal audit functions. JEL Classifications: M41; M42; L24.

The Impact of Internal Audit Function Quality and Contribution on Audit Delay

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Pizzini ◽  
Shu Lin ◽  
Douglas E. Ziegenfuss
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
House Of Representatives ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Internal Auditors ◽  
External Auditors ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Relevant Work

SUMMARY The number of days required to complete financial statement audits (i.e., audit delay) increased significantly with the implementation of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX, U.S. House of Representatives 2002). As firms' in-house experts on internal control, Internal Audit Functions (IAFs) can substantially affect financial reporting processes and, thus, audit delay. Internal auditors can help management maintain strong internal controls and assist external auditors with financial statement audits. Accordingly, we investigate whether IAF quality and the IAF's contribution to financial statement audits affect audit delay in a sample of 292 firm-year observations drawn from the pre-SOX 404 period. Using survey data from the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), we develop a comprehensive proxy for IAF quality; we measure different aspects of IAF quality (e.g., competence, objectivity, fieldwork rigor); and we measure the nature of the IAF's contribution to financial statement audits (independently performed work and direct assistance). Results indicate audit delay is decreasing in IAF quality, and this decrease is driven by IAF competence and fieldwork quality. Delay is four days shorter when IAFs contribute to external audits by independently performing relevant work. High-quality IAFs contribute to financial statement audits by independently performing relevant work, while low-quality IAFs provide direct assistance.

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
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Future Research ◽  
External Audit ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Study Results

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.

scholarly journals The Effects of Interaction between Internal Auditor and Audit Committee on Fraud Detection in Malaysia

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.38) ◽  
pp. 1338
Author(s):  
Sunita Lylia Hamdan ◽  
Nahariah Jaffar ◽  
Ruzanna Ab Razak
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Specific Interaction ◽  
Fraud Detection ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Internal Auditing ◽  
Internal Auditor ◽  
Internal Auditors ◽  
External Auditors

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.       

scholarly journals Using triangulation to view internal audit’s governance functioning

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 287-296
Author(s):  
Christo Ackermann
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Wide Audience ◽  
External Auditors ◽  
Reporting Practices

Internal audit departments of organisations are regarded as an integral component of the combined assurance model alongside the audit committee, management and the external auditors. The primary users of the work of internal audit are the audit committee, senior management, other levels of management and to some extent, the external auditors. This wide audience served by internal audit reinforces the importance of IAFs’ work, which deals with important aspects facing the entity. Internal audit is therefore able to reduce the lack of information availability for the audit committee on matters concerning risk management, internal control and governance. However, a study conducted on audit committee effectiveness, it was found that 40% of audit committees in national government departments in South Africa are not fully effective and are failing to contribute towards improving internal control, risk management, governance and financial reporting practices. Audit committees’ effectiveness in contributing to risk management, internal control and governance was measured at 63%, 76% and 62% respectively, in a comprehensive study on audit committees in the South African public sector. This indicates that their oversight in these areas, especially risk management and governance, is not yet effective. These findings are concerning given that audit committees have a legal mandate to assist government departments in these areas. Internal audit functions are key in assisting audit committees in their governance oversight responsibility. The present study reports on the extent to which internal audit in the eight metropolitan municipalities in South Africa assists audit committees in their governance oversight responsibility, focusing on the scope of work of internal audit with reference to its governance mandate. A data transformation triangulation design was followed to describe internal audit’s functioning

Auditors' Training and Proficiency in Information Systems: A Research Synthesis

2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary B. Curtis ◽  
J. Gregory Jenkins ◽  
Jean C. Bedard ◽  
Donald R. Deis
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Research Synthesis ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Auditing Standards ◽  
And Training

ABSTRACT: This paper presents a review of extant literature examining issues relating to auditors' knowledge of and training in information systems. This review is important due to the rapidly increasing use of technology in business, recent changes in U.S. auditing standards on information technology and internal control, and signals of interest by regulators in possible future standards on auditors' information systems (IS) knowledge. We review prior research both to provide information on the current status of our literature, and to identify specific questions about which there is insufficient research. Our review covers three broad areas. First, we review the current environment of IS in financial reporting and assurance, and summarize related auditing standards. Second, we consider prior research on how financial statement (“generalist”) auditors acquire and use IS knowledge. Third, we discuss research on the interaction between generalist and IS auditors. Each section concludes with suggestions for future research.

scholarly journals Internal budget control

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
MSc. Mervete Shala
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Budget Control ◽  
Effective System ◽  
The Government ◽  
Accounting Control ◽  
Compliance With The Law ◽  
And Control

Internal control is established by the Government to ensure effective and proper operations of ministries, institutions and generally of all public agencies, in compliance with the law, the goals and objectives stated by them, to provide protection against abuse and mismanagement or poor governance.The instrument of internal audit entails a series of mechanisms which aim at enabling budgetary policies compliance, such as: financial reporting; effective system of communication between managers and staff; checks on accounting; control over processes and control over procurement.Generally, duties of internal control officers within ministries and institutions must be clearly divided to reduce the risk of inco-rrect behaviour. Operations of an efficient control mechanism influence and ensure conditions for rule of law, good governance, and democracy.

scholarly journals Assessment of Internal Auditing Position in the Private Sector in Nigeria: An Applied Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 4-13
Author(s):  
Abdulkadir Madawaki ◽  
Aidi Ahmi ◽  
Halimah @ Nasibah Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Internal Auditing ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Internal Auditors ◽  
External Auditors

The significance of quality internal auditing has received serious attention in both regulatory and public attention in recent years. Essential elements of organisation internal auditing are competency, independence, quality of work performed, risk-based internal audit, internal control activities and coordination between internal and external auditors. The objective of this study is to examine the position of these quality attributes of IA in the Nigerian private sector following the recent regulatory changes. The survey questionnaire was personally administered on internal auditors using a sample of ninety-seven organisations listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to collect information for the period December 2018 to July 2019. The findings show that all the variables are free from multicollinearity and the results of the descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviations provide that all the respondents seem to agree with the statements regarding the variables. Finally, the paper provided limitation of the study and direction for future research.

An Analysis of the Demand for Reporting on Internal Control

2000 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather M. Hermanson
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Operational Definition ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Individual Investors ◽  
Internal Auditors ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Definition Of

The purpose of this study is to analyze the demand for reporting on internal control. Nine financial statement user groups were identified and surveyed to determine whether they agree that: (1) management reports on internal control (MRIC) are useful, (2) MRICs influence decisions, and (3) financial reporting is improved by adding MRICs. In addition, the paper examined whether responses varied based on: (1) the definition of internal control used (manipulated as broad, operational definition vs. narrow, financial-reporting definition) and (2) user group. The results indicate that financial statement users agree that internal controls are important. Respondents agreed that voluntary MRICs improved controls and provided additional information for decision making. Respondents also agreed that mandatory MRICs improved controls, but did not agree about their value for decision making. Using a broad definition of controls, respondents strongly agreed that MRICs improved controls and provided a better indicator of a company's long-term viability. Executive respondents were less likely to agree about the value of MRICs than individual investors and internal auditors.

External Auditors' Involvement in the Internal Audit Function's Work Plan and Subsequent Reliance Before and After a Negative Audit Discovery

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 159-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byron J. Pike ◽  
Lawrence Chui ◽  
Kasey A. Martin ◽  
Renee M. Olvera
Keyword(s):  
Internal Control ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Professional Standards ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Internal Auditors ◽  
External Auditors ◽  
Internal Audit Function ◽  
Anchoring Bias ◽  
Before And After

SUMMARY To reduce redundancies and increase efficiency in the evaluation of internal controls (PCAOB 2007, 402–403), professional standards encourage coordination between external auditors and their clients' internal audit function (IAF). Recent surveys of internal auditors find that a component of this coordination is external auditors' involvement in developing the IAF's audit plans. Nevertheless, it is not known how such involvement affects external auditors' reliance on the internal control test work of the IAF, either before or after a negative audit discovery. Based on an experiment with 107 experienced auditors, we find that external auditors involved in the development of the IAF's audit plan perceive the IAF as more objective and that both objectivity and involvement contribute to these auditors' placing more reliance on the IAF as compared to external auditors with no involvement. This initial reliance results in the involved auditors' proposing reductions to the audit budget and re-performing less of the IAF's work. Consistent with an anchoring bias, we find that involvement leads to external auditors' continuing to place greater reliance on the IAF's work, even after they become aware of a negative audit discovery that should not have occurred had the client's controls been effective. Data Availability: Data are available from the authors on request.

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