scholarly journals Internal Controls and Operational Performance of Nonprofit Organizations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan R Berglund ◽  
Mikhail Sterin
Keyword(s):  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Operational Performance ◽  
Control Environment ◽  
For Profit ◽  
External Stakeholders ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Robust Evidence

This study examines the impact of auditor-reported internal control deficiencies (ICDs) on operational performance within nonprofit organizations. Contemporary studies in the for-profit environment document evidence that poor internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) cause suboptimal operational performance. While these analyses are restricted to ICFR, the nonprofit environment allows external stakeholders to observe the effectiveness of both ICFR and internal controls over compliance. We find robust evidence of negative associations between both ICD types and two key measures of nonprofit operational performance: surplus and the charitable expense ratio. Our findings are relevant to multiple nonprofit stakeholders, demonstrating that the control environment has a pervasive impact on a nonprofit's ability to effectively execute its charitable mission.

Who's in Control of the Ark? A Study of Internal Controls in Operating and Auditing A Small Preschool

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth V. Grace ◽  
Ashley Davis
Keyword(s):  
Internal Control ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Auditor Independence ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Control Environment ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
Analytical Thinking ◽  
Financial Transactions

ABSTRACT This instructional case encourages analytical thinking about internal controls in both the operations and audit of a small, not-for-profit organization. Students examine a control environment characterized by unauthorized expenditures, lack of documentation, and missing documents. Using the COSO (2013) framework, students demonstrate understanding of business processes as they identify internal control risks and deficiencies, and recommend control improvements. Auditing students additionally apply management assertions about financial transactions and assess auditor independence. Students gain practical experience in developing flowcharts of accounting processes and writing a management letter for a familiar organization: a preschool.

scholarly journals Does Control Self-Assessment Influence Financial Reporting Quality?

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 70-76
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Uemura
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Financial Reporting Quality ◽  
Control Environment ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Positive Effects

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of control self-assessment (CSA) on financial reporting quality by using CSA as a proxy of monitoring quality. CSA has an important feature that allows the employees themselves to become involved in the assessment of internal controls’ effectiveness. Moreover, CSA has two important monitoring functions. First, it can add value to internal auditing. Second, because all employees of operational units participate in the assessment of internal controls in CSA, that control environment is expected to be mature. The investigation of this study used data from 3,517 Japanese firms listed on the First Section, Second Section, Mothers, and JASDAQ of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The result of 2SLS regression shows that CSA adoption has a negative relationship with the number of financial restatements and audit fees, and therefore, I conclude that CSA has positive consequences for financial reporting quality. This result indicates that the internal monitoring mechanism that continuously monitors internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) effectiveness and in which all employees participate has some positive effects on financial reporting quality. There are two reasons for this result. First, employees have easier access to negative information concerning ICFR effectiveness than outsiders and can share that information with the internal personnel in charge of monitoring (e.g., internal auditors). Moreover, CSA is expected raise an entity’s awareness of ICFR, that is, the control environment of ICFR components is made into an environment that prevents and detects impropriety in the accounting process. Keywords: Control

scholarly journals Effective Internal Controls for Not-For Profit Entities

2020 ◽  
pp. 47-58
Author(s):  
Achraf Seyam, CPA ◽  
Barry Copper, CPA
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Continuous Monitoring ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Professional Services ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
The Public ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
Non Profit Organizations

The importance of internal control is clear. Effective internal control makes sure non-profit organizations to carried out their mission and objectives, such as proper use of funds and provide professional services to the public without any risk of fraud and mismanagement or breach of ethics. Through continuous monitoring of non-profit’s performance and activities, internal controls dispose of the behaviors of non-profit organizations with their objectives. Internal controls also engaged in good management and make sure to provide appropriate financial reporting by providing accurate and complete reports to the management in a timely manner and make sure the sources are correctly allocated. Internal control is also the tool to safeguard assets that make sure the organizations physical and intangible assets are protected from fraud, misused, and error. Internal control is not only able to deter and detect fraud and error but also is able to reduce the chance to risks.

The Unintended Consequences of Internal Controls Reporting on Tax Decision Making

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-102
Author(s):  
Victoria J. Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Corporate Tax ◽  
Material Weakness ◽  
Reporting Requirements ◽  
Internal Control Deficiencies ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT This study investigates the impact of the internal controls over financial reporting requirements (ICFR) on the decision making of corporate tax executives. I examine tax executives' decisions to disclose an internal control deficiency by amending a prior year return when the internal control deficiency will be classified as either a significant deficiency or a material weakness. I also examine if tax executives' decisions are impacted by whether amending results in a refund or additional tax due. I find tax executives are less likely to disclose (amend) when the internal control deficiency is classified as a material weakness. When facing a material weakness, 16.7 percent choose not to disclose. Tax executives are also less likely to disclose (amend) when amending results in additional tax due. These results indicate the ICFR requirements may have unintended consequences. If executives do not disclose internal control deficiencies, the reliability of financial reporting is limited.

The Impact of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems on the Effectiveness of Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Enterprise Resource Planning ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Control Sample ◽  
Resource Planning ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Erp Systems ◽  
Individual Account ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT: Software vendors that market enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have taken advantage of the increased focus on internal controls that grew out of the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) legislation by emphasizing that a key feature of ERP systems is the use of “built-in” controls that mirror a firm’s infrastructure. They argue that these built-in controls and other features will help firms improve their internal control over financial reporting as required by SOX. This study tests that assertion by examining SOX Section 404 compliance data for a sample of firms that implemented ERP systems between 1994 and 2003. The results suggest that ERP-implementing firms are less likely to report internal control weaknesses (ICW) than a matched control sample of non-ERP-implementing firms. It also finds that this difference exists for both general (entity-wide), and individual (account-level) controls.

Sunshine Center: An Instructional Case Evaluating Internal Controls in a Small Organization

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 709-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra K. Fleak ◽  
Keith E. Harrison ◽  
Laurie A. Turner
Keyword(s):  
Child Care ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Fraud Triangle ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
Control Framework ◽  
Internal Control Weaknesses

ABSTRACT: Management and auditors face increased responsibilities to evaluate internal control and assess the risk of fraud. This case provides the opportunity to evaluate internal controls and the possibility of fraud in a very small not-for-profit child care center, a setting that is easy to understand. The first goal of the case is to identify internal control weaknesses by applying the COSO internal control framework in an environment that lacks many aspects of internal control. Interactions among the five components of the COSO framework provide the basis for analyzing internal control. The case requires students to consider possible misappropriation of funds using the fraud triangle. A secondary goal of the case is to introduce financial reporting for a not-for-profit organization as a means of accountability.

scholarly journals The Influence of Internal Controls on Public Financial Reporting Quality (PFRQ) in Sri Lanka; an Empirical Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 06 (07) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anuruddha, M.S. ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Financial Reporting Quality ◽  
Control Environment ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Impact

Public financial reporting is accountable to maintain public trust by protecting the accountability, openness, and transparency of public money which leads to the good governance of the country. There were many criticisms over financial reporting quality by various stakeholders of entities across the countries. There is a growing concern over the quality of PFR which determines the level of performing expectations of financial reporting. Assurance of PFR in Sri Lanka has deteriorated and been questioned by legislative authorities and interested parties because of the quality concerns. Considering the scholarly studies in various countries, the study was carried out in Sri Lanka to investigate the influence of Internal Controls (ICs) over the Public Financial Reporting Quality (PFRQ) with an objective to measure and conclude the determinants. To conclude the impact, the study investigates the influence of five basic dimensions of ICs introduced in previous literature, namely: Control Environment, Risk Assessment, Control Activities, Information & Communication, and Monitoring. Considering the facts of the context of Sri Lanka, the research has investigated the influence of IC on public financial reporting quality in the central government ministries and departments environment in Sri Lanka. The primary data was collected by a questionnaire survey conducted with accountants who are being employed in the central government ministries and departments in Sri Lanka. Data have collected by a structured questionnaire and verified by Cronbach’s alpha test for reliability. A multiple linear regression model was developed and tested to determine the statistical influence of variables of IC over the dependent PFRQ. The findings investigate and conclude the positively significant influence of IC on the PFRQ in the central government ministries and departments in Sri Lanka. Further, it was admitted the significant direct influence of IC attributes of Control Environment, Information and Communication and Monitoring to determine the PFRQ. Based on the facts, the study recommends the public sector in Sri Lanka to ensure the effectiveness of ICs in government institutions to improve and maintain the trust level of PFRQ.

scholarly journals Internal Control Weakness and Managerial Myopia: Evidence from SOX Section 404 Disclosures

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy E. Ji
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Investment Decisions ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Financial Reporting Quality ◽  
Section 404 ◽  
Managerial Myopia ◽  
Internal Control Weaknesses ◽  
The Impact

Problem/ Relevance: Managerial myopia is an important issue of interests to academics, practitioners, and regulators as managers have been condemned for their obsession with short-term earnings and myopic investment decisions that sacrifice firms’ long term value for shareholders. This article contributes by examining whether the quality of firms’ internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) is associated with managerial myopia. Research Objective/ Questions: The purpose of this study is to examine whether managers in firms reporting material internal control weaknesses (ICW) under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002 engage in myopic behaviors more than those in firms without reporting ICW. Methodology: The study uses the logit regression model to investigate a sample obtained from Compustat for the period of 2005-2013. Major Findings: The study finds a positive association between internal control weaknesses reported by auditors under Section 404 of the SOX and managerial short-termism which is measured by the probability of cutting R&D expenses in the current year from the previous year. Implications: Whereas prior studies mostly examine the impact of internal controls on accounting quality, this study demonstrates the implication of internal controls beyond financial reporting quality by showing an association between internal control quality and managerial myopia. Future research may further investigate the association between firms’ financial reporting quality and managerial investment decisions.

Perception of Internal Controls Helps Explain Whistleblowing

2021 ◽  
pp. 089976402110176
Author(s):  
Andrea M. Scheetz ◽  
Tonya D. W. Smalls ◽  
Joseph Wall ◽  
Aaron B. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Nonprofit Sector ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Organization Framework ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Control Implementation ◽  
Three Components ◽  
For Profit Organizations

The nonprofit sector may suffer financially from inconsistency in regulations and polices surrounding internal control implementation. To address this issue, our study explores how perceived internal control strength differs between nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Furthermore, we examine three components of the Committee of Sponsoring Organization framework to determine which components might significantly influence whistleblowing for nonprofit organizations. As expected, all three components appear to significantly influence whistleblowing for those in for-profit organizations. For those in nonprofit organizations, the perception of control activities and monitoring activities significantly mediates the relationship between organization type and whistleblowing intentions. Finally, the data indicate that the use of an anonymous website for whistleblowing at a nonprofit organization may require added attention and resources if employees at nonprofits are to use this outlet to the same extent as it is used at a for-profit organization.

scholarly journals The Impact of Family Ownership on Quality and Disclosure of Internal Control in Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 8755
Author(s):  
Imran Abbas Jadoon ◽  
Umara Noreen ◽  
Usman Ayub ◽  
Muhammad Tahir ◽  
Naima Shahzadi
Keyword(s):  
Internal Control ◽  
Multivariate Regression ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Control Environment ◽  
Minority Shareholders ◽  
Control Quality ◽  
The Impact

The role of family owners in the internal control environment is characterized by contradictory theoretical arguments i.e., entrenchment and alignment behavior. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the behavior exhibited by family owners concerning the internal control environment in an underdeveloped regulatory setting. The study collected both primary and secondary data to use a multivariate regression research design to investigate the impact of family owners and CEOs on the internal control quality and disclosure of enterprises. The results of the current study demonstrated that family owners and family CEO have a negative impact on the internal control quality and disclosure, which validates the entrenchment behavior exhibited by family owners in the Pakistani setting. The results of the current study imply that policymakers should promote strict policy initiatives regarding the effectiveness of internal controls and their reporting so that companies are compelled to have better engagement in internal control practices for the protection of minority shareholders.

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