Internal auditors’ role and authority

Emerald - 2004
KarenVan Peursem1
1The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

Tóm tắt

In this study, internal auditors are asked to come to a view on whether functions they perform in connection with internal audit engagements are essential, and to what degree. Inspired by Burns, Greenspan and Hartwell’s concept of the true professional, there is an underlying interest in determining whether, and under what circumstances, internal auditors’ enjoy the authority over and independence from management that we might expect of a professional. The findings emerge from a survey of New Zealand auditors, all of whom are IIA branch members. A 73 per cent response rate is achieved over the original and follow‐up survey. A factor analysis identifies converging issues, and t‐tests isolate responses by employment status, disciplinary background, experience, and audit charter existence. The findings suggest that characteristics of a “true” profession exist but do not dominate. Significantly, and as subgroups, public practice and experienced auditors may enjoy greater influence over management, and accountancy‐trained auditors may enjoy greater status owing to the “mystique” of their activities. Comments from the internal auditors shed further light on these results. Conclusions point to further avenues for research.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

Acciani, N. (1995), “Outlaw outsourcing”, Internal Auditor, Vol. 52 No. 1, pp. 50‐1.

Applegate, D. and Wills, T. (1999), “COSO: struggling to incorporate the COSO recommendations into your audit process?”, Internal Auditor, Vol. 56 No. 6, pp. 198‐204.

Brody, R.G. and Lowe, D.J. (2000), “The new role of the internal auditor: implications for internal auditor objectivity”, International Journal of Auditing, Vol. 4, pp. 169‐76.

Burns, D.C., Greenspan, J.W. and Hartwell, C. (1994), “The state of professionalism in internal auditing”, The Accounting Historian's Journal, Vol. 21 No. 2, pp. 85‐116.

Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) (2003), Internal Control – Integrated Framework, COSO, p. 4, available at: www.coso.org.

Cooper, B.J., Leung, P. and Mathews, C. (1996), “Benchmarking – a comparison of internal audit in Australia, Malaysia and Hong Kong”, Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 11 No. 1, pp. 23‐9.

Covaleski, M.A., Dirsmith, M.W. and Rittenberg, L. (2003), “Jurisdictional disputes over professional work: the institutionalization of the global knowledge expert”, Accounting, Organizations and Society, Vol. 28, pp. 323‐55.

Elliott, R.K. and Jacobson, P.D. (2002), “The evolution of the knowledge professional”, Accounting Horizons, Vol. 16 No. 1, pp. 69‐80.

Flesher, D.L. and Zanzig, J.S. (2000), “Management accountants express a desire for change in the functioning of internal auditing”, Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 15 No. 7, pp. 331‐7.

Glascock, K.L. (2002), “Auditees or clients?”, The Internal Auditor, Vol. 59 No. 4, pp. 84‐5.

Hermanson, H.M. (2000), “An analysis of the demand for reporting on internal control”, Accounting Horizons, Vol. 14 No. 3, pp. 325‐41.

Lowe, D.J., Geiger, M.A. and Pany, K. (1999), “The effects of internal audit outsourcing on perceived external auditor independence”, Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory (Supplement), January, pp. 7‐26.

McCall, S.M. (2002), “The auditor as consultant”, The Internal Auditor, Vol. 59 No. 6, pp. 35‐9.

Myers, P.M. and Gramling, A.A. (1997), “The perceived benefits of certified internal auditor designation”, Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 12 No. 2, pp. 70‐9.

O'Leary, C. (1996), “Performance audits: could they become mandatory for public companies?”, Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 11 No. 1, pp. 14‐18.

Rittenberg, L. and Covaleski, M.A. (2001), “Internalization versus externalization of the internal audit function: an examination of professional and organizational imperatives”, Accounting, Organizations and Society, Vol. 26, pp. 617‐41.

Robinson, V.M.J. and Kuin, L.M. (1999), “The explanation of practice: why Chinese students copy assignments”, International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, Vol. 12 No. 2, pp. 193‐210.

Selim, G. and Yiannakas, A. (2000), “Outsourcing the internal audit function: a survey of the UK public and private sectors”, International Journal of Auditing, Vol. 4, pp. 213‐26.

Tarr, R. (2002), “Built to last”, The Internal Auditor, Vol. 59 No. 6, pp. 28‐33.

Verschoor, C. and Farrell, T. (1996), “Questions directors should ask before outsourcing the internal audit function”, Director's Monthly, December, pp. 5‐7.

Thông tin
Thông tin xuất bản

Emerald

Thông tin tác giả