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MAJ
20,8 Internal auditing practices and
internal control system
Faudziah Hanim Fadzil
844 Faculty of Accountancy, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah, Malaysia
Hasnah Haron
School of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, and
Muhamad Jantan
Centre for Policy Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
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Abstract
Purpose – Two main objectives and they are: to determine whether the internal audit department of
the companies listed in the Bursa Malaysia complies with the Standards for the Professional Practice
of Internal Auditors IIA (2000); and, to determine whether compliance to SPPIA will affect the quality
of the internal control system of the company.
Design/methodology/approach – Two sets of questionnaires were used in the study. Internal
auditing practices was measured by the items listed in the SPPIA and the internal control was
measured by means of the statement on internal control: guidance for directors of public listed
companies. The population used in this study was all the companies listed in the Bursa Malaysia in
2001. This study used both descriptive and inferential analyses.
Findings – It was found that management of internal audit department, professional proficiency,
objectivity and review significantly influence the monitoring aspect of the internal control system.
Scope of work and performance of audit work significantly influences the information and
communication aspect of the internal control system while performance of audit work, professional
proficiency and objectivity significantly influence the control environment aspect of the internal
control system. The study also shows that management of internal audit department, performance of
audit work, audit program and audit reporting significantly influences the risk assessment aspect
of the internal control system. Lastly, performance of audit work and audit reporting significantly
influences the control activities aspect of the internal control system.
Research limitations/implications – The research has contributed to the agency theory with
respect to the bonding costs that management has to pay to the internal auditors for the best interest of
the principals of the companies. Another important implication pertains to the extent of the internal
auditing practices among internal auditors in Malaysian public listed companies. Research has also
shown that the compliance with internal auditing practices partially influence certain aspects of the
quality of the internal control system.
Originality/value – This is the first empirical study that has linked the compliance of the internal
auditing function to the SPPIA and its effect on the internal control system.
Keywords Auditing, Auditing standards, Malaysia
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Internal auditing has undergone dramatic changes that have expanded its scope in a way
Managerial Auditing Journal that allows it to make greater contributions to the organization it serves. Internal auditing
Vol. 20 No. 8, 2005
pp. 844-866 is also performed in diverse legal and cultural environments; within organizations that
q Emerald Group Publishing Limited
0268-6902
vary in purpose, size, and structure; and also by persons within or outside the
DOI 10.1108/02686900510619683 organization. Furthermore, the internal auditing profession also walks a tightrope
between serving as a management consultant and an independent professional. A survey Internal auditing
done by the Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance (MICG), The Institute of Internal practices and
Auditors Malaysia (IIAM) and Ernst and Young concluded that internal auditors are best
placed to understand and appreciate the business processes of a company and they act as control system
management consultant to reduce risks. Internal auditors also help run a company more
efficiently and effectively to increase shareholders’ value.
As this is the case, internal auditors need to be out in front, leading the business 845
units with regards to the internal control system and also focusing on strategic
business objectives. The internal auditors also need to establish themselves as vital
cogs in their organizations, rather than as observers who watch from the periphery and
wait for events to impact them (Sawyer and Vinten, 1996).
One issue that has emerged related to the internal auditing practices is; “what is a
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proper and sound measurement of the internal auditing practices?” Barrett (1986)
notes, “effectiveness (of internal audit) can be described, but it is difficult to quantify
and in the final analysis, effectiveness is determined by the perception of auditees”.
In the company environment, management is the most important auditee of the
internal audit department since effectiveness of the internal auditing practices can be
described through the expectations of management with regard to the internal auditing
practices. The management will expect the internal auditors to perform their internal
auditing practices to a certain level that is complying with the Standards for the
Professional Practice of Internal Auditors (SPPIA) (now known as the Professional
Practice Framework (PPF)), since it can be easily described. Compliance with SPPIA is
therefore an indication of the effectiveness of the Internal Audit Department.
The auditing profession, both internal and external, has come under increasing
scrutiny since the highly publicised collapse of energy trader, Enron (Vinten, 2003) in
the USA last year. The uncovering of alleged irregularities at Technology Resources
Industries Berhad (TRI) has highlighted the need for greater corporate governance in
Malaysia.
TRI had issued false invoices between 1998 and 1999, which amounts to MYR260
million (USD 68 million). According to Dato’ Samad Alias, the President of the
Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA), “This could be the largest accounting fraud
in Malaysian history”. The false invoices was discovered by Telekom Malaysia, who
took control of the TRI in June 2002, after conducting several internal audits, when
Arthur Andersen was TRI’s auditor. “We had to rely on the information prepared by
the company’s accountants”, said Dato’ Abdul Samad, who was then head of the
Andersen’s Malaysian office. If TRI was to restate 1998 and 1999 accounts, its net book
value will reduce as much as MYR 198 million (Financial Times, 2002). The case has
certainly shed a light on the importance of the role of internal auditors, which was only
recognised and emphasised after irregularities were discovered.
Internal auditors are often described as both a business partner and a policeman
because of his work as a business partner with client management and also because he
acts as an independent reviewer of management. As a business partner, the internal
auditor is expected to provide expertise to assist an organization in meeting its
objectives while as a policeman; an internal auditor is often thought of as an adversary
looking for flaws. As such, the extent of the internal auditing practices plays an
important factor on these roles. This study will provide empirical evidence whether
compliance with internal auditing practices will lead to a better internal control system.
MAJ The development of SPPIA
20,8 SPPIA are the criteria by which the operations of an internal auditing department are
evaluated and measured and intended to represent the internal auditing practices, as it
should be. It is also meant to serve the entire profession of internal auditing, in all types
of organisations where internal auditors are found. It was first developed in June 1978,
at the Internal Auditors International Conference in San Francisco. The SPPIA
846 comprise of five general standards of:
(1) independence;
(2) professional proficiency;
(3) scope of work;
(4) performance of audit work; and
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This framework allowed the future expansion of the internal auditing practices until
the new framework was released in January 2002.
A new framework, called PPF was released in January 2002[1] and it consisted of
three sets of standards: attribute, performance, and implementation standards. The
attribute standards address the attributes of organisations and individuals performing
internal audit services while the performance standards describe the nature of internal
audit services and provide quality criteria against which performance of these services
can be measured. The implementation standards on the other hand provide guidance
applicable in specific types of engagements. However, this new framework is not
utilised in this study because of the timing of its release.
Internal control system. The internal control system plays an important role in the
internal auditing practices since the internal auditors might be considered as being
specialists in management control (Chambers et al., 1987). Internal auditing practices
appraise the effectiveness of internal control systems, which is a definition of internal
auditing and which also includes an appraisal of the actions by management to correct
situations, which are at variance with planned outcomes. The definition of internal
control systems reveals that it is not fundamentally different from management
control, which has an essential component of control such as planning, organising,
staffing and directing (Chambers et al., 1987). Senior management and the audit
committee normally expect that the CAE will perform sufficient audit work and gather
other available information during the year so as to form a judgement about the
adequacy and effectiveness of the control processes. The CAE should then
communicate that overall judgement about the organisation’s system of controls to
the senior management and the audit committee. This is necessary since internal
auditors play an intermediary role and assist in the discharge of the oversight function
of audit committee. If the above internal audit function is not available, the
management needs to apply other monitoring processes in order to assure itself and the
board that the system of internal control system is functioning as intended. In these
circumstances, the board of the company will need to assess whether such processes
provide sufficient and objective assurance or regular review and appraisal of the
adequacy and the integrity of the internal control systems in the company.
Bursa Listing Requirements has established industry taskforce which formulated the
“Statement on Internal Control: Guidance For Directors of Public Listed Companies”
to fulfil the above circumstances. The aim of this guidance is to assist listed companies in Internal auditing
making disclosures in their annual reports on the state of internal control, in compliance practices and
with the Listing Requirements of the KLSE. Pursuant to the requirements of the Code in
relation to the Internal Audit Function, in May 2001, the Securities Commission control system
appointed the IIAM to establish a separate industry taskforce to formulate these
Guidelines to assist the board of public listed companies in effectively discharging their
responsibilities in relation to establishing an Internal Audit Function. Risk assessment, 847
control environment, control activities, information and communication and monitoring
are five important characteristics in this guideline.
The roles of internal auditors. In the revised statement of responsibilities of internal
auditing issued by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) (2000) as part of the
standards framework, the section on objectives states:
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The objective of internal auditing is to assist all members of management in the effective
discharge of their responsibilities by furnishing them with analyses, appraisals,
recommendations and pertinent comments concerning the activities reviewed. The internal
auditor is concerned with any phase of business activity where he can be of service to
management. This involves going beyond accounting and financial records to obtain a full
understanding of the operations under review (p. 3).
Sawyer and Vinten (1996) noted four benefits managers have gained from internal
auditing assistance. These benefits were providing managers with the bases for
judgement and action, helping managers by reporting weaknesses in control and
performance and in recommending improvements, providing counsel to managers and
boards of directors on the solutions of business problems, and supplying information
that is timely, reliable and useful to all levels of management.
Additionally, the statement sets forth the types of services that should be performed
and the kinds of activities carried on by the internal audit function in attaining the
overall objective. Internal auditors should first review and appraise the soundness and
adequacy of the accounting, financial, and other operating controls, and promote
effective controls at reasonable cost. Secondly, the internal auditors should ascertain
the extent of compliance with established policies, plans, procedures, laws and
regulations, which could have a significant impact on the company’s operations. Then
the internal auditors review the means of safeguarding assets and when appropriate,
verify the existence of such assets and appraise the economy and efficiency with which
resources are employed. Lastly, the internal auditors review operations or programs to
ascertain whether results are consistent with established objectives and goals and
whether the operations or programs are being carried out as planned.
Reviewing and evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of an organisation’s
internal control system and the quality of performance in carrying out assigned
responsibilities is representative of several primary core activities of internal audit
work. The purpose of the review of the adequacy of the internal auditing is to ascertain
whether the established system provides reasonable assurance that the organisation’s
objectives and goals will be met efficiently and economically.
Adequate control is considered to be present if administrative management has
planned and organised in a manner, which provides reasonable assurance that the
organisation’s objectives and goals will be achieved efficiently and economically.
Reasonable assurance is provided when cost-effective actions are taken to restrict
deviations, such as improper or illegal acts, to a tolerable level.
MAJ The role of internal auditing in the review of effectiveness of the system of internal
20,8 control is to ascertain whether the system is functioning as intended. Effective control
is present when the administrative management directs the system in such as way as
to provide reasonable assurance that the organisation’s objectives and goals will be
achieved. The purpose of the review for quality of performance is to ascertain whether
the organisation’s objectives and goals have been achieved.
848 The primary objectives of an organisation’s system of internal control are to provide
administrative management with reasonable assurance that financial information is
accurate and reliable; the organisation complies with policies, plans, procedures, laws,
regulations and contracts; assets are safeguarded against loss and theft; resources are
used economically and efficiently; and established objectives and goals for operations
or programs can be met. Internal auditing focuses on an evaluation of this system or
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Research framework
This study focuses on two variables: internal auditing practices and quality of the
internal control system. The theoretical framework is as follows:
Figure 1 model proposed is based on the postulate in the agency theory where the
principal will incur the agency cost in order for them to observe the agent’s action.
The relationship between principals and agents is that the principals will incur
Internal auditing
practices and
control system
849
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Figure 1.
Theoretical framework
monitoring expenditures while the agents incur bonding costs to ensure that the work
of looking after the wealth of the principals is done (Adams, 1994). The cost of internal
audit is an example of this bonding costs. Sherer and Kent (1983) perceived internal
auditing to be “a bonding cost borne by the senior manager to satisfy the demands for
accountability made by external participants especially shareholders”. Not internal
audit professionals argue that an effective audit function will correlate with an
organisation’s success in meeting management objectives and whether the internal
control system is functioning as intended.
Research hypotheses
The research hypotheses will examine the compliance of the internal auditing practices
to the quality of the internal control system. There are 45 sub-hypotheses relating the
internal auditing practices to internal control system.
H1. The better the compliance of internal audit department to the standards of
internal auditing practices, the higher the quality of the internal control
system.
H1a. relates monitoring of the internal control quality with the nine components of the
internal auditing practices.
H1a1. The better the management of the internal audit department of the internal
auditing practices, the higher the monitoring of the quality of the internal
control system.
H1a2. The greater the scope of work of the internal auditing practices, the higher
the monitoring of the quality of the internal control system.
H1a3. The higher the performance of audit work of the internal auditing practices,
the higher the monitoring of the quality of the internal control system.
MAJ H1a4. The higher professional proficiency of the internal auditing practices, the
20,8 higher the monitoring of the quality of the internal control system.
H1a5. The higher the independence of the internal auditing practices, the higher
the monitoring of the quality of the internal control system.
H1a6. The higher the objectivity of the internal auditing practices, the higher the
850 monitoring of the quality of the internal control system.
H1a7. The better the audit reviews of the internal auditing practices, the higher
the monitoring of the quality of the internal control system.
H1a8. The better the audit programs of the internal auditing practices, the higher
the monitoring of the quality of the internal control system.
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H1a9. The better the audit reporting of the internal auditing practices, the higher
the monitoring of the quality of the internal control system.
H1b. relates information and communication of the internal control quality with the
nine components of the internal auditing practices.
H1b1. The better the management of the internal audit department of the internal
auditing practices, the better the information and communication of the
quality of the internal control system.
H1b2. The greater the scope of work of the internal auditing practices, the better
the information and communication of the quality of the internal control
system.
H1b3. The better the performance of audit work of the internal auditing practices,
the better the information and communication of the quality of the internal
control system.
H1b4. The higher the professional proficiency of the internal auditing practices,
the better the information and communication of the quality of the internal
control system.
H1b5. The higher the independence of the internal auditing practices, the better
the information and communication of the quality of the internal control
system.
H1b6. The higher the objectivity of the internal auditing practices, the better the
information and communication of the quality of the internal control
system.
H1b7. The better the audit reviews of the internal auditing practices, the better the
information and communication of the quality of the internal control
system.
H1b8. The better the audit programs of the internal auditing practices, the better the
information and communication of the quality of the internal control system.
H1b9. The better the audit reporting of the internal auditing practices, the better the
information and communication of the quality of the internal control system.
H1c. relates control environment of the internal control quality with the nine Internal auditing
components of the internal auditing practices. practices and
H1c1. The better the management of the internal audit department of the internal control system
auditing practices, the higher the control environment of the quality of the
internal control system.
H1c2. The greater the scope of work of the internal auditing practices, the higher 851
the control environment of the quality of the internal control system.
H1c3. The higher the performance of audit work of the internal auditing practices,
the higher the control environment of the quality of the internal control
system.
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H1c4. The higher the professional proficiency of the internal auditing practices, the
higher the control environment of the quality of the internal control system.
H1c5. The higher the independence of the internal auditing practices, the higher the
control environment of the quality of the internal control system.
H1c6. The higher the objectivity of the internal auditing practices, the higher the
control environment of the quality of the internal control system.
H1c7. The better the audit reviews of the internal auditing practices, the higher the
control environment of the quality of the internal control system.
H1c8. The better the audit programs of the internal auditing practices, the higher
the control environment of the quality of the internal control system.
H1c9. The better the audit reporting of the internal auditing practices, the higher
the control environment of the quality of the internal control system.
H1d. relates risk assessment of the internal control quality with the nine components of
the internal auditing practices.
H1d1. The better the management of the internal audit department of the internal
auditing practices, the higher the risk assessment of the quality of the
internal control system.
H1d2. The greater the scope of work of the internal auditing practices, the higher
the risk assessment of the quality of the internal control system.
H1d3. The higher the performance of audit work of the internal auditing practices,
the higher the risk assessment of the quality of the internal control system.
H1d4. The higher the professional proficiency of the internal auditing
practices, the higher the risk assessment of the quality of the internal
control system.
H1d5. The higher the independence of the internal auditing practices, the higher
the risk assessment of the quality of the internal control system.
H1d6. The higher the objectivity of the internal auditing practices, the higher the
risk assessment of the quality of the internal control system.
MAJ H1d7. The better the audit reviews of the internal auditing practices, the higher
20,8 the risk assessment of the quality of the internal control system.
H1d8. The better the audit programs of the internal auditing practices, the higher
the risk assessment of the quality of the internal control system.
H1d9. The better the audit reporting of the internal auditing practices, the higher
852 the risk assessment of the quality of the internal control system.
H1e relates control activities of the internal control quality with the nine components of
the internal auditing practices.
H1e1. The better the management of the internal audit department of the internal
auditing practices, the higher the control activities of the quality of the
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Descriptive analysis
The extent of internal auditing practices. Table IV shows the mean results of the extent
of the internal auditing practices items. From the results, independence is a highly rated
item of internal auditing practices from the perspective of the internal auditors with a
mean of 4.46 while the least rated items is professional proficiency with a mean of 3.88.
The analysis of the results also reveals that, of the 50 internal auditing practices
items, there are 35 items having a score between 4.00 and 5.00 and 15 items between
3.00 and 4.00. Items having scores ranging from 4.00 to 5.00 are strongly compliant Internal auditing
with IIA (2000, 2001). practices and
The extent of existence of the quality of the internal control system. Table V shows
the means of the components of the internal control system. From the results, the risk control system
assessment component of internal control system is a highly rated item with a mean
of 4.29 while information and communication is the least rated item with a mean
of 4.12. 855
An analysis of the results also reveal that, of the 25 items stated, there are 23 items
having a score between 4.00 and 5.00. This suggests that the respondents consider
the 23 items identified earlier exist in their internal control systems. This is because
items having scores between 4.00 and 5.00 are perceived to be very important in this
study.
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Hypotheses testing. Several methods of analyses were utilised to test these alternative
hypotheses. The analyses used to test the hypotheses include descriptive and statistical
analysis. The hypotheses sought to test for a significance difference of nine variables of
internal auditing practices and five variables of internal control system.
Hypotheses.
H1a. The better the management of the internal audit department of the internal
auditing practices, the greater the scope of work of the internal auditing
practices, the higher the performance of audit work of the internal auditing
practices, the higher professional proficiency of the internal auditing practices,
the higher the independence of the internal auditing practices, the higher the
objectivity of the internal auditing practices, the better the audit reviews of the
internal auditing practices, the better the audit programs of the internal
auditing practices, the better the audit reporting of the internal auditing
practices, the higher the monitoring of the quality of the internal control system.
H1b. The better the management of the internal audit department of the internal
auditing practices, the greater the scope of work of the internal auditing
practices, the higher the performance of audit work of the internal
auditing practices, the higher professional proficiency of the internal
auditing practices, the higher the independence of the internal auditing
practices, the higher the objectivity of the internal auditing practices, the
better the audit reviews of the internal auditing practices, the better the
audit programs of the internal auditing practices, the better the audit
reporting of the internal auditing practices, the better the information and
communication of the quality of the internal control system.
Table VII summarises the results.
Table VII suggests that the model is significant ðF ¼ 1:752Þ (sig. F ¼ 0:078;
p # 0:01Þ: However, the model only explained 6.2 per cent of the variation in information
and communication. Internal auditing practices of significant influence in their order of
impact are scope of audit work ðbeta ¼ 20:212; p # 0:05Þ (sig. F ¼ 0:031Þ and
performance of audit work ðbeta ¼ 0:207; p # 0:05Þ (sig. F ¼ 0:021Þ:
The results suggested that scope of audit work of the internal auditing practices
negatively influence the information and communication aspect of internal control
system while performance of audit work of the internal auditing practices positively
Table X suggested that the model is significant ðF ¼ 1:734Þ (sig. F ¼ 0:082; p # 0:01Þ:
However, the model only explained 6.1 per cent of the variation in control activities.
Internal auditing practices of significant influence in their order of impact are
performance of audit work ðbeta ¼ 0:176; p # 0:05Þ (sig. F ¼ 0:049Þ and audit
reporting ðbeta ¼ 0:175; p # 0:01Þ (sig. F ¼ 0:057Þ:
The results support the hypothesis that both performance of audit work and audit
reporting of the internal audit practices positively influence the control activities aspect
of quality of the internal control system. Therefore, H1e3 and H1e9, which positively
influence the control activities of the quality of the internal control systems are
accepted while the rest of the hypotheses are rejected.
Summary of results. The management of internal audit department of internal
auditing practices positively influences the monitoring aspect of the quality of the
internal control system but it is negatively influenced by the professional proficiency,
objectivity and audit review of the internal auditing practices.
Information and communication aspect of the quality of the internal control system is
negatively influenced by scope of work of the internal auditing practices but is positively
influenced by performance of audit work of the internal auditing practices.
Internal auditing practices and the quality of the internal control system
This study also examines the influence of internal auditing practices and the quality of
internal control system. It is shown that only the monitoring aspect of the quality
of internal control system positively influenced by the management of the internal audit
department. However, it is negatively influenced by the professional proficiency,
objectivity and audit review of the internal auditing practices. By managing the
department, the work performed by the internal audit department has been implemented
in the past and the work schedules have taken into consideration the goal of the internal
audit department and also the general purposes of company management. Therefore
this will positively influence the monitoring of the internal control system since this will
have an effective impact on the monitoring process and also reports on illegal acts are
properly monitored. However, this study suggests that professional proficiency such as
adequate knowledge, professional membership, certification, and training in electronic
data processing (EDP) system lead to lower monitoring of the quality of the internal
control system. This is because when the internal auditors have all the above-mentioned
criteria, it would imply that they are competent to do the work and therefore lower
monitoring of the quality of the internal control system is needed since the internal
auditors have a clear understanding of the internal control system. This is also true for
objectivity and audit reviews of the internal auditing practices on the monitoring of the
quality of the internal control system. Objectivity involves the unbiased attitude and
avoidance of conflict of interest by the internal auditors while audit reviews are
efficiently conducted in respect to the necessary audit operations. Therefore, internal
auditors need lower monitoring of the quality of the internal control system since the
entire necessary audit operations has been well conducted.
This study also suggests that scope of work of the internal auditing practices
negatively influences the information and communication aspect of the quality of the
internal control system while the performance of audit work of the internal auditing
practices positively influences the information and communication aspect of the
quality of the internal control system. Scope of work of the internal auditing practices
MAJ involves reviewing the system to ensure compliance with procedures, policies, laws
20,8 and regulation and planning of the work and there is also better coordination between
external and internal auditors. This means that if there is better scope of work of
the internal auditing practices, this will lead to lesser control procedures of computer
information system and lesser assessment of information needed on the quality of
the internal control system. The internal auditors follow all the necessary procedures in
862 doing the audit work and therefore lesser information and communication of the
quality of the internal control system is needed. However, the better the performance of
audit work, the greater is the information and communication since in performing the
audit work, the internal auditors need to identify, analyse, evaluate and record
sufficient information to achieve the engagement objectives.
This study also perceived that the performance of audit work of the internal
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auditing practices positively influences the control environment aspect of the quality of
the internal control system while professional proficiency and objectivity of the
internal auditing practices negatively influences the control environment aspect of the
quality of the internal control system. Performance of audit work plays a great impact
on the control environment of the quality of the internal control system. Therefore, the
better the performance of the audit work, the greater is the control environment on the
quality of the internal control system. In performing the audit work, the internal
auditors have been trained and are competent to do the audit work. Consequently, they
are able to identify and analyse the necessary records to achieve the audit objective.
This will have a positive impact on the control environment of the quality of the
internal control systems since the senior management will demonstrate a higher
climate of trust with better performance of the audit work.
This study also suggests that management of internal audit department of the
internal auditing practices negatively influences the risk assessment aspect of the
quality of the internal control system. However, the performance of audit work, audit
program and audit reporting of the internal auditing practices positively influences the
risk assessment aspect of the quality of the internal control system. Since the work
performed by the internal audit department has been implemented in the past and the
work schedules take into consideration the goals of internal audit department,
therefore, this will lead to lower risk assessment of the quality of the internal control
system. This is because; the necessary proper procedures are already applied in
managing the internal audit department. However, the better the performance of audit
work, audit program and audit reporting of the internal auditing practices lead to
better risk assessment. In performing the audit work, the internal auditors will identify
better risk management framework and risk management policy and also better
procedures should be installed in monitoring the applications of policies and
procedures of the organisation. This is also true for audit programs and audit
reporting. The better the audit program and audit reporting, the installation of the
procedures and application of policies in assessing the risk of the organisation will
further improve.
Performance of audit work and audit reporting of the internal auditing practices
positively influence the control activities aspect of the quality of the internal control
system. With trained and competent internal audit staff and better evaluation to
achieve the engagement objectives, this will lead to better control activities of the
quality of the internal control system. In this case, higher board of director’s approval
on the audit work performed is achieved and the internal auditors would diligently Internal auditing
investigate the variances. There are also improved recommendations made by practices and
the internal audit department through audit reporting.
control system
Implications of the study
The logical question at this juncture is: what do the results of this study imply? In other
words, how does the research contribute to theory building, provide guidance to the 863
internal auditors and serve as input for the next SPPIA? These questions are addressed
as follows:
Theoretical implications
The first theoretical implication is that this study has contributed to the agency theory
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and internal audit paradigm where this study supported how the agency theory
provide more meaningful research in the internal audit discipline based on the premise
monitoring expenditure incurred by the principal and the agent. This study also
explains the existence of agency theory postulated and its influence on the extent of
internal auditing practices in Malaysian public listed companies and its effect on the
firm’s internal control system.
Practical implications
An important finding of this research pertains to the extent of the internal auditing
practices among internal auditors in Malaysian public listed companies. The first
practical implications refer to changing of internal auditing practices functions from
five to nine. The standard setter such as the IIA has the important role to revise the
PPF or the SPPIA based on this study. The IIA (2000) basically described the criteria
by which the operations of an internal auditing department are evaluated and
measured and they are intended to represent the practice of internal auditing, as it
should be. This includes independence and objectivity, professional proficiency, scope
of work, performance of audit work and management of internal audit department.
The study implied that the IIA should include nine factors in building up the SPPIA,
that is independence, scope of work, audit reporting, audit programs, management of
internal audit department, performance of audit work, audit reviews, objectivity and
professional proficiency since these factors revealed that CAEs placed much
importance on above factors. The assistance of internal auditing practices benefit
managers in providing bases for judgement and action, helping managers by reporting
weaknesses in control and performance, providing counsel to managers and board of
directors on the solutions of business problems and supplying information that is
timely, reliable and useful to all levels of management. Therefore, compliance to the
SPPIA is very important to internal auditors in the extent of the internal auditing
practices and IIA must play its role in representing the practice of internal auditing, as
it should be. Another implication is that all the variables in this study is consistent
with the IIA (2001).
The rationale behind the extent of the internal audit practices is that it provides
opportunity for the Chief Audit Executives or internal auditors to get the
management’s undivided attention to the extent of internal auditing practices on the
quality of the internal control system. Reporting significant audit results and
recommendations give Chief Audit Executives an avenue for presenting their internal
MAJ audit practices to the president and other top management team members. The
20,8 reasonable and meaningful findings and recommendations contained in the audit
report are symbols of their contribution, which result in improvements to the
organisation as a whole.
Further, Chief Audit Executives might have perceived more importance to the
ability to provide independent reviews to the president or other top management team
864 members. Again, in order to comply with the SPPIA, Chief Audit Executives believe
that their departments should be independent, have bigger scope of audit work, better
management of internal audit department, higher performance of audit work, better
application of auditing standards to audit work, professional and proficient in internal
audit practices.
The results show that the five functions of the quality of the internal control system
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Conclusion
While the results in this study are by no means conclusive, it is hope that this study has
contributed to the research done in the extent of the internal auditing practices.
This study has also provided some evidence on the extent of the internal auditing
practices and the influence it has on the internal control system.
Notes
1. Please refer to www.theiia.org/iia for detail explanation of IIA (2001).
2. MICPA – Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
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Further reading
Hair, J.E., Anderson, R.E., Tatham, R.L. and Black, W.C. (2002), Multivariate Data Analysis,
866 6th ed., Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
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The Institute of Internal Auditors Research Foundation, Altamonte Springs, FL.
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