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Internal audit department characteristics/activities and audit fees: Some evidence from Hong Kong firms

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  • Ho, Sandra
  • Hutchinson, Marion

Abstract

This study provides preliminary support for the notion that internal audit function assists in reducing external audit effort and fees. Data on internal audit characteristics and activities are obtained from survey respondents of Hong Kong companies and audit fee model data are acquired from their annual reports. The results of this study suggest that the external auditor of firms in Hong Kong rely on the internal audit function and subsequently charge a lower fee. Lower external audit fees are associated with a larger internal audit department and certain activities carried out by the internal audit. Specifically, lower external audit fees are associated with more internal audit effort spent on activities relating to financial statements, systems development and maintenance, operating efficiency and effectiveness, fraud investigations and unlimited access to internal auditors’ working papers. The results of this study suggest that the contribution of the internal audit may substitute for some substantive external auditing processes and lower monitoring costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Ho, Sandra & Hutchinson, Marion, 2010. "Internal audit department characteristics/activities and audit fees: Some evidence from Hong Kong firms," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 19(2), pages 121-136.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jiaata:v:19:y:2010:i:2:p:121-136
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intaccaudtax.2010.07.004
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    2. Jinyu Yang & Woody Liao & Bin Liu & Henggui Shi, 2014. "Does Organizational-level Affiliation of Internal Audit Influence Corporate Risk-Taking? -Evidences from Chinese Listed Companies," Accounting and Finance Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 3(1), pages 1-27, February.
    3. T. Ohidoa & O. Omokhudu Okun, 2018. "Firms Attributes and Audit Fees in Nigeria Quoted Firms," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 8(3), pages 685-699, March.
    4. Sierra-García, Laura & Gambetta, Nicolás & García-Benau, María A. & Orta-Pérez, Manuel, 2019. "Understanding the determinants of the magnitude of entity-level risk and account-level risk key audit matters: The case of the United Kingdom," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(3), pages 227-240.
    5. Murad Harasheh & Roberta Provasi, 2023. "A need for assurance: Do internal control systems integrate environmental, social, and governance factors?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(1), pages 384-401, January.
    6. Wan-Hussin, Wan Nordin & Bamahros, Hasan Mohammed, 2013. "Do investment in and the sourcing arrangement of the internal audit function affect audit delay?," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 19-32.
    7. Thiéry, Stéphanie & Lhuillery, Stephane & Tellechea, Marion, 2023. "How can governance, human capital, and communication practices enhance internal audit quality?," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    8. Krane, Ronja & Eulerich, Marc, 2020. "Going global: Factors influencing the internationalization of the internal audit function," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    9. Dykxhoorn, Hans J. & Sinning, Kathleen E., 2010. "A review and analysis of international accounting research in JIAAT: 2002–2010," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 19(2), pages 137-153.
    10. Markus Widmann & Florian Follert & Matthias Wolz, 2021. "What is it going to cost? Empirical evidence from a systematic literature review of audit fee determinants," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 71(2), pages 455-489, April.
    11. Ibrahim Mert, 2021. "The Effects of Collaboration between Internal Auditing and Financial Affairs Departments: A Survey Conducted through the Internal Auditing and Financial Affairs Departments," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 3, pages 96-114.
    12. Andrei Ankudinov Borisovich & Elena Markhanova Sergeevna & Андрей Анкудинов Борисович & Елена Марханова Сергеевна, 2018. "Оценка эффективности внутреннего аудита в системе корпоративного управления: эмпирический анализ по данным российских компаний // Assessment of Internal Audit Efficiency in Corporate Governance: an Em," Учет. Анализ. Аудит // Accounting. Analysis. Auditing, ФГОБУВО "Финансовый университет при Правительстве Российской Федерации" // Financial University under The Government of Russian Federation, vol. 5(1), pages 18-29.

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