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Internal audit function quality and financial reporting: results of a survey on German listed companies

Author

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  • Marius Gros

    (University of Bremen)

  • Sebastian Koch

    (Goethe University Frankfurt/Main)

  • Christoph Wallek

    (PricewaterhouseCoopers AG)

Abstract

Most prior studies on internal audit function (IAF) quality and financial reporting have focused on the US setting and have found a positive association between IAF quality proxies and both financial reporting quality and audit efficiency. In this study, we apply the German setting that is characterized by a two-tier board system of corporate governance and different prerequisites for the serving-two-masters problem. This might weaken the IAF’s ability to monitor financial reporting-related processes. To analyze this, we use survey data to measure IAF quality in the German setting and run multiple regressions to examine the association of several IAF quality characteristics and a self-developed IAF quality score with financial reporting quality and audit efficiency. The results show that also in a two-tier system, a high-quality IAF is able to contribute to both financial reporting quality and audit efficiency. Our findings support the notion that the IAF serves as an essential element of effective corporate governance and plays an important role in financial reporting. Moreover, as a practical implication of interest to regulators and managers, we identify that the external certification of the IAF and internal audit-related certifications of IAF employees may contribute to higher financial reporting quality and lower audit fees.

Suggested Citation

  • Marius Gros & Sebastian Koch & Christoph Wallek, 2017. "Internal audit function quality and financial reporting: results of a survey on German listed companies," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 21(2), pages 291-329, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jmgtgv:v:21:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s10997-016-9342-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10997-016-9342-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Nahla Abdulrahman Mohammed Raweh & Hasnah Kamardin & Mazrah Malik @ Malek & Abdulwahid Ahmed Hashed Abdullah, 2021. "The Association between Audit Partner Busyness, Audit Partner Tenure, and Audit Efficiency," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 11(1), pages 90-103, January.
    3. Madiha Afzal, 2023. "Evaluation of Factors Contributing to the Effectiveness of Internal Audit Quality in Pakistani Commercial Banks," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Wan-Hussin, Wan Nordin & Fitri, Hadiati & Salim, Basariah, 2021. "Audit committee chair overlap, chair expertise, and internal auditing practices: Evidence from Malaysia," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    5. Cláudia Silveira Thys Mutti & Clea Beatriz Macagnan, 2022. "Management legitimacy of public universities supported by the quality of their internal audits," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(8), pages 1-20, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Internal audit function; Internal controls; Financial reporting quality; Audit efficiency; Corporate governance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K22 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Business and Securities Law
    • M42 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Auditing
    • M48 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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