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A hierarchical approach to the external auditor's evaluation of the internal auditing function

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  • WILLIAM F. MESSIER
  • ARNOLD SCHNEIDER

Abstract

. The objective of this study was to examine the external auditor's evaluation of the internal audit function. A hierarchy of the attributes that enter into this decision process was developed based on prior research and with the assistance of Big 8 audit managers. An experiment which used the Analytic Hierarchy Process was conducted with 22 audit supervisors and managers. Contrary to previous studies, the results indicated that the competence of the internal auditors was the most important factor, followed by the objectivity and work of the internal auditors. The AHP methodology allowed us to assess which specific attributes were most important to the external auditor's assessment of these factors. However, the variability of the weights of these attributes indicates low agreement among the practitioners as to which attributes are most important. Résumé. Les auteurs de la présente étude avaient pour objectif d'examiner l'évaluation de la fonction de vérification interne par le vérificateur externe. La hiérarchie des attributs qui entrent en ligne de compte dans ce processus de décision a été dressée à partir de travaux de recherche antérieurs et avec la collaboration de chefs de groupe en vérification des huit grands cabinets. Vingt†deux chefs d'équipe et chefs de groupe ont participé à une expérience faisant appel au processus de hiérarchie analytique. Contrairement aux résultats des études précédentes, les résultats de cette étude ont révélé que la compétence des vérificateurs internes était le facteur primordial, suivi de l'objectivité et du travail des vérificateurs internes. La méthodologie du processus de hiérarchie analytique a permis d'évaluer quels attributs précis étaient les plus importants dans l'évaluation de ces facteurs par les vérificateurs externes. Toutefois, l'importance des écarts relevés dans la pondération de ces attributs indique que l'unanimité est loin d'être faite chez les praticiens quant à l'importance relative des attributs.

Suggested Citation

  • William F. Messier & Arnold Schneider, 1988. "A hierarchical approach to the external auditor's evaluation of the internal auditing function," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 4(2), pages 337-353, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:coacre:v:4:y:1988:i:2:p:337-353
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1911-3846.1988.tb00670.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Schneider, A, 1985. "The Reliance Of External Auditors On The Internal Audit Function," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(2), pages 911-919.
    2. Arrington, Ce & Hillison, W & Jensen, Re, 1984. "An Application Of Analytical Hierarchy Process To Model Expert Judgments On Analytical Review Procedures," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(1), pages 298-312.
    3. Yoram Wind & Thomas L. Saaty, 1980. "Marketing Applications of the Analytic Hierarchy Process," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(7), pages 641-658, July.
    4. Brown, Pr, 1983. "Independent Auditor Judgment In The Evaluation Of Internal Audit Functions," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(2), pages 444-455.
    5. Margheim, Ll, 1986. "Further Evidence On External Auditors Reliance On Internal Auditors," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(1), pages 194-205.
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    Cited by:

    1. Schneider, Arnold, 2010. "Analysis of professional standards and research findings to develop decision aids for reliance on internal auditing," Research in Accounting Regulation, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 96-106.
    2. Reiner Quick & Philipp Henrizi, 2019. "Experimental evidence on external auditor reliance on the internal audit," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 13(5), pages 1143-1176, November.
    3. Barbara Arel & Cathy Beaudoin & Anna Cianci, 2012. "The Impact of Ethical Leadership, the Internal Audit Function, and Moral Intensity on a Financial Reporting Decision," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 109(3), pages 351-366, September.
    4. Maksymov, Eldar, 2015. "Auditor evaluation of others’ credibility: A review of experimental studies on determinants and consequences," Journal of Accounting Literature, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 104-124.
    5. Dominic S.B. Soh & Nonna Martinov-Bennie, 2011. "The internal audit function: Perceptions of internal audit roles, effectiveness and evaluation," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 26(7), pages 605-622, July.
    6. 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.
    7. Lois Munro & Jenny Stewart, 2011. "External auditors' reliance on internal auditing: further evidence," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 26(6), pages 464-481, June.
    8. Desai, Renu & Desai, Vikram & Libby, Theresa & Srivastava, Rajendra P., 2017. "External auditors' evaluation of the internal audit function: An empirical investigation," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 1-14.

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