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Correlates of Sustainability Audits by Internal Auditors

Author

Listed:
  • Steven DeSimone

    (Department of Economics and Accounting, College of the Holy Cross)

  • Giuseppe D’Onza

    (University of Pisa)

  • Gerrit Sarens

    (Louvain School of Management, Université Catholique de Louvain)

Abstract

An increasing number of organizations engage in sustainability activities. However, assurance of this activity is relatively new. In this study we investigate the presence of documented corporate governance guidance, risk assessment by internal auditors, industry, and internal audit function (IAF) age as correlates of organizations’ engaging their IAFs in sustainability audits. Using data from a large sample of chief audit executives (CAEs) we find significant and positive associations between all of our test variables and sustainability audits by IAFs. Also organizations located in Anglo-Saxon countries are statistically significantly less likely to engage their IAF in sustainability auditing, while organizations that release reports on sustainability are significant more likely to have IAFS audit sustainability. Other control variables (organization size, IAF size, CAE experience, CAE environmental skills, and CAE education) have insignificant associations with sustainability audits by IAFs. These results have implications for practitioner benchmarking and training, as well as policy regarding combined assurance.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven DeSimone & Giuseppe D’Onza & Gerrit Sarens, 2018. "Correlates of Sustainability Audits by Internal Auditors," Working Papers 1803, College of the Holy Cross, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hcx:wpaper:1803
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Keywords

    sustainability audits; internal auditing code of conduct; risk assessment;
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