Quality of Accounting Information and Internal Audit Characteristics in Nigeria

The basic goal of accounting is to provide quality accounting information that will aid reliable decision-making. The quality level of this accounting information comes from the company＇s governance practices, thereby emphasizing the importance of corporate governance in companies. Recently, following the financial crises resulting in accounting scandals, attention has been moving towards internal audit function as an important factor in the structure of corporate governance. This paper therefore examined the extent of the relationship between internal audit function and the quality of accounting information of companies. The study adopted the survey research design. The research instrument employed was questionnaire which was administered to internal auditors of the ＂Big Four＂. Linear regression analysis was employed in the analysis of the data collected with the use of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences （SPSS）. The results revealed that there is a significant relationship between the internal audit characteristics and the quality of accounting information. It was recommended that in order to provide credibility to the financial statement, there should be a law in place mandating attachment of internal auditors report to the financial statement.

The Effect of Audit Objectives on Audit Quality Why is There Little Disclosure of Significant Deficiencies in Japanese Internal Control Audits？

Many prior research findings indicate that audit quality differs between the Big 4 and non-Big 4 audit firms using an indicator variable. However, most previous research focuses on only outcome measures, such as audit fees, going concern reports, and non-audit services. This study investigates audit quality differentiation between the Big 4 and non-Big 4 audit firms hypothesis from an audit objective point of view. One of the material objectives of Japanese internal control audit institutions is to facilitate assessment and improvement of internal controls by corporations themselves. The findings of this study indicate that the Big 4 audit firms accomplish this objective better than non-Big 4 audit firms. Consequently, most Big 4 clients do not disclose significant deficiencies （SDs）, implying that they improve the quality of internal controls through internal controls auditing. This paper concludes that Big 4 firms produce a higher audit quality level than non-Big 4 firms, and this quality difference iS related to how an audit objective is interpreted and implemented.

The Effect of the Board of Directors and Audit Quality on Disclosure of Internal Control Practices: Evidence from European Companies

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of the board of directors,namely board size,board independence,and CEO duality,as well as audit quality on the disclosure of internal control information.The sample consists of 164 European companies listed in the STOXX Europe 600.Based on positive agency theory,the authors posit that board of directors and audit quality influence corporate internal control disclosure practice.The content analysis and the design of the evaluation criterion were used to calculate the disclosure index of internal control.Thus,multiple regression analysis is utilized to analyze the results of this paper.The average internal control information disclosure index was 0.285,indicating that most of the companies in our sample do not disclose enough information about the internal control.This low level of forward-looking information disclosure makes it very difficult for corporate stakeholders to determine the future performance of the company.Multivariate results indicate that internal control disclosure is positively and significantly associated with board independence,CEO duality,and audit quality.This study contributes to the literature on the various governance characteristics and disclosure by showing that the disclosure of internal control information in European countries is positively and significantly associated with board independence,separation of duties,and audit quality.Our study was based on a sample of European companies including countries regulating IC disclosure as well as unregulated settings.As noted by Bedard and Graham(2014),regulatory differences in countries can contribute insights on the costs and benefits of disclosure.Findings also have policy implications for investors,managers,and regulators.

The Self-inspections(Internal Audits)Process as a Part of the Pharmaceutical Quality System:Formation of a Risk-Based Approach to Internal Audits Planning

The quality system of any modern pharmaceutical company is the pharmaceutical quality system(PQS),which extends the GMP standards to all stages of the medicinal productslife cycle,from pharmaceutical development to its withdrawal from production.The principal difference between PQS and GxP rules from other quality systems is that the medicinal product,its safety and efficacy is put at the forefront.At the same time,PQS implies a process approach to all components that should be aimed at achieving the main goal—ensuring and guaranteeing the quality of the medicinal product for the end user(patient)—and should be based on the quality risk management system.An integral part of PQS,as well as the GxP rules adopted in the European Union and PIC/S,is a process for self-inspections and/or quality audits,which regularly appraises the effectiveness and applicability of the PQS.This publication is dedicated to the definition of self-inspections(internal audits)as one of the PQS’s processes.The article defines the main standard stages and develops a model of a risk-based approach to the self-inspections’planning in relation to processes of the pharmaceutical quality system.

Internal Control and Internal Audit in the Function of Supervising the Operations of Companies

The management of a modern company is faced with the need to make business decisions regarding the achievement of business goals.Increased interest in establishing internal control is affected by the presence increased corruption and the erosion of business morality.For internal controls,everyone is interested,from external auditors to management,board of directors,shareholders of large public companies and the state.With the constant growth of the company,the decentralization of business has been compounded by the management process.Therefore,in addition to internal control,internal audit is required.The company’s management cannot deal with oversight because it has to deal with strategic issues.This is where internal audit is performed as an expert service.The results of the conducted empirical research showed that the stages of development of internal control in enterprises in Montenegro do not correspond with the achieved degree of development of this profession in the countries of the developed market economy.

On Outsourcing Internal Auditing

There is an ever growing tendency of outsourcing of internal auditing since the appearing of it in 1970s.The paper introduces the status quo and form of outsourcing of internal auditing and analyzes the advantage and disadvantage of it in western nations in order to offer references for the development of internal auditing in our nation.

Auditing the Auditors： The Audit Oversight Board and Regulating Audit Quality in Malaysia

The setting-up of the Malaysian Audit Oversight Board （AOB） in 2010 under the Securities Commission Amendment Act 2010 has extended the role of regulators into the statutory audit domain for public listed companies. Although the auditing profession in Malaysia has International Auditing Standards as prescribed minimum level of quality in the delivery of audit assurance services, self-regulation by the profession alone appears inadequate to ensure the delivery of quality audit services. With co-regulation, auditors now are monitored not just by the profession but also by a new statutory body with considerable regulatory powers to sanction auditors where quality of the audit process has been found wanting. This study solicits the opinions of auditors on their expectations of what the new regulator can achieve. Based on interviews with a sample of 30 auditors, the study finds that the majority believe that audit quality will be taken to a new level following AOB＇s remit of registration of auditors, compliance inspection with International Standard on Quality Control （ISQC）, monitoring of financial statement quality, and its power of sanctions. A review of AOB＇s early years＇ inspection confirms these expectations.

The Impact of the External Audit Quality on the Financial Performance of Conventional and Islamic Banks

The continuing emergence of sudden financial crises and the bankruptcy of Big banks audited by the‘Big Four’auditors confirms that the external audit quality(EAQ)always remains insufficient compared to the desired quality.The quality weakness is due either to the bad audit company choice,although their sizes,or to the disrespect of the good audit rules.Because there is a lack of comparative studies in the framework of conventional and Islamic banks,this paper aims to compare the impact of EAQ on the financial performance(FP)of 180 conventional banks and 180 Islamic banks.FP and EAQ variables are collected from 56 countries over the period(2010-2020).To overcome the mystery of the best EAQ selection based on its impact on FP,this paper relied on the GLS estimator.Consequently,this paper concluded that the EAQ affected the conventional banks’FP,but it improved that of Islamic banks with a moderate impact.

The Applic ation of Internal Quality Audit in ADCOP Project

Internal quality audits are a key activity in the quality management ofoil projects.Quality management aims at meeting project quality requirements,coordinatingproject progress,assisting in controlling project costs,and realizing continuousimprovement in project quality management.

Laboratory Quality Audit in 25 Anti-Retroviral Therapy Facilities in North West of Nigeria

Introduction: A laboratory’s ability to consistently produce high-quality and reliable results hinges on adopting laboratory standards that guide daily practices to ensure steady quality improvement. Although assessment is an extremely rewarding exercise in health care quality improvement processes, it is always considered very time consuming and expensive in developing world settings. A quarterly internal audit was conducted in 25 FHI360 supported Antiretroviral Treatment laboratories in the North West of Nigeria which can surely provide reference for other countries. Methodology: A checklist adapted from the World Health Organization/African Regional Office laboratory accreditation checklist was used to quantitatively evaluate 7 quality essentials (QEs). A team composed of technical staff from FHI360, State Ministry of Health and facility laboratory heads, conducted the audits, developed and monitored intervention plans. Information obtained with the checklist was captured in excel, validated and imported into Grappa Prism software version 5.0 for analysis. Results: Most (92%) facilities were at secondary level with (8%) at tertiary level. The mean total score on all QEs across the facilities was 63.34 ± 9.77 in quarter (Q) 1, 68.8 ± 10.91 in Q2, 72.59 ± 8.02 in Q3 and 72.72 ± 9.16 in Q4 (p ≤ 0.0001). The most improved QE through Q1-Q4 was organization and personnel (32.2%), while signage/bench top reference had an 18.6% point decline. In ranking facilities based on differences of total scores between Q4 and Q1, Kachia General Hospital was the highest with 27 point increase. Considering the mean percentage score for all quarters per facility, 4 had ≥ 80%, 19 had between 60%-80% and 2 had <60%. The total non-conformities cited for QI-Q4 were 185, 100, 78 and 64 respectively with highest recorded in internal and external quality control and the least in facility and safety. Conclusion: We recorded some improvement in most QEs confirming the benefits of internal audits, reviews and follow-up. However, much more is needed in terms of technical assistance, capacity building, mentorship, and commitment at facility and state level to meet minimum acceptable laboratory quality standards.

新一轮本科教育教学审核评估中的质量文化

新一轮审核评估将“推动高校积极构建自觉、自省、自律、自查、自纠的高校质量文化”作为评估指导思想的重要内容,首次将“质量文化”作为评估指标。高校质量文化是高校及其师生对人才培养质量的共同价值追求和理想理念。高校对人才培养质量不断提升的承诺、信仰和价值追求,以及自觉、自省、自律、自查、自纠的“五自”质量文化是其核心表现。制度建设和制度认同是质量文化建设的主要路径,即质量文化的嵌入可以促进质量保障科层模式向文化模式转型,释放价值选择和软性制约功能,增强高校质量保障能力。

新收入准则会影响审计费用吗?——来自A+H股上市公司的经验证据

收入是企业利益相关者评价企业财务状况和经营业绩的关键指标。新收入准则的实施成效也成为理论界与实务界共同关注的焦点议题。从审计费用的视角,以2018年修订后的新收入准则在A+H股上市公司的实施为研究契机,选取2017—2019年中国A股上市公司数据,实证检验新收入准则对审计费用的影响。研究发现,新收入准则的施行提高了企业的审计费用。机制检验发现,新收入准则通过增加重大错报风险和提高审计投入两条路径提高了审计费用。异质性检验发现,新收入准则对审计费用的正向影响主要存在于受新收入准则影响较大、存在内部控制缺陷、由大规模事务所审计的企业中。进一步研究发现,新收入准则在提高审计费用的同时,还会使审计质量得到一定程度的改善。研究结论丰富了新收入准则经济效应领域的研究文献,同时为审计师在新收入准则背景下提高专业胜任能力、完善审计工作及控制审计风险提供新思路。

董事会断裂带、内部控制与审计质量——基于制造业上市公司的数据

断裂带的存在极容易使董事会形成不同的子群体,而子群体间的相互作用又会反向牵制和干扰董事会的监督能力,进而影响审计质量。以2013—2021年中国沪深A股制造业上市公司为样本,探究董事会断裂带对审计质量的影响。研究发现:首先,董事会断裂带与审计质量呈倒U形关系,断裂带异常会干扰公司董事会监督职能的正常发挥,从而影响审计质量;其次,董事会断裂带与审计质量的倒U形关系主要源于任务导向断裂带的作用,在企业成熟期更为显著;最后,内部控制能够削弱董事会断裂带对审计质量的影响,而良好的内部控制有助于缓解股东与管理层的代理成本,弥补董事会子群体间冲突带来的负面影响,在合理范围内有效地提升审计质量。

面向质量和交货期的产能分享平台审核策略研究

通过构建双边市场模型探索产能分享平台的审核策略。研究表明:当产能需求方仅对质量敏感,排除低质量产能供应方比仅根据质量对产能供应方分级更利于平台盈利;当产能需求方对质量和交货期均敏感,设置两个维度的审核门槛能使平台获得更高利润;平台利润与双边用户交叉网络外部性、产能需求方对质量的敏感性正相关,与产能需求方对交货期的敏感性负相关;质量和交货期审核门槛受产能需求方对这两个维度的敏感性、双边用户网络外部性、平台审核成本系数相互作用影响。

环境污染责任保险与企业高质量审计需求——基于保险公司监督视角的经验证据

在绿色高质量发展时代背景下,发展环境污染责任保险,对强化企业环保履责、降低企业因受环保处罚引致的经营风险具有重要意义。本文从保险公司监督视角实证检验了环境污染责任保险对企业高质量审计需求的影响。研究发现,环境污染责任保险提升了投保企业高质量审计需求,保险公司的高质量信息需求、专业监督能力需求是导致投保企业高质量审计需求增加的主要传导机制;异质性检验发现,在国有企业、内部治理水平较低的企业和受到更多媒体负面报道的企业中,环境污染责任保险对高质量审计需求的影响更加显著;经济后果检验发现,投保企业通过提高高质量审计需求改善了企业环境表现。研究结论对于进一步推进资本市场审计制度完善和环境污染责任保险发展具有一定的政策启示。

疾控中心食品检测领域实验室认可不符合项分析

目的:分析山西省疾控中心食品检测领域实验室认可评审不符合项分布,并针对性提出质量管理体系改进建议。方法:收集2015—2022年历次实验室认可现场评审发现的不符合项资料,对不符合项分布特点进行归纳统计,分析产生原因。结果:不符合项相对集中于资源要求和实施性不符合;理化检测科室发生不符合项占比较大,科室不符合项发生数量与其承担检测项目数相关,但存在两个离群值。结论:针对不符合项产生原因,提出加强体系文件培训,规范设备管理,明确部门职责衔接和推广工作经验4条改进措施。

建构高校内部质量保障体系:国际经验与中国路径

全球有三种典型的高校质量保障模式,第一种是以认证为主要特征的美国模式,第二种是以审核性评估为主要特征的英国模式,第三种是以授权评估为主要特征的日本模式。美国、英国、日本三国高等教育治理共同发展趋势是强化高校主体地位,由外部评估转向内部评估。21世纪以来,中国高校质量保障体系也越来越强调高校自我评价和质量文化建设,高校内部质量保障体系建设日渐成为重点。建构中国特色高校内部质量保障体系,一是要健全高等教育质量标准,突出标准的导向功能;二是要完善高校组织与制度,强化高校自我评价;三是要培育高校质量文化,以评估促发展;四是要把握共性与个性关系,基于国情创造性转化。

事务所规模与年报会计政策“类准则”披露——基于文本分析的经验证据

通过计算上市公司年报会计政策披露的“类准则”程度,讨论会计师事务所规模是否为影响上市公司会计政策披露行为的重要因素。研究发现:(1)由规模较大的会计师事务所审计的上市公司,年报会计政策披露的“类准则”程度较低,会提供更多公司会计政策的个性化信息。(2)在上市公司风险增强和会计准则重大变化的两大类场景中,事务所规模与年报会计政策披露“类准则”程度之间的关系都得到增强,说明事务所的风险压力和事务所能力是重要的机制路径。(3)由同一事务所审计的上市公司会计政策披露的“类准则”程度更一致,具有同所效应。(4)基于会计师事务所变更的检验发现,若变更后的事务所规模更大,则会计政策披露的“类准则”程度会降低;若变更后的事务所规模更小,则会计政策披露的“类准则”程度会提高。

企业成本黏性、关键审计事项披露与审计费用

企业成本管理不当所造成的成本黏性在增加企业风险的同时,也加大了审计工作难度。本文利用沪深A股上市公司2016—2022年的年报数据,从关键审计事项披露视角出发,实证检验企业成本黏性与审计费用之间的关系及其实现路径。研究发现,企业成本黏性会显著增加审计费用,关键审计事项披露在其中起到部分中介作用。进一步检验发现,高内部控制质量和高外部分析师关注能够有效抑制企业成本黏性与审计费用之间的正向关系。本文实证结果既丰富了相关研究成果,也为企业加强成本管理、审计师优化审计程序提供了一定的理论依据。

银行行政处罚监管与审计定价:溢出还是替代?——来自中国上市商业银行的经验证据

以2007—2021年沪深A股上市银行为研究样本,探究银行监管机构行政处罚监管对审计定价决策的影响,研究发现银行监管机构的行政处罚监管显著提高了银行审计定价,经过一系列稳健性检验后结论依然成立,佐证了溢出效应假说。同时,作用机制检验结果表明,行政处罚监管主要是通过风险溢价的路径提高了审计定价。进一步分析发现:行政处罚监管强度越大以及查出内部控制相关问题越多,审计定价越高;在非国有银行、非“四大”会计师事务所审计、内部控制质量低和信息不对称高这四种情形下,行政处罚监管对审计定价提高的影响更为显著;行政处罚监管对外部审计的溢出效应能够促进双方发挥协同治理功能,从而更好地抑制了银行违法违规倾向。研究结论对银行监管机构和外部审计师加强协作,扎实推进党的二十大报告和中央金融工作会议强调的加强和完善现代金融监管、守住不发生系统性风险底线的方针具有重要启示意义。