Factors Affecting Internal Audit Independence: a Case Study of Technical University of Mombasa
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE): E-Journals European Journal of Business and Management www.iiste.org ISSN 2222-1905 (Paper) ISSN 2222-2839 (Online) Vol.6, No.6, 2014 Factors Affecting Internal Audit Independence: A Case Study of Technical University of Mombasa Thuweba Ndunge Kimotho Department of Commerce and Economics, School of Human Resources Development, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O Box 81310, Code 80100, Mombasa E-mail: [email protected] Abstract The main objective of the study was to establish the factors affecting internal audit independence at the Technical University of Mombasa and the various variables that compromised it. Literature review has been conducted on the various independent variables that affect the dependent variable. A descriptive technique was used as the research design. The sampling procedure that was used is stratified sampling technique. Primary data was collected by use of self-administered questionnaire and it was purely quantitative. Data collected was analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS) and the findings of the study has been presented in pie charts, bar graphs, diagrams and figures. Tables were used to summarize responses for further analysis and facilitate comparison. The study concluded that internal audit independence is crucial to the institution to help to enhance accountability and performance the institution by its employees. Keywords: Accountability, Audit, Independence, Governance. 1.0 Background Information and purpose Independence has been described as “avoidance of situations which would tend to impair objectivity or permit personal bias to influence delicate judgment” (Carey et al., 1966). Auditor independence, in particular, implies “absence of influence or control in the matter of the auditor’s conduct, action and opinion” (AAA, 1973). It simply refers to the auditor’s ability to express his conclusions honestly and impartially. Auditors’ independence has been termed the building block of the auditing profession, since it forms the foundation for the public’s trust in the attest function of ascertaining whether the financial statement show a fair and true position of the financial status of an organization (Caswell & Allen 2001). Independence permits internal auditors to render the impartial and unbiased judgments essential to the proper conduct of engagements. Audits have existed since the development of business corporations in 1200 (Watts & Zimmerman, 1983). Audit services are demanded as a monitoring mechanism because of the potential conflicts of interest between as well owners and managers as owners and other different classes of security holders in an organization (DeAngelo, 1981). This monitoring role means that auditors are used as a mechanism to enhance credibility of the financial statements so that the general public who are not involved in the day today running of the organization can have some level of confidence in the reported financial position. The quality of audit services, audit quality, is defined by DeAngelo (1981) and Watts and Zimmerman (1981) as the probability that a discovered breach is reported and corrected in time to ensure that the reported financial statements represent a true and fair view of the financial position of the firm. Audit independence must be viewed within the totality of corporate governance and the accountabilities of organizations to their stakeholders. This implicitly incorporates the public interest, however defined. This paper is therefore undertaken a critical survey of existing analysis as concerns the relationship between the organization and its internal auditors within the context of the totality of corporate governance. The review has been expanded to international experience and studies where felt appropriate. 1.1 Statement of the Problem Auditor independence is a cornerstone of the auditing profession, a crucial element in the statutory corporate reporting process and a key prerequisite for the adding of value to an audited financial statement (Mautz & Sharaf, 1961). The economic dependence resulting from the provision of non-audit services and personal relationships built through alumni employees have been alleged to contribute to this erosion of internal auditor independence. According to Raja Tun Uda, (2002) the increase of corporate scandals including WorldCom and Parmalat to name a few have ended to focus heavily on the issue of auditor independence. These financial scandals and corporate failures are proven to have had a detrimental effect on the public’s perception of auditors. As raised by O’Malley (1993), the issues related to independence are threatening the survival of accounting firms of all sizes and it has the power to destroy the accounting profession as a whole. It is therefore, vital that auditors maintain their independence and ensure that they provide a high quality of auditing to ensure the credibility of financial information not only for the purpose of reducing the number of corporate scandals but most importantly the survival of their profession and the development of healthy financial and capital market (Abu Bakar, 2006). 145 European Journal of Business and Management www.iiste.org ISSN 2222-1905 (Paper) ISSN 2222-2839 (Online) Vol.6, No.6, 2014 The research is conducted against the backdrop of increased regulation of public audit Act (2003), public officer ethics Act (2003) and other corporate Governance issues addressing the widespread public outcry on financial mismanagement. Corporate local scandals have led to ill-informed comments on the audit profession, particularly as regards audit independence. The Goldenberg scandal, Anglo leasing scandal, the phantom Ken Ren sale of Fertilizer Factory, sale of grand regency hotel to foreigners, the recent scandals in the ministry of education and the transport sector over the delay in the new ferries has heightened the debate on integrity and independence of auditors in public entities. The increased recognition of internal auditors has resulted in the services of the Internal Audit Function being expanded from essentially an accounting-orientated service, to a much broader management-orientated service. Recent demands by stakeholders of organizations for greater accountability from management, be it the board of directors, audit committee, executive management or other levels of management, will likely further augment the services of Internal Audit Functions. Despite all of the above, internal auditors in practice may be falling short of expectations (IIARF 2007). 2.0 Literature Review Conceptual Framework For the purposes of this research, the independent variable will be the indicators affecting internal audit independence while the dependent variable will be internal audit independence as illustrated with the aid of the conceptual model below. Conceptual Framework Limitation of scope Internal Audit Reporting structure Independence Traditional Role Independent Variables Dependent Variable Figure 2.0 Conceptual Framework Source: Researcher 2014 2.1 Limitation of scope Limitation of scope occurs when the auditor cannot audit one or more areas of the financial statements, and although they cannot be verified, the rest of the financial statements are audited and they conform to the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Examples of this include an auditor not being able to observe and test a company’s inventory of goods. If the auditor audited the rest of the financial statements and is reasonably sure that they conform to GAAP, then the auditor simply states that the financial statements are fairly presented, with the exception of the inventory which could not be audited (Millichamp, 2008). Internal auditors are in a unique position in terms of their status as employees of an organization with responsibility to act as internal assurance providers. This requires internal auditors to assess and monitor various governance decisions made by management and also to advise management on the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls (Sarens, 2006). It is thus no surprise that internal auditors can face considerable familiarity and social pressure threats stemming from their relationship with management. In more recent years, audit committees have undertaken an important governance role in coordinating and overseeing the communications between management, internal auditors, and external auditors. According to the Basel Committee’s Internal Audit Paper (2002), the scope of internal audit, from a general point of view, includes the following: the examination and evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of the internal control systems; the review of: the application and effectiveness of risk management procedures and risk assessment methodologies, the management and financial information systems, including the electronic information system and electronic banking services, the accuracy and reliability of the accounting records and financial reports, the means of safeguarding assets, the bank’s system of assessing its capital in relation to its estimate of risk, and the systems established to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, codes of conduct and the implementation of policies and procedures, the appraisal of the economy and efficiency of the operations; the testing of both transactions and the functioning of specific internal