Academic literature on the topic 'Internal audit (Malaysia)'

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the implementation of integrated internal audit management (IIAM) and compare the implementation of IIAM by Malaysian firms with different certifications (ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001). Design/methodology/approach This study involves three studies on the implementation of integrated internal audit processes. Furthermore, this study compares the implementation of the audit in the selected firms. The qualitative research methodology was adopted to analyse the data. Findings This study is an exploratory study and the findings indicate the differences between the implementation of the internal audit process across different firms. All the firms are highly motivated and demonstrate resource management whilst implementing the IIAM while firms experiencing the same difficulties. The study also found that all of the firms are enjoying similar benefits. Research limitations/implications The scope of this research paper is limited to three Malaysian manufacturing firms with different quality certifications: ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. Thus, the finding cannot be generalised to all firms in Malaysia. However, the findings are significant as they present an interesting comparison between the implementation of IIAM by manufacturing firms in Malaysia. Originality/value Although the integration of management systems has been analysed many times, this study focussed on the comparison of firms’ practices of the IIAM.

This study attempts to investigate the link between corporate governance mechanisms and audit report lag for companies listed on Bursa Malaysia from 2007 to 2009. The 288 companies listed on Bursa Malaysia have been randomly selected. The corporate governance mechanisms examined include the board of directors and audit committee. It shows that there are significant negative relationships between board diligence, audit committee independence and expertise. The higher the number of meetings being held indicates that the board is discharging their role towards the company. The results show that audit committee independence and audit committee expertise could assist in reducing audit report lag among companies in Malaysia. Its provide some evidence supporting the resource based theory, whereby characteristics of the audit committee, such as the resources and capabilities, could improve companies’ performance as well as corporate reporting.However, it could not provide any evidence concerning the link between board independence, board expertise, CEO duality and audit committee diligence on audit report lag. This study provides comprehensive examination of ARL on Malaysian listed companies for three years period. It is consider the initial study to provide a thorough examination of the association between corporate governance characteristics and ARL.

This study aims to examine the effect of interaction between internal auditor and audit committee on fraud detection in Malaysia. Specific interaction is firstly; audit committee approving the appointment of chief audit executive, the evaluation of chief audit executive, the dismissal of chief audit executive, the internal audit budget and the internal audit plan or program. Secondly, audit committee’s involvement in reviewing internal auditor’s work specifically; providing input for the internal audit plan, reviewing the results of internal auditing related to financial reporting, reviewing the results of internal auditing related to internal control, reviewing the results of internal auditing related to compliance with laws and regulation, reviewing the internal audit involvement in management responses to internal audit suggestions, reviewing the difficulties or scope restrictions encountered by internal auditors and reviewing the coordination between internal auditors and external auditors. Survey questionnaires were mailed to internal auditors attached to 782 companies listed on Bursa Malaysia’s main market. The results of this study suggest that involvement of audit committee in approving chief audit executives’ matters is insignificant on internal auditors’ contribution to fraud detection. However, audit committee’s involvement in reviewing internal auditors’ work significantly influence the internal auditors’ contribution in fraud detection.

This study outlines the role of internal audit in the governance of zakat institutions in Malaysia. Aspects of internal audit are detailed in this study as well as risk management. Internal audit is closely linked to risk management where both of these aspects are an important element of an organisation's governance. In addition, legislative matters such as the Federal Constitution and the State Administration of Islamic Religious Enactments were also discussed in this research. Researchers are also talking about the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance (MCCG), which can be used as a guide and best practice for Islamic religious states and zakat institutions in Malaysia. Although the Islamic religious councils of the states and the zakat institutions are not a company but with the trust as administrators and managers of large zakat funds, the need for good governance is essential.

Purpose This study aims to examine the institutional investors’ preferences for internal governance mechanisms (internal audit function and audit committee effectiveness) in an emerging country like Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 2,020 yearly firm observations in Bursa Malaysia over the period 2009-2012 is used. The two-stage least squares using instrumental variables (IV-2SLS) analysis is used to examine the relationships. To corroborate the findings of this study, a regression based on a one-year lag of the independent variables is used. Furthermore, ordinary least square regression and Generalized Method of Moments using instrumental variables (IV-GMM) are used. Findings Positive associations are found between the internal audit function and audit committee effectiveness and the institutional ownership. Research limitations/implications These findings imply that institutional investors gravitate to firms that have high investment in internal audit function and effective audit committee. These findings are consistent with the conjecture that institutional investors try to minimize monitoring and exit costs and meet their fiduciary responsibility by investing in better internal audit firms. Practical implications This study offers insights to policymakers interested in enhancing internal governance mechanisms to attract institutional investors. Originality/value Limited empirical studies have examined the relation between internal governance mechanisms (internal audit function and audit committee effectiveness) and institutional ownership. This study adds to the existing literature on the importance of internal governance mechanisms by documenting an association between internal audit function and audit committee effectiveness and institutional ownership in an emerging country like Malaysia.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of audit committee characteristics on investment in internal audit function. This study developed an index by combining the individual characteristics of audit committee into one variable to capture audit committee effectiveness. Data relating to audit committee and internal audit were extracted from the annual reports of the top 100 listed companies in Malaysia. The findings of this study shows that audit committee index is negative and significantly associated with investment in internal audit function. This result implies that there will be lower investment in internal audit when the audit committee are effective. The study also found a negative relationship between audit committee independent and investment in internal audit while no relationship was established between audit committee expertise and investment in internal audit function. The findings presented in this study offer invaluable implication for regulators on important factors that should be taken seriously before investing in internal audit.

<p class="Default"><span lang="EN-US">An audit committee is viewed as an essential self-regulatory internal governance instrument that is expected to provide an oversight role over the entire process of financial reporting. An internal audit is also one of the corporate governance cornerstones that is essential for the effective monitoring of the operating performance of internal control. To ensure its effectiveness, the audit committee monitors the resources available to the internal audit, and internal control functions should be directly reported to the audit committee. This study analyses the effect of audit committee characteristics on internal audit budget in Malaysia, where data on internal audit budget is available and how well audit committee monitors the internal audit function is questionable. Our study also opens the door to an unanswered question, that is, whether an audit committee index is related to internal audit budget. Data of 96 companies listed on Bursa Malaysia for a three-year period, 2012-2014, was utilized to achieve this end. The regression results show that audit committee meeting and index are significantly and positively associated with internal audit budget. They also indicate that audit committee tenure has a significant and negative impact on internal audit budget. The findings of the study support the recent policy initiatives in relation to audit committee and internal audit. They also serve as a wake-up call to policy makers in requiring more committed and skilled members on the audit committee.</span></p>

Manuscript type: Research paper Purpose: This study examines the views of internal auditors and auditees on factors affecting internal audit effectiveness (IAE) in insurance and takaful companies in Malaysia. Design/Methodology/Approach: A total of 240 respondents participated in a self-administered survey questionnaire. Findings: Multiple regression analyses suggests independence as well as the resources of internal audit functions (IAF) and relationship with the audit committee is perceived to affect IAE. However, management support is perceived to be less significant in affecting IAE. Furthermore, independent t-test and eta squared analyses show that respondents perceive the factors that significantly affect IAE differently, with independent internal audits scoring the highest. Research limitations/Implications: The respondents were only limited to internal auditors and auditees in insurance and takaful companies. Practical implications: Such empirical evidence is expected to be used by companies, regulators as well as researchers in understanding the prevailing factors affecting IAE in insurance and takaful companies. Originality/Value: The value of this study is grounded on limited studies of IAE in the financial industry, specifically insurance and takaful companies, and the analysis of both auditors and auditees’ views on the principal factors affecting IAE.

This paper is part of the third and final study conducted on the state of internal audit in the public sector of Malaysia. The first study was concerned with the internal audit operations in the state and local governments found in Peninsular Malaysia (Azham et al 2007a), while the second study was concerned with internal audit in the nation’s federal government ministries, departments and agencies (Azham et al 2007b). This third study covers 47 organizations at the federal government level, comprising 27 statutory bodies and 20 government-linked companies. From the face-to-face interviews conducted with internal auditors over the three year period 2005 to 2007, several notable audit features emerged as common to all 47 organizations. Some are depressing, while a few others are encouraging. All in all, however, the internal audit function in a majority of the organizations still leaves much to be desired. Also, it is notable that these findings are very much like those of the previous two internal audit studies (Azham et al 2007a; 2007b), and to make sense of the dismal state of the internal audit function in the public organizations, there is perhaps a need to look at the bigger context within which the internal audit function is found.

This thesis has two (2) broad objectives. The first objective is to test the impact of audit committee and internal audit (IA) function characteristics on IA contribution to the financial statement audit. The second objective is to investigate whether a negative association exists between IA contribution to the financial statement audit and audit fees. The study is conducted in a Malaysian context and focuses on the perspectives of internal auditors. There are a number of motivations for the study. In particular, previous studies have not addressed the need for a better understanding of how corporate governance mechanisms such as audit committee and IA unit attributes may affect IA contribution to the financial statement audit. Also, the results of prior studies on the link between IA contribution to the financial statement audit and audit fees are mixed and inconclusive. Furthermore, there is limited empirical evidence in this area from emerging economy countries, with relatively less developed capital markets such as Malaysia. The underlying theme throughout this thesis is that corporate governance mechanisms i.e., audit committee and IA characteristics have the potential to affect the efficiency of the IA unit thus leading to greater contribution of IA to financial statement audits. Specifically, the thesis argues that certain characteristics of audit committees such as the independence of audit committee members from the management, audit committee members' experience and knowledge in accounting, auditing and finance and their level of interactions with the chief internal auditor have the potential to increase the contribution of IA work to financial statement audits. Likewise, it is also postulated that characteristics of the IA function such as their size and prior experience of their staff in auditing are likely to improve the level of efficiency and hence, encourage greater contribution of IA to the external audit work. Finally, due to the saturation of the audit services market coupled with significant competition among public accounting firms, it is also predicted that the contribution of IA work is increasingly viewed as a potential means of improving external audit efficiency (i.e. by reducing time and effort), leading to lower audit fees. Seven (7) hypotheses are tested in this study based on Malaysian data during 2003. Data collection adopted a multi approach with three (3) key sources of data: a questionnaires survey, in-depth interviews and publicly available data from annual reports. The data collection process involved a mail survey addressed to the chief internal auditors of companies listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) Main Board. Five-hundred and two questionnaires (502) were mailed and a total of 101 (20.03%) responses were returned, of which 76 (17.9%) were useable. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 chief internal auditors selected from various industries which were also listed on the KLSE Main Board. Finally, publicly available data from annual reports were utilized. The study makes a number of contributions. First, it provides empirical evidence on the impact of audit committee characteristics on IA contribution to financial statement audits. In particular, the study supports a positive relationship between IA contribution to the financial statement audit and three (3) dimensions of audit committee characteristics namely the proportion of independent audit committee members, the extent of audit committee members' experience and knowledge in auditing, accounting and finance, and the frequency of meetings between the chief internal auditor and the audit committee. This suggests that a high proportion of independent audit committee members with experience and knowledge in accounting, auditing and finance is able to enhance the efficacy of the IA function and thus, encourages external auditors to rely more on the IA function. The results support the earlier predictions that more frequent meetings conducted between audit committees and the chief internal auditor leads to higher extent of IA contribution to the financial statement audit. Further, findings of this study also provides support for the positive relationship between the characteristics of the IA function, namely the size of the IA function and the proportion of staff with prior experience in auditing and IA contribution to the financial statement audit. The results suggest that internal auditors contribute more to the financial statement audit when the size of the IA function is larger and when the proportion of IA staff with prior experience in auditing is higher. Finally, the second model tests for a negative relationship between IA contribution to the financial statement audit and audit fees. However, the results did not yield a significant relationship between these two variables. Further clarifications for this result were derived from the interviews with the chief internal auditors. Specifically, it appears that any saving in time and effort due to the contribution of IA to financial statement audits may possibly be used by external auditors to expand their investigations into other more complex areas that require greater attention from them. Other findings from the interviews also suggest that audit committees play an important role as communication facilitators between the IA staff and management, especially by providing a candid forum for IA staff to express their opinions as well as supporting IA staff's recommendations based on their findings during audit investigations. Further, the leadership role of the audit committee also tends to assist the internal auditors to better communicate with management and to ensure that management will act upon the internal auditor's recommendations. In conclusion, the findings may have some implications for regulators and others concerned with establishing guidelines and listing rules pertaining to audit committee effectiveness especially in developing countries. Furthermore, this study also contributes to the literature on how an IA unit's resourcing has implications for IA contribution to the financial statement audit. While the current professional standards (i.e., ISA 610, SAS 65, and AUS 604) view IA as a substitute for external audit, such professional standards also require external auditors to evaluate the quality of IA unit before relying on the work of IA or accept the contribution of IA to the financial statement audit. As such, this study provides evidence on the potential impact that audit committees and IA units may have on such contribution of IA to the financial statement audit.

This thesis has two (2) broad objectives. The first objective is to test the impact of audit committee and internal audit (IA) function characteristics on IA contribution to the financial statement audit. The second objective is to investigate whether a negative association exists between IA contribution to the financial statement audit and audit fees. The study is conducted in a Malaysian context and focuses on the perspectives of internal auditors. There are a number of motivations for the study. In particular, previous studies have not addressed the need for a better understanding of how corporate governance mechanisms such as audit committee and IA unit attributes may affect IA contribution to the financial statement audit. Also, the results of prior studies on the link between IA contribution to the financial statement audit and audit fees are mixed and inconclusive. Furthermore, there is limited empirical evidence in this area from emerging economy countries, with relatively less developed capital markets such as Malaysia. The underlying theme throughout this thesis is that corporate governance mechanisms i.e., audit committee and IA characteristics have the potential to affect the efficiency of the IA unit thus leading to greater contribution of IA to financial statement audits. Specifically, the thesis argues that certain characteristics of audit committees such as the independence of audit committee members from the management, audit committee members' experience and knowledge in accounting, auditing and finance and their level of interactions with the chief internal auditor have the potential to increase the contribution of IA work to financial statement audits. Likewise, it is also postulated that characteristics of the IA function such as their size and prior experience of their staff in auditing are likely to improve the level of efficiency and hence, encourage greater contribution of IA to the external audit work. Finally, due to the saturation of the audit services market coupled with significant competition among public accounting firms, it is also predicted that the contribution of IA work is increasingly viewed as a potential means of improving external audit efficiency (i.e. by reducing time and effort), leading to lower audit fees. Seven (7) hypotheses are tested in this study based on Malaysian data during 2003. Data collection adopted a multi approach with three (3) key sources of data: a questionnaires survey, in-depth interviews and publicly available data from annual reports. The data collection process involved a mail survey addressed to the chief internal auditors of companies listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) Main Board. Five-hundred and two questionnaires (502) were mailed and a total of 101 (20.03%) responses were returned, of which 76 (17.9%) were useable. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 chief internal auditors selected from various industries which were also listed on the KLSE Main Board. Finally, publicly available data from annual reports were utilized. The study makes a number of contributions. First, it provides empirical evidence on the impact of audit committee characteristics on IA contribution to financial statement audits. In particular, the study supports a positive relationship between IA contribution to the financial statement audit and three (3) dimensions of audit committee characteristics namely the proportion of independent audit committee members, the extent of audit committee members' experience and knowledge in auditing, accounting and finance, and the frequency of meetings between the chief internal auditor and the audit committee. This suggests that a high proportion of independent audit committee members with experience and knowledge in accounting, auditing and finance is able to enhance the efficacy of the IA function and thus, encourages external auditors to rely more on the IA function. The results support the earlier predictions that more frequent meetings conducted between audit committees and the chief internal auditor leads to higher extent of IA contribution to the financial statement audit. Further, findings of this study also provides support for the positive relationship between the characteristics of the IA function, namely the size of the IA function and the proportion of staff with prior experience in auditing and IA contribution to the financial statement audit. The results suggest that internal auditors contribute more to the financial statement audit when the size of the IA function is larger and when the proportion of IA staff with prior experience in auditing is higher. Finally, the second model tests for a negative relationship between IA contribution to the financial statement audit and audit fees. However, the results did not yield a significant relationship between these two variables. Further clarifications for this result were derived from the interviews with the chief internal auditors. Specifically, it appears that any saving in time and effort due to the contribution of IA to financial statement audits may possibly be used by external auditors to expand their investigations into other more complex areas that require greater attention from them. Other findings from the interviews also suggest that audit committees play an important role as communication facilitators between the IA staff and management, especially by providing a candid forum for IA staff to express their opinions as well as supporting IA staff's recommendations based on their findings during audit investigations. Further, the leadership role of the audit committee also tends to assist the internal auditors to better communicate with management and to ensure that management will act upon the internal auditor's recommendations. In conclusion, the findings may have some implications for regulators and others concerned with establishing guidelines and listing rules pertaining to audit committee effectiveness especially in developing countries. Furthermore, this study also contributes to the literature on how an IA unit's resourcing has implications for IA contribution to the financial statement audit. While the current professional standards (i.e., ISA 610, SAS 65, and AUS 604) view IA as a substitute for external audit, such professional standards also require external auditors to evaluate the quality of IA unit before relying on the work of IA or accept the contribution of IA to the financial statement audit. As such, this study provides evidence on the potential impact that audit committees and IA units may have on such contribution of IA to the financial statement audit.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Griffith Business School
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One of the preventive measures to situations akin to world financial crises increasingly forwarded is effective internal audit function (IAF) (e.g., Imhoff, 2003; Mohamad & Muhamad Sori, 2011). Internal audit, a component of corporate governance, continues to evolve due to changes in business strategies and requirements placed on it by legislators. The roles of internal auditors and audit committees (ACs), the key personnel in IAFs, are changing to a more value-added approach as business strategies move towards corporate sustainability and organisational excellence. Suggestions forwarded to improve the performance or determining the quality of IAF include effective involvement of ACs in internal audit activities, the employment of competent internal auditors and determining the impact of internal audit on corporate governance (e.g., Mohamad & Muhamad Sori, 2011, Sarens, 2009, Turley & Zaman, 2007). Research on the quality of internal audit has focussed mainly on the relationships of internal audit with internal control and ACs (e.g., Fadzil, Haron, & Jantan, 2005; Mat Zain & Subramaniam, 2007; Turley & Zaman, 2007). However, none has linked the impact of internal audit performance to corporate governance. This study provides an agency of value view, explaining the effectiveness of IAF and its impact on corporate governance. Using a convergent mixed methods approach, the main findings from survey data collected from corporate members of the Institute of Internal Auditors Malaysia are compared and integrated with perspectives from chief audit executives of selected public listed companies interviewed. The factors investigated are the structure of the IAF, activities of best practices in internal auditing, ACs’ involvement as stated by the Malaysian public listing guidelines (Bursa Malaysia, 2000, 2009b) and the World Bank’s corporate governance framework (World Bank, 1991). An exploration on the extent of collaborations and combined assurances in internal audit is also carried out. The primary analysis on the probability of an effective IAF and profiling of the internal audit activities, level of AC involvement and areas of corporate governance is made using the Rasch model. Non-parametric tests are also used to determine the statistical significance of the relationships of the components investigated. In-depth interview data are analysed using template analysis. The findings support the establishment of an in-house IAF with a definitive team size and professional expertise for an effective IAF. Other IAF components are member experience, combined audit activities and collaborations of audit activities. Although these other components are not significantly related to the effectiveness of IAF, the indepth interviews provided more explanations on their importance in internal audit. An important structure of the IAF is the AC’s oversight role. The findings also indicate that the level of ACs’ involvement in the reviews of each stage of the internal audit process contributes to the overall effectiveness of IAF. Due to issues in staffing and the changing business environment, collaborations particularly in risk management, information technology audits and quality audits, are increasingly being used as a strategy in internal audit to provide value add services. Further, as suggested by Sarens (2009), the level of internal audit performance could now be identified to its impact on corporate governance, for example such as in areas of expenditure management, revenue management, analysis of data and conflict resolution. The results have implications on the policy regarding internal control for public listed companies, favouring an in-house internal audit function as opposed to outsourcing the function, to address the recommendations on the effectiveness of ACs and its relationship with IAFs. The practice of internal audit in future should be more collaborative to harness the expertise and experience of other departmental personnel in producing effective internal audit, ultimately creating a greater impact on corporate governance.

This study draws on a multi-theoretical lens to explore how the contextual and environmental factors have impacted on the internal audit practices of listed issuers in Malaysia. This study finds that listed issuers decouple the regulatory requirements to stay legitimate. Top management’s scepticism over value contribution of internal audit function has relegated its significant role in governance. A refined framework is developed incorporating the audit committee’s expectation on enhancement of the effectiveness of the internal audit function.

Contemporary Issues in Financial Reporting, Auditing and Corporate Governance offers theoretical and empirical background on three fundamental areas of accounting, namely financial reporting, auditing and corporate governance.This book is written in a clear and reader-friendly manner to create readers interest in the central issues of discussion. The uniqueness of this book is in its extensive coverage of national and internationally-oriented issues of financial reporting, auditing and corporate governance. This book is ideal for accounting and business related courses at upper undergraduate and post-graduate levels. With its broad coverage, the book should also be of interest to academicians, professionals, corporate managers, regulatory bodies and researchers.The articles written in this book are: Corporate Social Responsibility and Post-Crisis StrategyEmployee Stock Options Popularity of Financial Ratios in the Annual ReportsThe Relationship between Pension Funds and Dividend PayoutDoes Audit Firm Merger Add Value to Its Clients? Co-operation between Internal and External Auditors: From the Perspective of Internal Auditors in Malaysian Local Authorities Auditor Choice: Events and TheoriesThe Global Audit Expectation Gap: Within and between Muslim CountriesOwnership Holdings: Selected Malaysian Family Businesses Ethnic Diversity in Malaysian Initial Public OfferingsCEO Succession in Malaysian PLCs: Does Firm Characteristic Make a Difference?A Framework of Good Governance: Lessons for the Inland Revenue Board Malaysia.

Accreditation is a certification of the academic quality of an institution of higher learning.Some countries require accreditation and others consider it as optional.Some countries accredit through official government agencies while others appoint independent or private organizations that oversee the whole educational accreditation process. In Malaysia, the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) is the sole responsible body to monitor the accreditation process for all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).This manual is a standard reference to assist lecturers and teachers in preparing MQF documents.It sets to provide clear guidelines on details of how to prepare all documents necessary for MQA accreditation.The contents of the manual emphasize:Understanding the Malaysian Qualifications Framework,Programme objectives, programme learning outcomes, course objectives and course learning outcomes, Course syllabus, the scheme of work and mappings, Course assessment and preparing the Test Specifications TableStudent Learning Time, Preparing the Internal Quality Audit (IQA)

The increasing number of recent fraud cases involving the board of directors and top management in cooperative societies has raised concerns about the effectiveness of internal control systems (ICS) in these organizations. This chapter aims to examine the relationship between the effectiveness of the ICS and the likelihood of fraud occurrence by focusing on the control environment, risk assessment, and monitoring activities of cooperative societies in Malaysia. The results showed that the effectiveness of the control environment, risk assessment, and monitoring had no significant relationship with the likelihood of fraud occurrence in these organizations. However, this does not necessarily mean that the fraud risk is not an emerging issue. The study proposes that the internal auditors and audit committee oversee a pro-active fraud prevention check-up, as suggested by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), which is to be implemented in co-operative societies to assess how vulnerable the organizations are to fraud.