ISSN:
0268-6902
Source:
Emerald Fulltext Archive Database 1994-2005
Topics:
Economics
Notes:
Describes a recent study of internal audit in Australia which was drawnfrom surveys of the chief executives and internal audit managers of awide range of organizations in the private and public sectors. Theresponse from chief executives was a very positive one and there wasstrong support for a number of concepts including a positive perceptionof the profile of internal audit, the usefulness of internal audit as atraining ground for managers, and the need for internal audit as a meansof improving the operational efficiency of organizations. However,despite the high status of internal audit acknowledged by chiefexecutives, there is an apparent misunderstanding of the internal auditprocess. This has led to confusion between perceived status and reality.There appears to be inconsistency among chief executives and internalaudit managers about the areas covered by internal audit. The questionof the role and scope of internal audit within individual organizationsrequires clarification by consultation between management and internalaudit departments. The wide range of skills necessary to fulfilmanagement's expectations of the internal audit function and thedisparity between individual internal audit managers on a number ofissues, leads us to the question of whether an internal audit professiondoes in fact exist. While it is apparent from the survey that there area number of fundamental issues confronting internal audit in Australia,the underlying support for internal audit is nevertheless encouraging.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02686909410054736
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