INTERNAL AUDITING PRACTICES AND INTERNAL CONTROL QUALITY IN STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES: EVIDENCE FROM PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study examines the role of internal auditing practices compliance with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing (ISPPIA) in enhancing internal control quality in Pakistani State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). Data was collected through an online survey of Chief Audit Executives (CAEs) of SOEs from various sectors. An ordinal logistic regression model was used to test the influence of compliance with international best practice guidelines of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) related to independence of the internal audit function, competence of the internal audit function, quality assurance and improvement programmes, and audit committee characteristics over seventeen principles of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) of the Treadway Commission Internal Control Framework. The results indicate that the independence of the internal audit function (IAF) and the characteristics of the audit committee have a statistically significant positive impact on the internal control system. However, findings related to quality assurance and improvement programs, and competence of the IAF, were deemed insignificant. The study is expected to contributes to accountability theory by highlighting that how quality internal audit practices can enhance internal control and thereby strengthen the accountability mechanism in public sector. The results are also expected to have important practical implication, both locally and globally.