Advancing internal audit effectiveness at ghana police service: do independence and objectivity of internal auditors matter?
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Date
2023
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KNUST
Abstract
Internal audits have recently gained prominence worldwide due to severe bankruptcies, assets embezzlement, corporate fraud in false financial reporting, inflated revenues, and irregular transactions in the public sector. Internal audit effectiveness also promotes greater accountability, disclosure, and transparency to restore trust, market confidence, and shareholders. To achieve these, contemporary researchers pay attention to the objectivity and independence of internal auditors. This study extends prior studies to investigate whether internal auditors' objectivity and independence affect the educational directorate's internal audit effectiveness. Further, the study examines the critical challenges affecting internal audit effectiveness at Ghana Police Service (GPS). The study employs descriptive and explanatory designs in collecting cross-sectional primary data via questionnaires from the GPS directorate, Ejisu Municipality. The study uses Ordinary Least Square (OLS) models and other quantitative methods to analyze 194 respondents from the GPS units in Ghana. The study finds that the objectivity of internal auditors does not influence internal audit effectiveness; however, internal auditors' independence positively relates to internal audit effectiveness in Ghana. Management support and technology usage are the other variables that contribute to internal audit effectiveness. Also, the study concludes that poor service condition is the critical challenge facing the implementation of internal quality effectiveness at the directorate. Lastly, most staff at the directorate are not familiar with international auditing standards such as IFRS, IPSAS, and other applicable policies that enhance the effectiveness of internal audits.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to Department of Accounting and Finance, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi In Partial fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree Of Master of Science (accounting and finance option)