Mortimer A. Dittenhofer, James H. Scheiner and Thomas A. Gavin
Reports on a survey examination of the contents of the internal auditing programmes presented by schools and colleges endorsed by the Institute of Internal Auditors. The report…
Abstract
Reports on a survey examination of the contents of the internal auditing programmes presented by schools and colleges endorsed by the Institute of Internal Auditors. The report contains the frequency of presentation and the characteristics of Basic and Advanced Internal Auditing, Internship and EDP Auditing courses. Also identifies other courses in the programmes. Discusses the philosophy of the programmes, foundation courses, completing the programmes, and marketing the programmes. Precedes the survey discussion by a description of historical activities related to the programme development; the prerequisites for participating programmes; and objective of the study.
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Steven B. Johnson and Dennis H. Patz
As Gonedes and Dopuch point out, there are many alternative approaches to the allocation of financial accounting information which might be viewed as competitors to ASC, FASB and…
Abstract
As Gonedes and Dopuch point out, there are many alternative approaches to the allocation of financial accounting information which might be viewed as competitors to ASC, FASB and other extant processes. Even if one begins with the ethical premise that “individual preferences are to count” and it is assumed that some sort of regulatory approach is needed, there are still at least three basic types of standards‐setting processes worthy of consideration: (1) “representative or expert body” processes; (2) “voting” processes; and (3) “demand‐based” (i.e. “willingness‐to‐pay”) processes. While the first type relies on the delegation of decision making authority to a body of “representative” or “expert” parties, the latter two types base their respective decisions on ordinal preference and demand information elicited directly from the affected parties themselves.
Communications regarding this column should be addressed to Mrs. Cheney, Peabody Library School, Nashville, Tenn. 37203. Mrs. Cheney does not sell the books listed here. They are…
Abstract
Communications regarding this column should be addressed to Mrs. Cheney, Peabody Library School, Nashville, Tenn. 37203. Mrs. Cheney does not sell the books listed here. They are available through normal trade sources. Mrs. Cheney, being a member of the editorial board of Pierian Press, will not review Pierian Press reference books in this column. Descriptions of Pierian Press reference books will be included elsewhere in this publication.
In 1985 Canada became the first country to replace its funds flow statement by a cash flow statement. By mid 1991, South Africa, the USA and New Zealand had done the same…
Abstract
In 1985 Canada became the first country to replace its funds flow statement by a cash flow statement. By mid 1991, South Africa, the USA and New Zealand had done the same. Britain, Australia and the IASC all issued statements announcing their intention to follow suit. Thus we have the first example in accounting history of the replacement of one of the three final accounts by an entirely new report. The new report, the cash flow statement, when compiled under the direct method, is a receipts and payment account rearranged under the three headings of operations, financing and investment. A receipts and payments account is the earliest and simplest form of final account, long predating the profit & loss account and balance sheet, and long predating Pacioli's “De Summa Arithmetica” in 1492. The statement which the Cash Flow Statement replaces is less than 120 years old (Rosen & De Coster 1969) and was only mandatory in published British accounts since SSAP 10 came into force in 1975. The purpose of this article is to hold an inquest into the death of the funds statement to determine the cause of death.
Ester Gras‐Gil, Salvador Marin‐Hernandez and Domingo Garcia‐Perez de Lema
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between a firm's internal audit function (IAF) and the quality of its financial reporting. Since regulations on corporate…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between a firm's internal audit function (IAF) and the quality of its financial reporting. Since regulations on corporate governance were introduced, numerous national and international bodies have emphasized the fundamental role of the IAF in the financial reporting process, especially since it generally leads to higher quality reporting.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses questionnaires sent to internal audit directors of Spanish banks.
Findings
Banks with high quality financial reporting have greater collaboration between internal and external auditors in the annual audit. Greater involvement of internal audit in reviewing financial reporting leads to improved quality financial reporting.
Research limitations/implications
Besides the usual caveats of survey research, there are limitations to this study. First, the problem of response bias may exist. Second, the 66 per cent survey response rate may mean that respondents have larger or better‐developed internal audit functions, affording them more opportunity or motivation to respond to the survey. Hence, the results obtained through the survey may not be generalizable to non‐respondents.
Practical implications
The findings are relevant for bank regulators, management, boards of directors, and investors. In the current discussion on transparency, integrity and quality of financial reporting, these findings help define the issues.
Originality/value
Previous empirical studies analyse the quality of financial reporting with actors in the corporate governance mosaic (board of directors, audit committee and external audit), but they do not do so directly with the IAF. This paper extends prior banking literature that analyses quality financial reporting along with other variables, but not internal audit.
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This chapter provides an insight into the career paths of autistic professionals in large private practice law firms. Rather than being a result of efforts to recruit autistic…
Abstract
This chapter provides an insight into the career paths of autistic professionals in large private practice law firms. Rather than being a result of efforts to recruit autistic people for the first time through targeted hiring programmes, it is suggested that corporate law firms recognized these strengths early in their formation and developed a type of employment both well suited to autistic strengths and able to make accommodations. Six career stages from Law Student to Retired Partner are described with their opportunities and challenges to illustrate the career paths of autistic professionals who work in law. A call is made for an approach to inclusiveness of the autism community by employers and professional associations to create a system of employment system that supports the employment of many while meeting the unique needs of individuals.
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Kato Plant, Karin Barac and Herman De Jager
The purpose of this paper is to identify the determinants of internal audit workplace learning success for developing early career internal audit professionals in South Africa.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the determinants of internal audit workplace learning success for developing early career internal audit professionals in South Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative research design was used to collect data through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews from 65 internal audit stakeholders including internal audit employers’ early career; internal auditors’ workplace learning assessors; and presenters and members of the education and training committee of the professional body in South Africa on their experiences of the determinants of workplace learning success for internal auditors.
Findings
In line with workplace learning theories, it was found that there are five determinants of internal audit workplace success: the learning environment, management support, the early career internal auditors’ commitment (attitude and motivation to learn) and a relevant, structured and effective formal workplace learning programme.
Practical implications
Internal audit employers, early career internal auditors, workplace learning assessors and presenters as well as the Institute of Internal Auditors globally and in South Africa can use the results of this study as a benchmark for their internal audit workplace learning practices.
Originality/value
This paper provides insight into the determinants of workplace learning success for internal auditors and contributes to the limited body of knowledge in auditing on developing professional competence in the workplace.
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The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of education to fight corruption in East Timor. The Anti Corruption Commission (CAC or Komisaun Anti Korupsaun (KAK) in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of education to fight corruption in East Timor. The Anti Corruption Commission (CAC or Komisaun Anti Korupsaun (KAK) in Tetum) is very concerned by this question of education. The Ombdusman, previously in charge, was less concerned by education due to its other numerous functions. The research approach includes interviews, fieldwork and enquiries at the Anti‐Corruption Commission (CAC) established in 2009.
Design/methodology/approach
This socio‐anthropological research was done mainly in Dili, the capital. Interviews and a long study of this new country complete the methodology of research.
Findings
Corruption is a key issue in East Timor. Education is a priority. Development will follow if education is upgraded. With four main languages: Tetum, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesia and English, upgrading education constitutes a difficult task. The country has 14 dialects, another difficult task for the development of East Timor.
Originality/value
Research on corruption is a very difficult task in East Timor and so very few articles are published on this important topic. Non‐governmental organizations exist in this new country, but they are often founded by the government. This independent research will help East Timor in this troubled post‐electoral period (July 2012) to find new ways to establish real transparency and strengthen political reconciliation. The relationship between an upgraded education and the improvement of anticorruption is discussed in the paper.
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Behdad Alizadeh and James Hitchmough
Urban landscapes play a significant role in supporting municipal, ecological and social systems. Besides, valuable environmental services and urban green spaces provide social and…
Abstract
Purpose
Urban landscapes play a significant role in supporting municipal, ecological and social systems. Besides, valuable environmental services and urban green spaces provide social and psychological services, very important for the liveability of modern cities and the well-being of urban residents. It is clear that the area of green space in a city, the method of designing urban landscape and access to urban green space potentially affect the health, happiness, comfort, safety and security of urban dwellers. Urban landscape plays a significant role in providing habitats for wildlife, and an important vegetation type in doing this is species-rich herbaceous vegetation that provides pollen and nectar plus physical habitat for native fauna. Any factor that makes an impression on the urban landscape (such as climate change) will affect people’s lives directly or indirectly. There is a universal consensus that the temperature has increased in most of the world over the past century the investigation of climate change impacts on the urban landscape is the purpose of this study.
Findings
Understanding the process of climate change adaptation is necessary to design plant communities for use in public landscapes. Increased CO2 and air temperature in conjunction with the changing rainfall conditions, as the three important factors of climate change, potentially alter almost all world ecosystems. Climate change provides new opportunities, and in some cases, an obligate need to use non-native plant species in conjunction with native plant species, not only to reduce the side effects of climate change but also to increase the species diversity and aesthetic value in meadow-like naturalistic planting design.
Originality/value
The authors confirm that this work is original and has not been published elsewhere. In this paper, the authors report on the effects of climate change on urban landscape and suggest different kind of solutions to reduce the effects. The paper should be of interest to readers in the areas of landscape architecture, landscape ecologist, landscape planner, landscape managers and environmental designer.