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The number of days required to complete financial statement audits (i.e.,audit delay) increased significantly with the implementation of Section 404 of theSarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX, U.S. House of Representatives 2002). As firms’ in-houseexperts on internal control, Internal Audit Functions (IAFs) can substantially affectfinancial reporting processes and, thus, audit delay. Internal auditors can helpmanagement maintain strong internal controls and assist external auditors with financialstatement audits. Accordingly, we investigate whether IAF quality and the IAF’scontribution to financial statement audits affect audit delay in a sample of 292 firm-yearobservations drawn from the pre-SOX 404 period.Using survey data from the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), we develop acomprehensive proxy for IAF quality; we measure different aspects of IAF quality (e.g.,competence, objectivity, fieldwork rigor); and we measure the nature of the IAF’scontribution to financial statement audits (independently performed work and directassistance). Results indicate audit delay is decreasing in IAF quality, and this decreaseis driven by IAF competence and fieldwork quality. Delay is four days shorter when IAFscontribute to external audits by independently performing relevant work. High-qualityIAFs contribute to financial statement audits by independently performing relevant work,while low-quality IAFs provide direct assistance
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