The Internal Auditors Institute defines internal audit as a consulting, objective, and independent activity,
designed to improve and add value to an organization’s operations. Internal audit assists an organization achieve
its objectives, by instituting a disciplined and methodical approach to develop and evaluate the efficacy of risk
control, management, and governance processes (Sawyer and Dittenhofer, 2010). Many companies in the
developed world have a growing interest in internal audit. One of the reasons for this growing interest is the need
for separation of ownership and management. The emergence of international and multinational large size
companies necessitates the development of internal control systems, due to the complexity of such companies’
operations. These internal control systems ensure compliance to local and international standards of management,
and also ensure proper workflow in these multinationals.
Internal audit functions are carried out by the internal audit department of the organization. This department
is responsible for fraud investigations, assessing of asset safeguards, evaluation of internal controls, review of
finance and accounting information, review and assessment of operating processes, assessment of efficient use of
resources, and compliance of policies, procedures and statutory requirements. The European Commission states
that the quality internal audit function should not be exclusively reserved for financial matters only, but should also
include administrative aspects. These include setting selection criteria for employees, general prerequisites,
professional development and training and developing the auditing practices (Russell, 2007).
There are some factors of internal audit quality which must be observed by the internal auditor. Among
these factors include ensuring protection of the organization’s assets from irregularities and errors. The internal
auditor is required to provide comprehensive and accurate financial reports, and provide the audit committee,
management, and external auditor with the necessary information (Ratliff and Institute of Internal Auditors, 2001).
In view of internal audit quality, the internal auditor is required to focus on performance audit, and adopt the audit
approach on the grounds of audit risk. The internal auditor is required to observe and apply the accepted
accounting principles, and also assess the administrative performance and its strategies towards achieving the
organization’s objectives.