Risk Based Auditing
FACULTEIT ECONOMIE EN BEDRIJFSKUNDE
HOVENIERSBERG 24 B-9000 GENT
Tel. Fax. : 32 - (0)9 – 264.34.61 : 32 - (0)9 – 264.35.92
WORKING PAPER
Internal Auditor’s Perception about their Role in Risk Management Comparison between Belgian and US Companies
Gerrit Sarens1 Ignace De Beelde
April 2005 2005/304
Department of Accounting and Corporate Finance, Kuiperskaai 55/E, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Email: Gerrit.Sarens@UGent.be, Phone: +32 9 264 35 66, Fax: +32 9 264 35 88. Acknowledgment: We appreciate the comments and suggestions on earlier drafts of this paper received from Andrew Chambers (London South Bank University), Rogier Deumes (University of Maastricht), Abigail Levrau (Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School), Tom Baelden (Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School), Ann Vanstraelen (University of Antwerp and University of Maastricht) and Patricia Everaert (Ghent University). A first draft of this paper was presented at the 3rd European Academic Conference on Internal Audit and Corporate Governance, 7-8 April 2005 (Cass Business School, London). We would like to thanks all participants for their constructive feedback.
1
D/2005/7012/22
Abstract
In addition to a number of quantitative studies in this area, this study wants firstly to elaborate in a complementary qualitative way how internal auditors perceive their current role in risk management within the Belgian context where internal auditing is a relatively young profession. Secondly, we want to investigate whether, under the influence of recent changes in corporate governance regulations, a greater financial emphasis in internal auditors’ work can be noticed. Thirdly, we are interested in differences between Belgian companies and Belgian subsidiaries of US companies with relation to internal auditors’ role in risk management. In order to get adequate data, we interviewed 10 Chief Audit Executives and collected relevant documents. The data reveal that the specific content of internal auditors’ role
HOVENIERSBERG 24 B-9000 GENT
Tel. Fax. : 32 - (0)9 – 264.34.61 : 32 - (0)9 – 264.35.92
WORKING PAPER
Internal Auditor’s Perception about their Role in Risk Management Comparison between Belgian and US Companies
Gerrit Sarens1 Ignace De Beelde
April 2005 2005/304
Department of Accounting and Corporate Finance, Kuiperskaai 55/E, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Email: Gerrit.Sarens@UGent.be, Phone: +32 9 264 35 66, Fax: +32 9 264 35 88. Acknowledgment: We appreciate the comments and suggestions on earlier drafts of this paper received from Andrew Chambers (London South Bank University), Rogier Deumes (University of Maastricht), Abigail Levrau (Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School), Tom Baelden (Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School), Ann Vanstraelen (University of Antwerp and University of Maastricht) and Patricia Everaert (Ghent University). A first draft of this paper was presented at the 3rd European Academic Conference on Internal Audit and Corporate Governance, 7-8 April 2005 (Cass Business School, London). We would like to thanks all participants for their constructive feedback.
1
D/2005/7012/22
Abstract
In addition to a number of quantitative studies in this area, this study wants firstly to elaborate in a complementary qualitative way how internal auditors perceive their current role in risk management within the Belgian context where internal auditing is a relatively young profession. Secondly, we want to investigate whether, under the influence of recent changes in corporate governance regulations, a greater financial emphasis in internal auditors’ work can be noticed. Thirdly, we are interested in differences between Belgian companies and Belgian subsidiaries of US companies with relation to internal auditors’ role in risk management. In order to get adequate data, we interviewed 10 Chief Audit Executives and collected relevant documents. The data reveal that the specific content of internal auditors’ role