Janet Morrill

Internal auditors and the external audit: a transaction cost perspective

Questions exist regarding the extent to which internal auditors should participate in the external audit, and wide variations are observed in practice. Many professional bodies increasingly advocate the view that increased coordination between the internal and external auditors, including increased use of the internal auditor for the external audit, provides more efficient and effective audit coverage. However, others maintain that internal auditors should not focus on areas that are the subject of external audit interest. This article attempts to shed light on this debate by using insights from transaction cost economics (TCE) to identify conditions under which organizations encourage internal audit participation in the external audit. An analysis of survey data collected from directors of Canadian internal audit departments indicate that some (TCE) variables, particularly transaction‐specific investment, are significantly associated with internal audit participation in the external audit.

Designing a bridge program for internationally educated accountants in an era of resource constraints

ABSTRACT Internationally educated professionals (IEPs) encounter significant barriers to entry to their professions upon immigrating. Obtaining education in the new country is an effective means of improving their positions. While universities emphasize the need to attract and serve adult learners and a more diverse clientele, the specific needs of immigrants are rarely reflected in institutional policies. I discuss our pilot program for internationally educated accountants (IEAs), its elements, and best practices. Our program was very successful, but may be beyond the reach of many universities due to financial or personnel constraints. I therefore include a cost/benefit framework to analyze each program feature. With this information, institutions may be able to partially implement a program, maximizing the benefit given their resources. Furthermore, some of the program elements could also be useful for international students, domestic students who will work alongside international colleagues, or domestic students who will work internationally themselves.

Management Control Systems and the Presence of a Full-Time Accountant: An Empirical Study of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

Originality/value Few studies have documented the MCSs adopted by North American SMEs, and none have considered the impact of the presence of a full-time accountant.