Jul 2026· Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence· Vol 20, pp. 335 - 349· 0 citations· 16 references
Abstract
Abstract Financial transparency is a key factor that influences market confidence in the EU, and the quality of audit documentation is essential to this process. To address this, the EU implemented the Audit Regulation (EU No 537/2014) and, more recently, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). These helped reconfigure the supervisory practice and enforcement mechanisms in place. As a result, the audit authorities in each country adapted their structures, methodologies, and sanctioning practices to meet the required standards. This paper uses a qualitative, document-based comparative analysis, using the 2024 annual reports, of the audit authorities in France (H2A), Germany (APAS), and Spain (ICAC) with the goal of understanding how differences in the supervisory architecture and sanctioning regimes reflect in enforcement signals for audit quality. Our findings showed that there are clear contrasts: Germany presented a high volume of disciplinary actions and a detailed categorization of issues; France focused on early integration of sustainability assurance; Spain showed increased focus on the transparency and proportionality of penalties issued. All three jurisdictions show that documentation failures and breaches of independence are the reasons most frequently subject to disciplinary actions. This helped to confirm that the supervisory model applied, the transparency practices, and the way resources are allocated affect enforcement outcomes. Our paper showed that the design model used affects documentation quality, especially through the level of inspection coverage, the ability of follow-up procedures, the deterrence level, and the learning effects influenced by the visibility and details of published sanctions. These factors encourage auditors to improve completeness, traceability, and compliance with the applicable standards in their work. Also understanding the way in which design affects sanctions, the paper provides guidance for improving audit quality and supervisory effectiveness. Risk-based inspections, consistent sanction types, and transparent presentation help strengthen the documentation quality.
Under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), sustainability reporting assurance is mandatory and in certain countries, only statutory auditors are permitted to provide this service. For many, the service represents a new professional responsibility. This study aims to evaluate statutory auditors’ readiness to provide sustainability reporting assurance, differences in their motivations and challenges and perceived benefits for companies.
Using institutional logics as the theoretical framework, we analyzed survey responses from 283 statutory auditors based in Poland in 2024. We used descriptive statistics and selected statistical tests to evaluate auditors’ perspectives on their new responsibilities.
There are differences between auditors who declare their readiness to provide assurance services and those who do not with respect to several challenges related to the new roles, including a lack of experience and assurance-related knowledge, unfamiliarity with sustainability regulations, perceptions of the costs associated with preparing for assurance and shortages of qualified personnel. In addition, these groups also differ in their perceptions of the benefits for companies, such as increased stakeholder trust, improved reputation, better risk management, access to new markets, employee engagement and increased operating efficiency.
The findings suggest that statutory auditors’ motivations for providing assurance services are driven primarily by fiduciary logic, which is reflected in their aspirations to develop new skills and competencies as well as their interest in sustainability-related topics. In contrast, the challenges cited by auditors indicate that while those ready to provide assurance are guided by fiduciary logic focused on professional responsibility, those deterred by the heavy workloads associated with auditing financial statements or personnel shortages are guided by a commercial logic prioritizing efficiency and profitability.
Joanna Krasodomska, E. Zarzycka· Meditari Accountancy Researc...· 0 citations
Purpose: The research aims to analyze the main qualitative characteristics of the independent auditor's report and the audit committee's report of companies listed on the B3 (Brazilian Stock Exchange). Methodology: The research is descriptive, and the data presents information from 189 different companies according to the stock exchange classification, 10 sectors, and 19 subsectors.
Results: For the audit committees, a consistent increase in the publication of Audit Committee Reports was observed, reflecting greater transparency and commitment to good corporate governance practices. Additionally, the frequency of meetings varied according to the sector and the economic context, with an increase in years of instability, evidencing greater activity of the committees during critical periods.
Contributions of the Study: To offer a little-explored national empirical approach, as well as to propose an integrated view between audit and governance. It is recommended that future studies advance in measuring the effectiveness of these committees based on objective performance indicators and financial impacts on companies.
Pedro Antonio Melo Moreira, Naiara Leite dos Santos Sant’Ana, Maria Fernanda Silva Gomes et al.· Revista Ambiente Contábil· 0 citations
This study aims to develop and empirically validate an integrated framework bridging performance audit with policy evaluation, addressing a methodological gap identified since the 1990s.
Drawing on contribution analysis (Mayne, 2012) and methodological triangulation (Denzin, 2017), the framework articulates four interdependent components: theory of change as a testable analytical structure, expanded evaluation criteria integrating the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions 300 standards and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (Organisation Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)) dimensions, structured multi-actor participation and holistic governance assessment. Three performance audits conducted by a regional SAI in Southern Europe (Sindicatura de Comptes de Catalunya) constitute the empirical basis: social benefits (EUR 978m), extrahospital renal care (378,350 sessions) and hospital service compensation (54.2% of care expenditure).
The theory of change validation exposed broken causal links between policy design and implementation, revealing accountability failures invisible to standard economy, efficiency and effectiveness (3E) criteria: EUR 167.56m in improper payments, outsourced services exceeding hospital provision costs by 12.4% and pricing mechanisms lacking documented economic justification. A cross-case analysis identified six recurrent governance dysfunctions across the three sectors.
The single SAI institutional context limits generalisability. Longitudinal studies are required to confirm the sustainability of identified improvements.
SAIs can implement the framework sequentially without prior legislative changes, progressively building methodological capacity across audit planning, execution and reporting phases.
The framework strengthens public governance accountability by enabling audit mechanisms to diagnose causal determinants of policy failure rather than merely documenting performance shortfalls.
This is the first study to empirically validate an integrated framework combining theory of change validation, expanded OECD evaluation criteria and structured stakeholder participation within an institutional audit context, demonstrating performance audit’s capacity for double-loop institutional learning.
M. À. Cabasés Piqué, Jordi Matas Dalmases· Journal of Public Budgeting,...· 0 citations
Accounting and auditing have evolved into two mutually reinforcing disciplines that underpin
corporate reporting, accountability, and stakeholder confidence. Accounting provides the
systematic process of identifying, measuring, recording, classifying, summarizing and
communicating financial information, whereas auditing and assurance services enhance the
credibility and reliability of that information through independent verification. In recent years, the
scope of assurance services has expanded beyond traditional financial statement audits to include
sustainability reporting, environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosures, integrated
reporting, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI) governance, and other forms of non-financial
reporting. This expansion reflects increasing stakeholder demand for credible, transparent, and
decision-useful information within an increasingly digital and complex business environment. The
study employed the survey design. The sample size was 237 out of a population of 840 based on
purposive sampling technique. assessing the effects of financial statement auditing, internal
control assurance, audit quality, and assurance services on accounting information. The findings
revealed that all four dimensions have significant positive effects on the quality, credibility,
reliability, and decision usefulness of accounting information. The results further confirm that
accounting and auditing are complementary disciplines, with auditing and assurance services
enhancing the integrity and trustworthiness of accounting information through independent
verification and validation. The study concludes that effective auditing and assurance services are
indispensable for improving financial reporting quality, strengthening corporate governance,
promoting accountability, and enhancing stakeholder confidence. As the business environment
becomes increasingly complex and technology-driven, organizations must continue to integrate
robust auditing and assurance practices into their accounting systems to ensure transparent,
reliable, and decision-useful financial information
Inyada, Sunday Joseph· JOURNAL OF BUSINESS AND AFRI...· 0 citations
The investigations into effectiveness of current internal audit practices within local government is mandatory given deficiencies in their value. Using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology, a systematic review of 77 peer reviewed articles, reports, and case studies published between 2015 and 2024 was conducted. The analysis focused on audit planning, risk assessment, control evaluation and reporting practices of local governments. The findings indicate that while internal audit practice’s significant role in influencing organisational effectiveness, issues such as inconsistencies in compliance with audit standards, lack of sufficient resources and limited independence hinder their effectiveness. Notably, local governments facing financial distress display a weaker internal audit process, resulting in systematically sub‐optimal fraud detection and weak compliance oversight. Standardisation, resource allocation and stakeholder communication are areas where gaps in current practices need to be addressed to enhance transparency. The study emphasis need to utilise technology driven solutions such as data analytics in enhancing audit efficiency, increasing legislative reforms of audit independence and capacity-building initiatives of internal auditors and contributes to the discussion on how to improve the practices of internal audit in local government in order to enhance local government’s contribution to sustainable governance across the sectors. This research also contributes towards a conceptual framework to address the interface between internal audit practices and their effectiveness.
Eugene Lesego Assegaai· International Journal of App...· 0 citations
Developments in sustainability issues are prompting companies to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) aspects into their accounting and reporting practices as a means of enhancing transparency, accountability, and responsibility towards stakeholders. This study aims to analyse developments in ESG disclosure within corporate accounting and reporting practices using a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach. The study employs a qualitative method, examining academic articles sourced from the Google Scholar database. Literature selection was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, followed by content analysis and validation through source triangulation. Research findings indicate that ESG disclosure has driven a shift in accounting practices from a shareholder-centric to a stakeholder-centric approach, improved the quality of reporting through transparency, credibility and the relevance of information, and strengthened the confidence of investors and stakeholders. On the other hand, the implementation of ESG still faces challenges in the form of regulatory fragmentation, differences in reporting standards, limitations in human resource capabilities, and technological readiness. Therefore, regulatory harmonisation, the strengthening of ESG reporting standards, and the enhancement of human resource capacity and the utilisation of digital technology are required to support a more effective and sustainable implementation of ESG.
Marisa Christy Neno, Maria Regina Sofie Daneswari· Ilmu Ekonomi Manajemen dan A...· 0 citations