Objective: The role of the internal audit chief is pivotal in the internal audit sector, as they play a crucial role in enhancing the company's internal controls and ensuring the quality of financial reporting. Auditors also place great significance on internal controls. Independent auditors may need less time to review financial statements in companies with strong internal controls. This study seeks to investigate the relationship between internal audit chief turnover with the quality of financial reporting and audit report delay. Methods: In this study, the assessment of financial reporting quality was conducted using the modified Jones model, while the measurement of audit report delay was performed by calculating the time gap between the company's financial year-end date and the issuance date of the independent audit report. The data from companies listed on the Tehran Securities Exchange between 2013 and 2022 were collected and analyzed using regression models. Results: The results obtained from the analysis revealed a positive and significant correlation between the turnover of internal audit chiefs and financial reporting quality. Furthermore, a negative and significant relationship was identified between the turnover of internal audit chiefs and the delay in issuing independent audit reports. Conclusion: The results showed that periodic turnover of the internal audit chief can lead to strong internal controls on financial reporting and subsequently increase the quality of financial reporting. This can be attributed to the fact that a new internal audit chief often brings a higher level of independence, and motivation, as well as fresh knowledge, expertise, and insights to the role. Accordingly, s/he can do the job more effectively. In addition, having a new internal audit chief who is relatively independent and has the necessary innovation to perform the job and organizational duties can improve the quality of internal controls on financial reporting. As a result, independent auditors place greater reliance on these controls, leading to a reduction in substantive testing of financial statements. Consequently, with the turnover of the internal audit chief, there would be a decrease in the delay of audit reports. According to the achieved results, to enhance the quality of the company's financial reporting, audit committees, as the overseers of the internal audit function, should regularly address the matter of internal audit chief turnover. By paying close attention to this issue at appropriate intervals, audit committees can ensure effective management and continuity in the role, ultimately contributing to improved financial reporting quality. Moreover, the shareholders, investors, analysts, and regulators need to consider the turnover of the internal audit chief and the possible effects on the quality of financial reporting in their decisions. To effectively conduct and complete the audit of financial statements, it is recommended that independent auditors and their clients give due consideration to the impact of internal audit chief turnover. This includes recognizing its potential effects on the required extent of substantive testing. By being aware of this factor, auditors and their clients can appropriately adjust their audit procedures to ensure comprehensive and accurate financial statement audits.

Due to the diversity of risks in the corporate environment, continuous coordination of internal audit activities is required to identify related risks. Ongoing auditing is one possible way to meet theseDue to the diversity of risks in the corporate environment, continuous coordination of internal audit activities is required to identify related risks. Continuous auditing is one possible way to meet these requirements. In particular, the internal audit activity can use the information from the Continuous audit to continuously assess the risks. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the factors related to the use of continuous audit information in risk-based internal audit planning. Accordingly, the statistical population studied in this study includes managers and employees of the internal audit Department. The data for this study was collected using questionnaires, and after excluding invalid responses, the final dataset was subjected to testing. The time frame for this research corresponds to the year 2023. The findings indicate that both data analysis and the importance of the audit committee have a positive and significant impact on the use of continuous auditing information in risk-based internal audit planning. In contrast, variables such as collaboration with external auditors, fraud detection, and rolling planning do not show a significant relationship with this usage. Moreover, when considering the five key variables—data analysis, the importance of the audit committee, collaboration with external auditors, rolling planning, and fraud detection—the highest priority, according to the respondents, is attributed to data analysis. Conversely, collaboration with external auditors is considered to have the lowest level of importance in this context.

This study investigates effects of collaboration time period of chief executive officer and internal audit director on financial reporting complexity. For this, the data from 60 firms listed in Tehran Stock Exchange during the period of 2012 to 2016 is tested using Robust Least Squares (RLS) method. The number of the board annual report pages is used as a criterion to measure the financial reporting complexity (the longer the reports, the more complexity). The findings of this research indicate that longer collaboration between CEO and internal audit director increases financial reporting complexity. The reason is that as the collaboration between them becomes longer, the CEO and director of internal audit conspire to hide poor performance of the management from investors, therefore they release longer reports (the more pages, the more complexity).

The purpose of this research is to investigate the association between the audit committee’s oversight of the internal audit function (IAF) and the nature of IAF activities. In this paper, it is assumed that regarding the role of the audit committee in preventing financial misstatements leads to an increase in the focus of IAF on internal controls. Based on the survey of 140 Chief Audit Executives (CAE) of Tehran Stock Exchange listed companies in 2020, research variables have been measured. A regression model is used to test the research hypothesis. Based on the opinions of CAEs participating in this research, the results show that the audit committee’s oversight of the internal audit function leads the IAF toward a more internal-controls-oriented focus. Also, the size of the company, financial leverage, ratio of inventories and the significant weakness in internal controls have a positive and significant effect on the IAF internal-controls-oriented focus. Finally, the results show that the sales growth rate and operating cash flow do not have a significant effect on the IAF internal-controls-oriented focus.

 AbstractThe Securities and Exchange Organization (SEO) Of Iran has considered the mission of the internal audit to provide independent and impartial assurance and consulting services, in order to add value and improve operations. and, in 2013, all listed firms to the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) and over-the-counter (IFB) has required to form internal audit. The purpose of research is to investigate the impact of effectiveness of internal audit on the quality of internal audit in companies listed in TSE. For this purpose, 12 hypotheses were developed. It is worth mentioning that the "effectiveness of internal audit" variable was classified into three sections including "competence, independence, realism" and "consequences" into three sections including "management support, support and acceptance of the auditor and interdepartmental coordination of internal auditors". It is also worth mentioning that collecting information regarding the "quality of internal audit" variable. due to insufficient disclosure of information, requires to each firms, either the manager or one of the employees of the internal audit or of the committee members was asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of 32 internal audit quality criteria in 2021. The data were analyzed through structural equation modeling using SmartPLS software. Findings show that the records and results of internal audit effectiveness have a positive and significant effect on the quality of internal audit. This study contributes to agency theory by highlighting factors related to internal audit effectiveness and quality audit outcomes to protect the best interests of managers while fulfilling corporate governance requirements.

Internal audit function (IAF) is one of the main internal mechanisms of corporate governance that helps the organization achieve its goals. Effectiveness is one of the most important aspects of internal auditing that most of its dimensions have not previously been studied in Iran. This research is aimed to investigate effects of some basic elements on effectiveness of IAF. So, this study examines the effect of five factors (Internal Auditor Competence, Internal Auditing Independence, Management Support Of Internal Audit, Size Of Internal Audit Function, Coordination Between Internal and External Auditors) including 29 sub factors on the effectiveness of IAF. The sample consists of 131 internal auditors of firms with an active IAF. From one hand, the level of IAF effectiveness is measured through participants (using 29 sub factors), and from the other hand, it is questioned through the information related to IAF characteristics. Then, the relation between IAF characteristics (independent variables) and the level of IAF effectiveness (dependent variable) is tested. The results from the analysis of collected data show that all the five dimensions have a positive and significant effect on the IAF effectiveness.

The present study examines the ability of internal auditors in motivating the audience, conveying the message and oral presentation on the acceptance of their recommendations by the internal auditor, members of the audit committee and members of the board. The present research in terms of purpose is in the category of applied research, In terms of method and nature, it is of descriptive-survey type. The statistical population includes internal auditors, internal audit managers and audit committee members. The research has happened in the first quarter of year 1400. The statistical population of the study is indeterminate and the statistical sample was determined randomly using the Cochran formula of 384 people. For testing our hypotheses we used Structural equation modeling The results of hypothesis testing showed that motivation and message transmission skills have a positive and significant effect on the acceptance of internal auditors› suggestions. The results of the study indicate that the application of persuasive skills by internal auditors can increase the likelihood of accepting their suggestions. The results also indicated that gender, experience and organizational status were associated with acceptance of auditors› recommendations.

Internal audit has a critical role in managing and conducting the organization's operations. Organizations with an efficient and effective internal audit department, can more accurately evaluate the risks of businesses, processes and commercial systems. In current research, by using Delphi research methodology and a survey of 210 professional and academic experts, it was tried to identify the internal audit quality criteria approved by the experts, in order to design a suitable model for the Iranian environment. For this puepose, based on the literature review and the research background, 29 criteria were identified which were classified in four sections including: a. Competence of internal auditors with eleven criteria; b. Independence of the internal audit department with eight criteria; c. Criteria related to the performance of internal audit work with seven criteria; and d. Other criteria with three criteria. Data were analyzed by utilizing “ R” software with a confirmatory factor analysis model. The results of the study indicate that 18 criteria have been adopted, which provides a model for the quality of internal audit.

Internal auditing is conducted in a variety of legal and cultural environments, and for organizations with different goals, sizes, complexity and structure, both internally and externally. According to the adoption of the internal control instruction of the stock exchange in 2012 and the formation of Internal Auditors Association at the same year, internal audit profession in Iran seems new. In this study, by adopting a qualitative research approach and using the classical method of grounded theory, we examine the perception of internal audit from internal audit managers point of view as professional executives of internal auditing profession, and its compliance with The Institute of Internal Auditors standards. The results of the survey indicate that from internal audit managers view in Iran, there is a divergence of internal audit function from the definition of internal audit in The Institute of Internal Auditors standards and the need to redefine it in Iran.

The professional power of internal auditing by a professional thinking and within the framework of economic logic, the supervising function of internal auditing can be executed only when the internal auditing possesses the professional power to perform its duties effectively in necessary occasions through observing professional standards to provide benefits to public community and help its own organization. The objectives of this study has been to identify the factors affecting professional power of internal auditing and the current status of such factors in Iran. Considering the nature of the research, two kinds of research plan has been applied. In the first research plan, through a descriptive field survey, 30 factors affecting the professional power of internal auditing have been identified and their affecting mechanisms have been described. In the second research plan, a correlation research plan has been used to gather historical evidences to serve as scientific support for the first research plan. Based on the findings of research, in view of the experts of the profession, the found results indicate general effects of these factors on professional power of internal auditing. the internal auditing assistance in preparing financial statements has a positive and meaningful effect on professional power of internal auditing and each of these power factors are considered to some extent effective in experts’ opinions and considered effective by organizations. According to the results, the internal auditing assistance has a negative effect on auditing fees and by increasing the power of internal auditing the relevant fees will be reduced.