Document Type
Working Paper
Date of This Version
3-1-2018
Keywords
sustainability audits, internal auditing code of conduct, risk assessment
JEL Classification
G32, M4
Abstract
An increasing number of organizations engage in sustainability reporting to the public. However, assurance of this disclosure is relatively new. In this study we investigate corporate codes of ethics and risk assessment by internal auditors as correlates of organizations’ engaging their internal audit functions (IAFs) in sustainability audits. Using data from a large sample of chief audit executives (CAEs) we find significant and positive associations between code of conduct and risk assessment and sustainability audits by IAFs. Also, we find positive and significant association between industry (environmentally sensitive vs. others), CAE experience, and CAE major (accounting vs. others) and sustainability audits by IAFs. Other control variables (organization size, CAE grad/undergrad degrees, and CAEcpe do not indicate significance in their association with sustainability audits by IAFs. These results have implications for design of sustainability reporting by various organizations and assurance of such reporting by internal auditors.
Working Paper Number
1803
Recommended Citation
DeSimone, Steven M. and Abdolmohammadi, Mohammad, "Are Corporate Codes of Ethics and Risk Assessment by Internal Auditors Associated with Sustainability Audits by Internal Auditors?" (2018). Economics Department Working Papers. Paper 182.
https://crossworks.holycross.edu/econ_working_papers/182
Included in
Accounting Commons, Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics Commons, Corporate Finance Commons