A company’s board of directors is ultimately responsible for putting effective corporate governance (CG) structures in place as mechanisms to enhance its accountability to stakeholders. An audit committee (AC), which is a subcommittee of the board, is one component of the company’s CG structures. In South Africa, legislation, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listing requirements, and the King code and report of Governance for South Africa 2009 (King III) deal with the composition and responsibilities of ACs. As the shares of AltX listed companies, which are categorised as high-growth potential, small to medium-sized listed companies, are traded publicly, they are required to comply with the Companies Act and to establish an AC according to the Act’s composition requirements to fulfil mandatory responsibilities. In terms of the JSE listing requirements, AltX listed companies must appoint an AC or explain their reason(s) for not doing so. As the total market capitalisation of AltX listed companies has increased by 87% over the past three years, greater numbers of stakeholder groups are being affected. Since stakeholder groups are protected when companies implement effective CG processes, the purpose of this study is to understand the way in which the AC of an AltX listed company, as an example of a high-growth potential, small to medium-sized listed company, adds value to the company and its stakeholders. Attributes that contribute to the value added by ACs were identified as being the characteristics of AC members; the fulfilment of responsibilities through optimised activities; and the fulfilment of responsibilities by maintaining healthy relationships with the board and information providers. An explorative qualitative case-based research design was applied in terms of which a single AltX listed company was selected according to predetermined selection criteria. Data were collected using individual semi-structured interviews, field notes and company documents. Descriptive open coding techniques were used for data analysis with the findings of the study subsequently being presented in terms of a theoretical framework of the attributes that influence the extent to which the AC adds value. The findings of the study confirm that these attributes of the AC facilitate its ability to add value to the AltX listed company investigated and its stakeholders in terms of enlightened shareholder theory. / Auditing / M. Com. (Auditing)

Financial scandals worldwide have led to an auditing profession crisis. Society has lost confidence in the profession because of a growing perception that it does not act in the public interest, but in its own interest only. The way in which the auditing profession is regulated may impact positively or negatively on the value of the audit function. Consequently there is danger that the profession may lose its very reason for existence. Conversely, the profession has an opportunity to re-invent itself, and by so doing, regain the trust of society. The South African auditing profession, as elsewhere, has begun to recognise this situation as an opportunity to introduce changes to the regulation of the profession. These regulations are the key to society’s willingness to trust the outcome of the audit process. While the current regulations are obviously flawed, it is believed that, once revised, society may regain confidence and trust in the profession and its services. To this end the Draft Auditing Profession Bill, 2004 was published in November 2004. In this thesis the profession’s regulations, including the Draft Auditing Profession Bill, 2004, are evaluated in terms of factors that are central to an effective and credible regulatory system. The burning issues involving the auditing profession are also identified in this study, and evaluated. In comparison with changes already made in other countries, it appears that those important regulatory system factors and the key public interest issues of credibility and trust are inadequately addressed by the proposed auditing profession regulations. The fundamental reasons for this failure are the proposed composition and financing of the regulator and associated bodies. Hence, in this study a normative framework for regulating the auditing profession in South Africa is proposed in an effort to regain society’s trust. / Thesis (DCom (Accounting Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Auditing / unrestricted

Graduation theses treats of evolution of the legal regulations of auditing in the Czech republic from first regulation of Ministry of Finance no. 63/1989 Sb. to the draft law of auditors which results from Directive 2006/43/EC. Fundamental part of the theses is concentrated on the law no. 254/2000 Sb., of auditors and of change of law no. 165/1998 Sb., as amended by the subsequent acts, and on the act draw of auditors which implements the requirements of the Directive above mentioned to the Czech legal order (the theses is based on the text which was put to Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech republic as a parliament print no. 517/0). However previous Czech and actual European legal regulations of auditing is also mentioned.

Auditing, as a subset of the accounting discipline, is an inherently difficult subject to learn and teach. There have been various challenges, problems and criticisms regarding traditional auditing and accounting education. Auditing lecturers therefore have a responsibility to investigate methods or aids that can assist lecturers in addressing these challenges, problems and criticisms in order to educate future auditors who have the knowledge, understanding and skills to function effectively in the workplace. The primary objective of this study was therefore to evaluate whether the learning and lecturing difficulties experienced may be addressed effectively through the use of an educational auditing information technology-based game, which was developed during the course and as a result of this study. The perceptions of third-year auditing students at North-West University regarding the use of this game as an educational aid in auditing education were tested through a questionnaire that was also developed as part of this study. The study involved dividing the participants into an experimental and control group. The experimental group played the educational computer game, while the control group completed the case question from which the educational game was developed. The students then completed the same questionnaire. The main findings of the study were that the educational computer game was equal in educational value to the case method, while factors such as joy, engagement and motivation were rated higher for the computer game than for the case method. / MCom (Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Auditing, as a subset of the accounting discipline, is an inherently difficult subject to learn and teach. There have been various challenges, problems and criticisms regarding traditional auditing and accounting education. Auditing lecturers therefore have a responsibility to investigate methods or aids that can assist lecturers in addressing these challenges, problems and criticisms in order to educate future auditors who have the knowledge, understanding and skills to function effectively in the workplace. The primary objective of this study was therefore to evaluate whether the learning and lecturing difficulties experienced may be addressed effectively through the use of an educational auditing information technology-based game, which was developed during the course and as a result of this study. The perceptions of third-year auditing students at North-West University regarding the use of this game as an educational aid in auditing education were tested through a questionnaire that was also developed as part of this study. The study involved dividing the participants into an experimental and control group. The experimental group played the educational computer game, while the control group completed the case question from which the educational game was developed. The students then completed the same questionnaire. The main findings of the study were that the educational computer game was equal in educational value to the case method, while factors such as joy, engagement and motivation were rated higher for the computer game than for the case method. / MCom (Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This study focuses on the effectiveness of audit committees in public entities, specifically schedule 3A entities, which are governed by the PFMA. It is clear that the audit committee cannot operate on its own if it wishes to be effective. Management, Internal Audit and External Audit (Auditor General of South Africa) all play significant roles in the effectiveness of the audit committee. Internal Audit and the Auditor General are assurance providers for the audit committee and therefore play an even bigger role in its effectiveness. The independence of these assurance providers is vital, as the audit committee relies on them to obtain an independent view of the effectiveness of controls within the entities. / Graduate School of Business Leadership

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie is onderneem om aan te dui hoe die verslagleweringsfunksie van die ouditeur in openbare praktyk be1nvloed word deur die voortdurende veranderings in onder andere, gemeenskapstrukture en gemeenskapsdoelwitte. Gedurende die afgelope aantal jare het die gebruiker van die ouditeursversl ag herhaaldelik druk op die ouditprofessie geplaas om beter kommunikasiemiddels tot stand te bring. Die ouditprofessie het gehoor hier aan gegee en een van die reaksies op hierdie versoek was die uitreiking van 'n voorgeskrewe nuwe verlengde vorm van die ouditeursverslag. In hierdie studie word die proses van ontwikkeling van die verlengde vorm van die ouditeursverslag deurgevolg. Spesifieke verwysing na die verslagleweringsbeleide wat tans in sekere toonaangewende lande gevolg word, word gedoen, naamlik: die Verenigde State van Amerika, Suid-Afrika en die Verenigde Koninkryk. Om te verseker dat die ouditprofessie altyd gehoor gee aan die behoeftes van die gebruiker van die ouditeursverslag en sodoende 'n professie met 'n visie sal bly, word aanbeveel dat volgehoue navorsing op die gebied van ouditverslaglewering sal bly voortgaan. / This study was undertaken to indicate how continua 1 changes in, inter alia, community structures and goals have influenced the reporting function of the auditor in public practice. In recent years users of the auditor's report have applied continual pressure on the profession to improve its communication tools. One of the responses to this demand has been the issuing of the newly expanded long format auditor's report. In this study the development process of the new long format auditor's report has been researched and described with specific reference to the reporting practices in some of the leading countries in the field viz; the United States of America,South Africa and the United Kingdom. Continuing research within the domain of audit reporting is recommended to ensure that the profession deals with reporting problems as they occur, thus retaining the visionary status of the profession. / Auditing / M. Com. (Auditing)

Business Management / D. B. L.

Revisorsyrket utvecklas ständigt. Från att tidigare ha ansetts vara en räknande ensamvarg sittandes på sitt kontor är nu revisorn en fullfjädrad konsult med kommunikation som sin vardagliga huvudsyssla. Allteftersom revisorns arbetsuppgifter byts ut från att till största del bestå av revision till att bestå mer och mer av konsulttjänster, kan revisorns ställning som en oberoende granskare av företags räkenskaper ifrågasättas.Syftet med uppsatsen är att först utforska vilka konsulttjänster, eller Non-Audit Services (NAS), som erbjuds av en revisionsbyrå. Sedan tar studien reda på vad olika intressentgrupper tycker om att revisionsbyråer bistår sina revisionskunder med NAS. Avslutningsvis undersöks intressentgruppernas uppfattning om biståendet av NAS påverkan på oberoendet. Studien byggs upp av agentteorin och intressentteorin, där revisorn ses som en oberoende granskare som ska säkerställa att företagsledningen agerar optimalt för företagets ägare och intressenter.För att få reda på vilka tjänster som NAS innefattar görs först en pilotstudie med intervjuer av fyra revisorer med varierande erfarenhet. Sedan görs en enkätundersökning där frågorna tas fram utifrån informationen från pilotstudien. De intressenter som enkäten skickas ut till är Bankanställda, Investerare/Aktieägare, Revisor/Revisorsassistent/Redovisningskonsult, Skatteverket, Studenter och Andra företag.Resultatet av studien visar att samtliga intressentgrupper ställer sig positiva till att revisionsbyråer bistår sina revisionskunder med NAS, där gruppen Revisor var mest positiva och Studenter och Investerare/Aktieägare minst positiva. Vidare anser samtliga intressentgrupper att biståendet av NAS endast påverkar oberoendet i liten utsträckning, där Revisor anser att det påverkar minst och Investerare/Aktieägare anser att det påverkar mest. Slutsatserna är att intressenterna ser NAS som något positivt och att dess påverkan på oberoendet är lägre än dess positiva sida för företagare.

Thesis (MPA (School of Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Public sector reform in South Africa became a reality with the change in political dispensations in 1994. In South Africa the transformation of the public sector became critical in order to provide for a better life for all. This required regulatory frameworks that could establish good governance and a holistic transformation of the public sector. Similar, to other countries financial management reform became critical to establish high performance public sector institutions, but specific to South Africa, to support equity in society. In this study the assumption is made that Internal Audit has a critical role toward the supply chain management framework, especially in relation to the two broad underlying motivations for procurement reform in South Africa. These are good governance and preferential procurement toward socio-economic empowerment. Both Internal Audit and supply chain management are private sector management methodology that forms part of the financial management reform of the public sector.