How internal auditors can be more effective

INCREASINGLY, audit committees (ACs) are facing heavier responsibilities as they manage conflicting expectations from shareholders, regulators, and a myriad of stakeholders.

In this demanding context, the AC cannot perform optimally without the support of an effective internal audit function. This was the clear feedback from a majority of AC chairmen of large and small listed companies in a recent study by the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA).

The same respondents also felt that the effectiveness of their companies' internal audit…