Evaluating Allegations of Misconduct at Ford from an Internal Control Perspective

Abstract

The creation of large companies by bringing together the capital made it compulsory to form the executive staff. While the financial reports inform the stakeholders about the company's activities, the quality of financial information disclosed in these reports is ensured through independent and public audits. These audit activities give the stakeholders confidence in the usefulness of the financial statements in their decisions. Company managers create internal control systems to ensure their self-control and evaluate whether internal audit activities and business activities are carried out as they have determined. In addition, corporate governance practices that developed after many company scandals in the 2000s aimed to create a fair, transparent, accountable, and responsible management approach and structure in the management processes of companies. In addition to all these, companies apply the ethical principles they have determined to their employees and the parties they are in contact with. The development of information technologies enables companies to reduce the complexity of corporate management and auditing practices and allows these activities to be carried out faster. When there is a disruption in audit activities, there may be misleading financial statements, fraud, or misconduct. This study was prepared on allegations of corruption or abuse in an automotive company in the first quarter of 2021. The study examines the allegations as they are reflected in the press and evaluates them in terms of internal audit activities in line with the information disclosed.