External auditor reliance on the work of the internal audit function in Jordanian listed companies

Abstract

This study investigates the factors that influence external auditor (EA) reliance on the work of the internal audit function (IAF) in Jordanian listed companies (JLCs). It evaluates the effect of internal auditor objectivity, competence and work performance as perceived by senior Jordanian EAs. The study employs a mixed method comprising a survey‐based factorial experiment in addition to semi‐structured interviews. The results, based on 35 fully‐crossed factorial experiments and nine interviews with senior EAs and external audit managers, show that IAF objectivity has the greatest influence on the EA's decision to rely on the work of the IAF, followed closely by IAF competence and IAF work performance. Further, there was a significant interactive effect between objectivity and competence, indicating that the EAs do not consider the influence of individual factors in isolation. In interviews, the EAs put forward many reasons for the importance of all three of the independent variables. Our results have direct implications for organizations as well as for professional bodies and regulatory authorities charged with encouraging the development of IAFs.