auditor competence. At the same time, internal auditors, by proving their duties in accordance with the professional level, can refute charges of neglecting their duties.
The internal audit department works are achieved under supervision of the chief audit executive who is the main responsible individual for putting the internal audit plan, reporting internal audit findings and following-up internal audit recommendations. The organization members are required to evaluate the internal control system (SOX, Section 404, 2002), and in order to achieve this requirement they depend on the internal audit department. During this evaluation, internal auditors should collect sufficient and reliable evidences that will support their assessment of the internal control system. The existence of such evidences will increase the confidence level of organization members on the works performed by the internal audit. Hence, internal audit department performance is a crucial requirement for organization members to consider internal auditors as agents.
Internal auditors, as agents of the organization members, need their support. The existence of an effective audit committee in the organization enhances internal audit independence and also, reduces senior management interferences either in internal audit scope or its performance. For example, the problem related to the ability of senior management’s influence over the future employment and salaries of internal auditors will be resolved by having an audit committee as the absolute authority for appointment and removal of the chief audit executive. Another clear example of organization members’ support occurs when senior management asks all departments to accomplish the internal audit recommendations.
Based on the above discussion, it can be seen clearly that the agency theory is a useful theory which can explain the relationship between some variables of the study, and it is relevant to be embedded in the development of this research conceptual framework.