Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the relationship between internal audit functions (IAF) and financial reporting quality (FRQ) and whether such a relationship is moderated by senior management support (SMS) in listed companies in Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Design/methodology/approach

This research is a cross-sectional study, using primary data in the form of a survey sent to 175 listed companies in NSE. A total of 149 questionnaires have been collected and analysed out of which 97 were found to be useful and used in the final analysis.

Findings

The findings indicate a positive and significant relationship between internal audit qualities of work performed, internal control activities, coordination between internal and external auditors and FRQ and this finding was also supported by SMS as a moderator. However, the results show a negative and insignificant relationship between internal audit competency, organisational status and FRQ.

Research limitations/implications

The findings support the assumption with regard to agency theory. The board should support the IAF to serve as an effective monitoring mechanism in minimising opportunistic management actions. Regulators should also ensure adequate structures that will strengthen the organisational status of the internal auditors to perform towards improving FRQ.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the existing literature by assessing the effect of IAF on FRQ as moderated by SMS.

中文翻译：

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内部审计职能、财务报告质量和高级管理层支持的调节作用

目的

本文的目的是证明内部审计职能 (IAF) 和财务报告质量 (FRQ) 之间的关系，以及这种关系是否受到尼日利亚证券交易所 (NSE) 上市公司的高级管理层支持 (SMS) 的缓和。

设计/方法/方法

这项研究是一项横断面研究，使用原始数据以调查的形式发送给 NSE 的 175 家上市公司。总共收集和分析了 149 份问卷，其中 97 份被认为是有用的并用于最终分析。

发现

调查结果表明，内部审计工作的质量、内部控制活动、内部和外部审计师与 FRQ 之间的协调之间存在积极且显着的关系，SMS 作为主持人也支持这一发现。然而，结果显示内部审计能力、组织地位和FRQ之间存在负相关且不显着。

研究限制/影响

研究结果支持代理理论的假设。董事会应支持 IAF 作为有效的监督机制，以尽量减少投机取巧的管理行为。监管机构还应确保适当的结构，以加强内部审计师的组织地位，以改善FRQ。

原创性/价值

该研究通过评估 IAF 对 SMS 调节的 FRQ 的影响，为现有文献做出了贡献。