Outsourcing of Internal Auditing Services and Performance of Organisations in Nigeria: A Conceptual Approach

Abstract

The spate of corporate collapses and financial scandals has resulted in an increased focus on internal auditing as an important consideration for organisations. The basic role of internal auditing is to help management achieve company goals. It also provides assurance that management has implemented a satisfactory internal control system to prevent risks. It is observed that sourcing of internal audit services internally always leads to lack of independence by the staffs that provide these services since they are employees of the entity and under the control of management. In addition to that, the external auditors find it difficult to place reliance on the work performed by internal auditor.This study examines outsourcing of internal audit functions and performance of organisations in Nigeria by reviewing some selected studies from within and outside Nigeria. The objective of the study is to conduct a conceptual review (to determine how outsourcing of internal audit function affects performance of organisations in Nigeria based on the findings) of previous studies. This paper discovered from previous studies that outsourcing of internal audit functions is the remedy to efficiency, cost savings and reliability of internal audit services in every organisation. This study is of the opinion that more researches should be conducted on the topic in Nigeria and that organisations in Nigeria should key into outsourcing of their internal audit functions as this brings about cost saving, reliability of record as well as independence of opinion.