Common Characteristics and Differences in External and Internal Auditing

Abstract

Many scholars have shown that failure in leading big companies as well as the latest financial crises have led the auditing market to perceive traditional auditing more as a legal requirement rather than as a value added for the company. There are others that do not completely agree to this, but they all accept that the auditing as a profession should accept changes which will affect the value added for the company from auditing. Nowadays the companies are required more accountability rather that it was required before, perversely only financial reports were reported by the companies. Auditing is a process which confirms the statement provided by the company management regarding the information in financial statements that are real and accurate. Auditing has to be based on evidences and logical concept for better understanding. For companies that operate in the market, it is important to provide financial information that is consistent, reliable and complete for all users of the financial statements (banks, potential shareholders and the international community). In daily practice of entities we have two kinds audit, the internal and external audits. Usually, these are interlinked and complementary, with the ultimate aim that the (overall) audit is more effective and the reports that will emerge are fully arguable and meaningful. The internal audit has an important role which is to increase the effectiveness of internal control in private or public company. Internal audit has the responsibility of informing the management of the institution of deficiencies or weaknesses in the internal control system. External auditors are the fist line of the front for companies liadership. They play a key role in verifying the financial information provided to shareholders. External auditors inspect the financial statements prepared by the entity and provide assurance and independent opinion if these statements represent a true and fair view of the entity's condition for the year under review.Keywords: External audits, internal audit, management, financial statement, and independent opinion.