Does the Environmental Internal Audit Impact the Achieving of Sustainable Development in Industrial Companies Listed on the Amman Stock Exchange?

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the impact of environmental internal auditing with its dimensions represented by (compliance auditing, auditing environmental management systems, and auditing environmental financial statements) in achieving sustainable development in industrial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange. To achieve the aim of the study, a questionnaire was designed as a data collection tool for the study and distributed among 154 respondents namely: internal auditors, financial managers, and employees working in the financial departments in these companies. After conducting the necessary statistical analysis using SPSS, a statistical impact was reached at the significance level of α ≤ 0.05 for environmental internal auditing with its dimensions represented by (auditing compliance, auditing environmental management systems, and auditing environmental financial statements) in achieving sustainable development in industrial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange. The study suggests that industrial companies must provide appropriate environmental internal audit tools, including providing internal auditors with knowledge of environmental factors that have a fundamental impact on financial statements and understanding of environmental legislation and laws. The findings clarified the importance of training internal auditors on the stages of environmental internal auditing and skills in assessing environmental risks and obligations.