Abstract

This study aims to explore whether Saudi listed companies are using performance measures to evaluate their internal audit function and, if they are, what performance measures they use to evaluate internal audit function and the identity of the important measures from the perspective of internal auditors. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to internal auditors in Saudi listed companies. The results show that Saudi listed companies are using both quantitative and quantitative performance measures to assess the internal audit function performance. Also, we find that internal auditors rank quantitative measures as important while qualitative measures are ranked as unimportant. The current study contributes to the existing literature by identifying key performance measures for the internal audit function in an emerging market, and provides valuable information about how to measure internal auditing performance. Also, this study is considered as the first one in Saudi market that identify such variable.

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