Purpose: This study investigates the Ghanaian audit quality review process as both an institutional practice and a regulatory mechanism. Specifically, the study evaluates how oversight is operationalized, the extent to which it mitigates audit failures, and the institutional factors that shape its effectiveness. Methods: This study uses exploratory qualitative research design, consistent with Logie and Maroun to examine the regulatory oversight and audit failures in Ghana’s audit quality review process implemented through Act 1058. Data was sourced from Audit Quality Review reports published by Institute Chartered Accountants-Ghana (ICAG) for 2023 and 2024. Findings: Study reveals that the dual role of ICAG as both custodian and disciplinary authority raises concerns of soft regulatory capture, where enforcement may prioritize visible infractions over systemic quality failures. The findings underscore the need for a shift from rule-based inspections to risk-based, capacity-building oversight. The findings further suggest that resource constraints, the potential for institutional decoupling, and possible regulatory capture associated with ICAG’s dual role as professional body and regulator may limit enforcement effectiveness and hinder the development of a sustainable audit quality culture in Ghana. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: The study integrates institutional, legitimacy, and regulatory theories to explain the coexistence of improved formal compliance and persistent technical deficiencies in audit practice. It also provides evidence that highlights the need for risk-based reviews, stronger internal quality management systems, competency-based continuing professional development, and targeted technical support for audit firms. This study advocates greater autonomy and independence for audit quality monitoring, and a shift towards enforncement that evaluates the sufficiency of audit evidence, professional judgment, and actual audit performance rather than procedural compliance alone.
Purpose: This study aims to assess how leadership value moderates the relationship between organisational culture (clan, adhocracy, market, and hierarchy cultures) and internal audit effectiveness in depository financial institutions in Cameroon's Littoral and Center Regions. Methodology: Using a quantitative cross-sectional survey design, this study collected data from 88 depository financial institutions in Cameroon's Littoral and Center Regions through structured questionnaires adapted from Cameron and Quinn's Organisational Culture Assessment Instrument and Schwartz's Portrait Values Questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis with robust standard errors. Findings: The principal findings reveal that leadership value significantly moderates the effects of organisational culture on internal audit effectiveness, explaining 61.1% of the variance (R² = 0.611, F = 16.840, p < 0.01). Specifically, leadership value amplifies the positive effect of market culture (β = 0.153, p < 0.01), attenuates the positive effect of adhocracy culture (β = -0.065, p < 0.05), marginally exacerbates the negative effect of clan culture (β = -0.045, p < 0.10), and shows no significant moderation for hierarchy culture (β = -0.001, p = 0.912). The full interaction model represents a substantial improvement over main effects models (which ranged from R² = 0.367 to 0.536). Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: This study contributes to contingency theory by demonstrating that leadership serves as a critical contingency factor that determines whether cultural characteristics translate into audit effectiveness, with directionally-specific effects that vary across cultural types. Theoretically, it validates that leadership and culture interact in complex ways, with market cultures benefiting from strong leadership (complementary relationship) while adhocracy cultures require empowering leadership (substitutive relationship). Practically, the findings offer bank managers and chief audit executives evidence-based guidance for aligning leadership development with cultural context.
Purpose: To examine the effect of taxpayer knowledge of taxation system and turnover tax compliance among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Embakasi Region, Nairobi. Methodology: The study adopted an explanatory research design. The target population was 15,839 SMEs, with a sample size of 390 respondents. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive, inferential statistics, and multiple regression analysis. Findings: Findings showed that understanding turnover tax regulations significantly enhances tax compliance among MSMEs. This statement has a mean response of 4.09 (SD = 0.509), indicating that respondents strongly agreed that understanding turnover tax regulations improves compliance. Findings also established that knowledge of the taxation system significantly influences compliance (β = 0.173, p = 0.009). Findings also reveal a positive and statistically significant relationship between knowledge of the taxation system and turnover tax compliance (r = 0.579, p = 0.000 < 0.05). Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study contributes to theory as it established that knowledge of the taxation system had a significant influence compliance with turnover tax among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Embakasi Region, Nairobi. The study recommends that government policies foster trust through transparent tax administration and equitable enforcement. KRA should enhance taxpayer support services, including SME help desks and mobile tax clinics, to improve knowledge dissemination. SMEs should proactively train employees and owners on tax matters to strengthen compliance.
Purpose: This study examines the effect of auditing standards on fraud detection within enterprises in the Littoral, Centre, and West regions of Cameroon. Despite the adoption of the Revised OHADA Uniform Act and International Standards on Auditing (ISA), financial irregularities persist, creating a significant audit expectation gap. Methodology: Adopting a quantitative research design, data were collected via structured questionnaires from 146 professional respondents, including accountants and internal controllers, using a proportional stratified sampling technique. The study utilized a multiple linear regression model to examine the effect of audit standard components on fraud detection outcome. Findings: The findings reveal that audit standards have a positive and statistically significant impact on fraud detection, explaining approximately 52% of the variation in detection outcomes. Specifically, dimensions such as the Audit Execution System encompassing planning, risk assessment, and procedures showed the strongest predictive power for identifying irregularities. Comparative analysis further indicates that these effects are more consistent in enterprises audited by the Big Four firms. The results underscore that while formal standards provide a necessary framework, effective fraud detection is heavily contingent upon the rigor of application and professional scepticism. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study recommends that Cameroonian auditors transition from "checklist compliance" toward a risk-based approach as mandated by ISA 315 and suggests that regulatory bodies like ONECCA enforce mandatory quality assurance for non-Big Four firms to bridge existing methodological gaps. This study contribute to breach the literature gap in the study of audit standards in relation to fraud detection in Cameroon. Furthermore, it determines that compliance with audit standards improve fraud detection in Cameroon.
Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to find out how tax enforcement measures affected the level of tax compliance among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating in Mavoko Sub-County, Machakos County, Kenya. The study further sought to establish the moderating role of government policy on the relationship between enforcement measures and tax compliance among the selected group of SMEs. Methodology: Led by the positivism philosophy, the researchers employed an explanatory and descriptive survey research design to collect primary data from a sample of 376 respondents drawn from a target population of 18,000 SMEs. The data, collected through a structured questionnaire, was analyzed using descriptive statistics to obtain arithmetic means and standard deviations, and through the inferential statistical method of multiple linear regression analysis. The researchers used the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29 software when analyzing the data. Findings: The study established that the tax enforcement measures of tax audits, tax penalties, and publicity of enforcement actions had a statistically significant effect on tax compliance among the identified SMEs. In addition, government policy was found to have a significant moderating role on the relationship between tax enforcement measures and tax compliance. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study provides practical recommendations to SMEs on the importance of record keeping and bookkeeping practices for ease and convenience in making tax returns. Secondly, the study presents recommendations to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) that are aimed at enhancing tax compliance among SMEs. In addition, the study offers valuable policy insights for the government of Kenya to encourage voluntary tax compliance in the formal and informal sectors of the economy.
