

In addition to possibly facing hefty fines from government agencies, businesses could take a serious hit to their market value, customer base and reputation.įinding fraud and errors isn’t the only reason internal audits are important. If left unchecked, these activities could create larger and potentially devastating issues over time. These errors could produce false data that misleads investors and clients into thinking a company is more economically buoyant than it is. The practice can be instrumental in uncovering fraud, financial misappropriations, noncompliance with government agencies and egregious accounting errors. Why Internal Audits Are ImportantĬonducting an internal audit helps a business confirm its books are accurate and legitimate.

An online Master of Accountancy program allows professionals to hone the skills to achieve that goal. Therefore, accounting professionals should develop an organized, focused auditing strategy that can help them efficiently spot errors in financial data and weaknesses in legal compliance. That number underscores the need for companies to periodically conduct internal audits of their financials.Īn essential part of risk management, the internal audit procedure could have dire consequences if not handled properly. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Fraud and wrongdoing, including accounting errors, cost businesses $1.1 billion in penalties through the first nine months of 2019, according to the U.S.
