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IMPACT OF INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM ON PROFIT PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL BANKS

Amount: ₦5,000.00 |

Format: Ms Word |

1-5 chapters |



CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION ANALYSIS

1.1      GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Internal control is the set of accounting and administrative control and practices that helps managers in operating their organization more effectively and efficiently. It ensures that both the accounting and administrative activities are in order with the laid down procedures, standards, and statutory requirements. It also detects deviation if any and  calls  for  immediate  corrective  measure.  In  any profit  oriented  organization,  the objective of management is to maximize profit, and internal control is a technique that can be of assistance in attaining such maximizations.

Banking is a venture undertaken primarily for profit and whose operation should at least include taking money on account and releasing of such money wholly or partly on demand or authority of the depositor.

An  important object of banking particularly in the developing  countries  is the promotion of economic development. In pursuance of this economic development as well as banks’ profitability, banks tends to improve on their services by devising methods of sound and effective system of internal control.

This study therefore, intends to evaluate how the internal control policies have affected the profit performance of commercial banks with particular reference to Orient Bank of Nigeria Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc.

1.2     PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

There have been incessant cases and stories been told about high frequency of fraud, embezzlement, overcharging, manipulation, missing files and ledger cards and other banking malpractices in banks today, with the management and shareholders not knowing how to handle the adverse situation.

The Orient Bank of Nigeria (OBN) Plc and United Bank of Africa (UBA) Plc were not left out in these increase in crime – wave problems and banking malpractices, despite the existence of inter-control and devices adopted to detect fraud. This situation has culminated in the lack of confidence by the staff, shareholders and customer over the growth and profitability of the banks.

Moreso,  with  the  proliferation  of  banks  and  also  the  increase  in  rural banking, with commercial bank’s branches, the volume of accounting records has drastically increased, thereby necessitating the appraisal of the adequacy and reliability of records, and overall efficiency of operations.

Furthermore, with the public interest in the “truth and fairness” of financial statements – profit and loss account and balance sheet, whose stratum of reliable is on the internal control system, the research is therefore aimed at investigating the extent of adherence to the internal control system and its impact on the profit performance of the banks.

1.3      STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research include among others the following:

1.        To identify and appraise the internal control designed, installed and operated by the management of OBN and UBA with a view to assessing its impact on profit performance.

2.        To examine the extent of adherence or compliance to the policies, standards and procedures by the members of the staff in order to recommend operating improvement.

3.        To  identify  possible  deficiencies  and  weaknesses  of  the  existing  internal control to find means of ameliorating them.

4.        To review the profit performance of the banks OBN and UBA and relate it to their internal control.

5.        To  critically  analyze  the  effectiveness,  adequacy  and  applicability  of  the various internal control.

6.        To offer useful recommendation to proper design, installation and operation of an adequate and good internal control system.

1.4      SIGNIFICANT OF STUDY

The research is intended to define the level of internal control and its impact on profitability of OBN and UBA Plc. It will be of great importance to the banking staff especially the managers and officers whose interest are geared towards the enhancement of the chances of bank profitability; in serving as a guide in the performance of their duties. It will assess the effect of fraud, manipulations, errors, improper authorization,

dishonesty,  inadequate accounting records etc on profitability in view of the existing internal control system.

A comprehensive knowledge of system of internal control will form a foundation on which the auditor’s report on “true and fair view” final account is based and as such, the study will be of immense values to the practicing Accountants, Auditors, Lawyers, shareholder  and  other  interested  parties  for  acceptance   and  reliance  of  financial statement.

Furthermore, it will include more research in the improvement of banking services in Nigeria for the interest of the shareholders, customers and government.

Finally, the study will provide the basis for recommendation to the management of the best approach to designing, installing and operating an improved system of internal control aimed at promoting operational efficiency and eliminating or at least minimizing waste.

1.5      FORMULATION OF HYPOTHESIS

1.        The management of OBN and UBA Plc designed and installed 50% good system of internal control which their policies, standards and procedures are adhered to by the members of the staff.

2.        The  system   of  internal  control  adopted  by  UBA  Plc  enhances   its  profit performance than the system adopted by OBN Plc.

3.        The  present  internal  control  systems  adopted  by  the  banks  are  effective  and adequately operated.

4.        The   existing   internal   control   systems   of   the   banks   enhance   their   profit performance.

1.5      METHOD OF TESTING HYPOTHESIS

HYPOTHESIS I: This hypothesis will be analyzed based on the respondents response to the Strategic Position and Action Evaluation (SPACE) of features of a good internal control system in OBN and UBA Plc. The rating ranges from 1 to 4, representing weak to very strong. The SPACE average will be used.

Average responses to question I of the general questionnaire taken according to department  will  be  subjected  to  single  proportion  testing  using  the  following  test statistics:

Z        =          X –    npo

Npo   (L – po )

Where

n         =         sample size

x         =         number of responses in favour po       =         proportion to be tested

The level of significance         will be 5% for the testing to give a critical value of z<I.64 (.one tailed test)

See appendix I for SPACE.

It will also be analyzed based on the following:

A.       Responses to questions of the general questionnaire will be tested to obtain the part played by the management in the design and installation of internal control and ensuring that the policies standards and procedures are adhered to.

B.       Oral interview will be conducted on the bank officials at their convenience for elaborate discussion on the extent of staff adherence to the installed system.

There will be proper investigation of documents and records to find out the reliability of the oral responses.

HYPOTHESIS II: This hypothesis will be tested based on the comparative analysis of the ages and financial statement of the Bank.

It will also be analyzed from the responses to the relevant areas covered by the questionnaire. Such areas include electronic data processing, purchasing, cash receipts and disbursement, petty cash, payroll and fix assets.

HYPOTHESIS III: This hypothesis will be tested with the following;

a)  Oral interview will be conducted on the employees to find out the extent of their adherence to the procedural manual of the banks.

b)  Further information will be elicited from responses to question 4,5 and 7 of the general questionnaires.

c)  Employees will be observed during working hours (8am – 1.30pm) to ascertain the processes involved in their operations mainly withdrawals and deposits of money in the banks and also to detect errors and flaws.

d)  A thorough  study on  authorization  will be made  to  know  whether  employees conform to effective and adequate operation.

HYPOTHESIS IV: In analyzing this hypothesis, the following test will be carried out.

a)        Data  collected  from  the  general  questionnaire  will  be  tested  and  also  oral interview conducted. A five year financial statement will be analyzed and each year’s  profit  compared  with  the  proceeding  years  to  ascertain  the direction  of  profit  performance.  This  will  then  be  matched  with  the degree of adherence to internal control features within these periods.

1.6     SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF STUDY

This study covered the internal control systems adopted by various commercial banks in Nigeria. The population sample was taken from only two banks OBN and UBA and their branches in Enugu State. Other parts of the country were not covered, though empirically generalized view was made of them.

The study was restricted to two major areas of internal centre. They are:

i)       Administrative control

ii)       Accounting and financial control (internal checks, internal audition and other financial system of control). This was done based on a comprehensive understanding of the principles of good internal control.

However, the study encountered a lot of constraints as regards time, money and sourcing of  information.  Effort geared  towards obtaining  adequate information proved  abortive  due  to  the  uncooperative  attitude  of  some  interviewed  staff. Besides, no bank likes the public to know the deficiencies in its internal control as the confidence reposed on it by the public might be lost.  But, irrespective of these limitations, an in-depth study was still carried out.

1.7     DEFINITION OF TERMS

The researcher at this point believes that some key words and terms that will be encountered while reading this research work will be defined.

1.        Internal Control System: This is the whole system of controls, financial and otherwise established by the management in order to carry on the business of the

enterprises  in  orderly and  efficient  manner,  ensure  adherence  to  management policies, safeguard   the assistance and secure as far as possible the complements and accuracy of the records.

2.        Internal Accounting/Financial  Control: Measures  that relate to protection  of assets and to the reliability of accounting information and financial statements.

3.        Internal  Administrative  Control:  A sub  category  of  internal  controls  which reply principally to operational efficiency and compliance with company policy and which do not bear directly on the dependability of financial statement.

4.        Cheques: A cheque is a bill of exchange drawn on a banker, payable on demand”

(Bill of exchange ordinance 1917   73).

5.        Embezzlement:  Theft by a person of assets entrusted to him or her

6.        Internal Auditing:  An activity carried on in some organization by a professional staff to investigate and evaluate the system of internal control on a year round basis. Also to evaluate the efficiency of individual department within the organization.

7.        Documentation:  This  includes  all  the  charts,  firms,  tapes,  reports  and  other business papers that guide and describe the working of a company’s system of accounting and internal control,

8.        Fraud: Dishonest acts intended to deceive, often involving the theft of assets and falsification of accounting records and financial  statements.

9.        Organization  chart: A diagram  showing organizational  lines of authority and responsibility with emphasis on separation of function.

10.      Irregularities:  Acts by individuals in an organization aimed at perpetrating fraud or embezzlement.

11.      Fidelity bond: A form of insurance contract is which a bonding company agrees to reimburse an employer for losses caused by theft by bonded employees.

12.       Independent Auditor: Professional level accountants that examine the books and records of companies and express opinions the accounting records in the interest of third parties.

13.      Effectiveness: Attainment of a predetermined goal.

14.      Efficiency: Relationship between inputs and outputs

15.      Collusion: Where two or more persons conspire to commit an illegal act such as fraud and embezzlement.

16       Illegal Acts: Actions that are not in conformity with prescribed company practices that are capable of leading to fraud.

ABBREVIATIONS

1.OBN–         Orient Bank of Nigeria
  2.  UBA  –         United Bank of Africa
  3.  ICAEW  –         Institute of Chartered Accountant in
    England and Wales
  4.  AICPA  –         American Institute of certified public
    accountant


This material content is developed to serve as a GUIDE for students to conduct academic research


IMPACT OF INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM ON PROFIT PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL BANKS

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