Scientific Journal Of King Faisal University
Basic and Applied Sciences

ع

Scientific Journal of King Faisal University / Humanities and Management Sciences

The Impact of Blockchain Technology Activation by Audit Clients on Internal Control Structure Effectiveness: An Experimental Study

(Samir Ibrahim Abdelazim and Fahad Saad Alrobia)

Abstract

The research aimed to study and test the impact of blockchain activation by audit clients on the effectiveness of the internal control structure. To achieve the research objective, an experimental approach was used to test the research hypotheses on a sample of auditors belonging to accounting and auditing firms in Egypt. According to auditing standards, specifically the second fieldwork standard, the auditor is responsible for performing tests of compliance and adherence related to internal controls for the purpose of assessing the level of control risk, and thus the risk of material misstatement, leading to the planning of detection risk. The theoretical part of the research concluded that blockchain technology is one of the most impactful technological applications in the current work environment. Additionally, there is a near consensus in previous related studies that activating this technology has an impact on the five main components of the internal control structure . In its practical part, the research concluded that the five research hypotheses related to the components of the internal control structure were accepted, confirming auditors' awareness of the potential benefits of blockchain activation by audit clients to enhance the effectiveness of the internal control structure. 
KEYWORDS
blockchain technology, control activities, digital transformation, Egyptian market, financial transactions, internal audit

PDF

References

Al-Saghir, M.A.M. (2020). Athar astikhdam tiqniat Block Chain litatabue salasil altawrid altasnieiat ealaa tafeil 'adawat 'iidarat altakalif albayniat wataeziz alqudrat altanafusiati: Dirasatan maydaniatan 'The impact of using Block Chain technology to track manufacturing supply chains on activating inter-cost management tools and enhancing competitiveness: A field study'. Journal of Financial and Business Research, Port Said University, 21(3), 119–94 . [in Arabic] 
Al-Qanbari, M.Q.A. (2020). Tiqniat blockchain waneikasatuha ealaa mihnat altadqiq aldaakhili 'Block chain technology and its implications for the internal audit profession'. Internal Auditing Journal, n/a(11), 25–9. [in Arabic]
Al-Twaijry, A. (2017). Internal audit quality evaluation and reliance decision: External auditors’ perception. International Journal of Economics and Management Sciences, 6(5), 1–13.
Bonson, E. and Bednarova, M. (2019). Block chain and its implications for accounting and auditing. Meditari Accountancy Research, 27(5), 725–40.
Brender, N. Gauthier, M., Morin, H. and Salihi, A. (2021). Augmenting Audit and Control: Blockchain Based Control Framework (BBCF). Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/10125/77002. (accessed on 30/12/2022).
Burns, J., Steele, A., Cohen, E. and Ramamoorti, S. (2020). Blockchain and Internal Control: The Coso Perspective. Available at https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/audit/articles/blockchain-and-internal-control-coso-perspective-risk.html. (accessed on 07/12/2021).
Cagle, M.N. (2020). A mapping analysis of blockchain applications within the field of auditing. Muhasebe Bilim Dünyası Dergisi, 22(4), 695–724. DOI:10.31460/mbdd.746809
Casey, M.J. and Vigna, P. (2018). In blockchain we trust. MIT Technology Review, 121(3), 10–6.
Chang, L. and Hsieh, M.Y. (2022). Five ways to create customer values with blockchain. The International Journal of Organizational Innovation, 14(4), 25–43.
Cheng, C. and Qunjia, H. (2019). Exploration on the application of Blockchain audit. Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research, 110(n/a), 63–8. DOI:10.2991/aebmr.k.191225.012
Corten, P. (2018). Implementation of Blockchain Powered Smart Contracts in Governmental Services. Master’s Dissertation, Delft University of Technology, Holland.
Dai, J., He, N. and Yu, H. (2019). Utilising blockchain and smart contracts to enable Audit 4.0: From the perspective of accountability audit of air pollution control in China. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, 16(2), 23–41. DOI:10.2308/jeta-52482
Elommal, N. and Manita, R. (2022). How blockchain innovation could affect the audit profession: A qualitative study. Journal of Innovation Economics and Management, 37(1), 37–63. DOI:10.3917/jie.pr1.0103
Etemadi, N., Borbon-Galvez, Y., Strozzi, F. and Etemadi, T. (2021). Supply chain disruption risk management with block chain: A dynamic literature review. Information, 12(70), 1–25. DOI:10.3390/info12020070
Hassan, M.A.E. (2020). Aistikhdam Salasil Alkutal Faa Tadeim Ray Almarajie Alkharijii Faa Eadalat Albayanat Almaliati: Dirasat Maydaniati 'Using Block Chains to Support the External Auditor’s Opinion on the Fairness of Financial Statements: A Field Study'. Master`s Dissertation, Port Said University. [in Arabic]
Iredale, G. (2020). History of Blockchain Technology: A Detailed Guide. Available at: https://101blockchains.com/history-of-blockchain-timeline. (accessed on 09/12/2021).
Lakkakula, P., Bullock, D. W. and Wilson, W.W. (2022). Asymmetric information and block chains in soybean commodity markets. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 44(1), 273–98.
Lammon, H. (2022). The Promises and Perils of Blockchain in Auditing. Available at: https://2u.pw/ouee8Ffj. (accessed on 01/12/2021).
Lombardi, R. and Secundo, G. (2020). The digital transformation of corporate reporting – A systematic literature review and avenues for future research. Meditari Accountancy Research, 29(5), 1179–208.
Luo, H. and Yan, D. (2022). Blockchain architecture and its applications in a bank risk mitigation framework. Economic Research, 35(1), 3119–37.
Nakamoto, S. (2008). Bitcoin: A Peer-to-peer Electronic Cash System. Available at: https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf (accessed on 01/12/2021). 
Nathani, M.U. and Singh, J.S. (2020). Using blockchain for effective risk management in supply chain: A qualitative study. Global Business and Management Research: An International Journal, 12(3), 60–76.
Nikhal, A.M.S. (2020). Athar aistikhdam tiknulujia silsilat alkutal alraqamayih ealaa masyuwliat marajie alhisabati 'The impact of using digital block chain technology on the auditor’s responsibility'. Journal of Accounting Thought, 24(1), 743–801. DOI:10.21608/atasu.2020.78522 [in Arabic]
Nusayr, E.E.M. (2022). Dawr tiknulujia salisat alkutal faa tahsin jawdat nizam alraqabat aldaakhiliat faa alsharikat almudrajat faa suq al'awraq almaliat alsaeudaa- dirasat maydaniati 'The role of block chain technology in improving the quality of the internal control system in companies listed on the Saudi stock market - a field study'. Scientific Journal of Commercial and Environmental Studies. Suez Canal University, 13(3), 171–14. DOI:10.21608/jces.2022.268892 [in Arabic]
Qasem, A.S.S.M. (2023). Athar Tafeil Eamil Almurajaeat Litatbiqat Tiknulujia Almaelumat Faa Easr Alraqminat Ealaa Murajaeat Alhisabat Kakhidmat Mihniat Mutakamilat - Dirasat Tajribiatun' The Impact of Activating the Audit Client for Information Technology Applications in the Era of Digitization on Auditing as an Integrated Professional Service - an Experimental Study'. PhD Thesis, Beni Suef University. [in Arabic]
Quick, R. and Henrizi, P. (2019). Experimental evidence on external auditor reliance on the internal audit. Review of Managerial Science, 13(5), 1143–76. DOI:10.1007/s11846-018-0285-0
Ronaghi, M.H. and Mosakhani, M. (2022). The Effects of blockchain technology adoption on business ethics and social sustainability: Evidence from the Middle East. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 24(n/a), 6834–59. DOI:10.1007/s10668-021-01729-x
Said, S.A.M. (2014). Athar Faeaaliat Haykal Alraqabat Aldaakhiliat Ealaa Mustawaa Altahafuz Almuhasabi Almashrut Bialqawayim Almaliati- Dirasat Tatbiqiat Ealaa Alsharikat Almuqayadat Bialbursat Almisriati 'The Impact of the Effectiveness of the Internal Control Structure on the Level of Accounting Conservatism Conditional on the Financial Statements - an Applied Study on Companies Listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange'. Master`s Dissertation, Alexandria University. [in Arabic]
Schmitz, J. and Leoni, G. (2019). Accounting and auditing at the time of blockchain technology: A research agenda. Australian Accounting Review, 29(2), 331–42. DOI:10.1111/auar.12286
Scott, B., Loonam, J. and Kumar, V. (2017). Exploring the rise of blockchain technology: Towards distributed collaborative organization. Strategic Change, 26(5), 423–8. DOI:10.1002/jsc.2142
Vincent, N.E. and Barkhi, R. (2021). Evaluating blockchain using COSO. Current Issues in Auditing, 15(1), 57–71. DOI:10.2308/CIIA-2019-509
Wang, R., Lin, Z. and Luo, H. (2019). Blockchain, bank credit and SME financing. Quality and Quantity, 53(n/a), 1127–40. DOI:10.1007/s11135-018-0806-6
Yermack, D. (2017). Corporate governance and blockchains. Review of Finance, 21(1), 7–31. DOI:10.1093/rof/rfw074