ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BANKING, ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE (AIJBAF)

ADOPTING DATA ANALYTICS IN AUDITING: A STUDY OF INTERNAL AUDITORS AT MALAYSIA’S FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

Rafeah Mat Saat — 2025-03-30

The rapid advancement of technology has significantly impacted the auditing profession, highlighting the need for IT-savvy auditors who can leverage tools such as data analytics to enhance audit procedures. This study examines the factors influencing the adoption of data analytics among internal auditors at a financial institution in Malaysia. Utilizing the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and IT Competency theory, this research explores the relationship between performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, and IT skills with the intention to use data analytics. Additionally, it investigates facilitating conditions, IT skills, and intention to use influence the actual usage of data analytics. Data were collected through an online survey of 72 internal auditors from the financial institution’s internal audit department and analysed using SmartPLS. The results indicate that performance expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions positively and significantly influence the intention to use data analytics, while effort expectancy does not. Moreover, both IT skills and intention to use significantly impact the actual usage of data analytics. This study provides valuable theoretical and practical insights, validating the applicability of UTAUT and IT Competency theory in this context and offering a deeper understanding of internal auditors' perceptions of data analytics in audit procedures.

BOND MARKET DEVELOPMENT, AND INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH IN AFRICA: EXAMINING THE MODERATING ROLE OF GOVERNMENT EFFECTIVENESS

Betty Tumuhirwe Tuhaise — 2025-03-30

Purpose: The main objective of the study was to establish the moderating role of government effectiveness on the relationship between bond market development, and infrastructure growth in Africa. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study used correlational research design, quantitative approach, parametric tests, and the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) model to examine the relationship between infrastructure growth, bond market development, and government effectiveness in 53 African countries from 2013 to 2022. Used data from the World Bank, and the African Development Bank whose respective measures included the volume of bonds for bond market development, Indices for government effectiveness and infrastructure growth. Findings: The correlation between Portfolio investment bonds, and infrastructure development is positive but statistically insignificant with 0.00436 and statistically significant with the coefficient of energy of 0.0458** at 5% level of confidence, and the moderator enhances them to 0.00528*, 0.0435** at 10 and 5 % levels of confidence respectively. Research Limitations/Implications: The study limited itself on Africa's physical infrastructure development, portfolio investment bonds, and government effectiveness. Practical Implications: It provided policy recommendations to enhance bond markets' role in infrastructure financing. Future studies could explore alternative indicators for government effectiveness and bond types for bond market development. Social Implications: By focusing on physical infrastructure financing as a key social benefit, this study highlights areas for future research on soft infrastructure, and other hard physical infrastructure other than the one studied in this paper. Originality/Value: This study is among the first to examine government effectiveness as a moderator in the bond market–infrastructure growth relationship in Africa, using portfolio investment bonds, and the system GMM model. Plain Summary: Infrastructure development is vital for improving quality of life. This study demonstrates, for the first time, on how portfolio investment bonds can drive infrastructure growth in Africa, moderated by government effectiveness.

ISLAMIC ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNANCE

Amyna Naphizah P. Masorong — 2025-03-30

The research investigates how Islamic ethics can contribute to better government accountability. This also clarifies in what ways these ideas can bring positive changes to transparency, justice, corruption, and civic engagement. This descriptive study made use of secondary data. The secondary data has been sourced from government publications, measures, and academic records. The application of governmental accountability grounded in Islamic ethical principles, such as justice and truth, serves to reduce corruption. Nevertheless, challenges arise from varying interpretations and socio-political influences, which complicate the implementation and understanding of these governance methods. Based on secondary and historical data, this study might not accurately represent the present governmental data. The limited scope, questionable reliability of governance statistics, and emphasis on a predominantly Muslim countries constrain the precision and wider relevance of the findings. This research elucidates the roles of Islamic moral components like justice, trust, and consultation ensuring integrity of the government. These principles provide guidance to legislators on how to govern the country, thereby promoting transparency, reducing corruption, and increasing citizen participation.