Internal audit applied to cost management in private companies in Mali

Abstract

This article explores internal audit practices applied to cost management within private companies in Mali. To address this issue, a mixed approach combining quantitative and qualitative methods was adopted. The sample studied, made up of 99 private Malian companies, was selected using a non-probabilistic method. The quantitative data was analyzed using linear regression, after checking the reliability and validity of the measuring instruments used. The results of the cost management analysis and the qualitative study highlight the central role of the internal audit function in optimizing cost management (40 out of 99 respondents). The study also confirmed all the hypotheses formulated on the basis of the literature review. In addition, the qualitative data was subjected to an in-depth content analysis. It emerged that 94.7% of the private companies surveyed manage to control their costs through the application of internal audit.

Keywords: Internal audit, Cost management, Private company, Effectiveness, Efficiency.

JEL Classification: M42

Type of paper: Empirical research