The Role and Functions of an Audit Committee – Practices and Principles

Author:Univ. prof., PhD Elena DOBRE

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Keywords:audit committee, corporate governance, outside directors, internal control, financial reporting

Abstract:
Recently, Romanian trade corporations law was amended by Law no. 441/2006 with new issues regarding board of directors and also regarding consulting committee, like audit committee. Several years ago, National Bank of Romania (by 17th Rule dated December 2003) issued a new rules for internal control, internal audit and significant risks committee. This new regulations are inspired by corporate governance principles which become an international benchmark for investor, corporations and other stakeholders worldwide, since 1999. \r\n\r\nThe Principles of Corporate Governance were endorsed by OECDMinisters in 1999 for provide the basis for an extensive programme for co-operation between OECD and non-OECD countries and underpin the corporate governance component of Word Bank /International Monetary Found Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC). Companies better understand how good corporate governance contributes to their competitiveness. Investors realize they have a role to play in ensuring good corporate governance practices, thereby underpinning the value of their investments. \r\n\r\nThere is no practice expertise in this field in Romanian Trade Company’s culture, so we try in this paper to relieve the role of an corporate audit committee. \r\nIn the light of corporate governance principles and international theory and practice of trade companies, the audit committee is a subcommittee made up of outside directors who are independent of management. Its purpose is to help keep external and internal auditors independent of management and to assure that the directors are exercising due care.\r\nThe role of an audit committee or an equivalent body in strengthening the position of both internal and external auditing is now widely recognized.\r\n\r\n

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