Abstract

The work aims at providing an empirical evidence on the ineffectiveness of the board of statutory auditors in Italian banking industry in the time-span 2002-2011. Using the results of the inspection procedures of the Bank of Italy, as a measure of the effectiveness of the statutory auditors, the research has highlighted the close dependence of the latters from the Board of Directors. Furthermore, the study has revealed that in presence of an external auditor the statutory auditors activity is more effective. The work has relevant managerial and policy implications as concerns the need to improve the professional quality and the independence of statutory auditors.