Ebaatsake Ltd designs and manufactures luxury motor vehicles. The company employs 2,500 staff and consistently makes a net profit of between 10% and 15% of sales. Ebaatsake Ltd is not listed; its shares are held by 15 individuals, most of them from the same family. The maximum shareholding is 15% of the share capital.

The executive directors are drawn mainly from the shareholders. There are no non-executive directors because the company legislation in Ebaatsake Ltd’s jurisdiction does not require any. The executive directors are very successful in running Ebaatsake Ltd, partly from their training in production and management techniques, and partly from their hands-on approach providing motivation to employees.

The board is considering a significant expansion of the company. However, the company’s bankers are concerned with the standard of financial reporting as the Finance Director (FD) has recently left Ebaatsake Ltd. The board is delaying provision of additional financial information until a new FD is appointed.

Although Ebaatsake Ltd does have an internal audit department, the Chief Internal Auditor frequently complains that the board of Ebaatsake Ltd does not understand his reports nor provide sufficient support for his department and the internal control systems within Ebaatsake Ltd. The board of Ebaatsake Ltd concurs with this view. Adoko & Co, the external auditors, have also expressed concern in this area and the fact that the internal audit department focuses work on control systems, not financial reporting. Adoko & Co are appointed by and report to the board of Ebaatsake Ltd.

The board of Ebaatsake Ltd is considering a proposal from the Chief Internal Auditor to establish an audit committee. The committee would consist of one executive director, the chief internal auditor as well as three new appointees. One appointee would have a non-executive seat on the board of directors.

Required:
Discuss how the formation of an audit committee could address the issues raised in the above scenario.