The Impact of Internal Control Systems on Asset Protection and Financial Reporting Accuracy in SMEs

Any small or medium-scale enterprise without a well-established internal control system is very prone to financial losses, reduced profitability, and eventual business collapse. In view of this, this study aimed to: assess how an effective internal control system contributes to the safeguarding of assets within SMEs and offer guidance on how SMEs can establish effective internal controls to safeguard their assets; evaluate the impact of an effective internal control system on the accuracy of financial reporting among SMEs as well as to offer guidance on how SMEs can establish effective internal controls to ensure accuracy of financial reporting. In carrying out this study, a survey research design was applied on a sample size comprising 120 SMEs owners in Nigeria. Likert-based scale questionnaire was administered on the sample respondents in order to collect primary data for the study. The research questions were analysed using frequency distribution and mean. Spearman correlation was used in testing the hypotheses. The findings revealed that: internal control system significantly helps to protect assets of SMEs (rho = .778, p = .000); internal control system significantly enhances the accuracy of financial reporting among SMEs (rho = .644, p = .000). In conclusion, the findings illustrate the essential role that internal control systems play in fostering a culture of accountability and transparency within SMEs, which is increasingly relevant in today’s dynamic business environment. It is recommended that SME owners and management implement comprehensive internal control systems that include regular audits and assessments to enhance asset protection measures. This proactive approach will help identify potential vulnerabilities and strengthen safeguards against theft or loss.