Online articles
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Displaying 1-30 of 30 results
Exclusive
Why segregation of duties is essential for internal control
- Article
- 01 Sep 2024
- Samantha Schmitt
The article explains components of the COSO framework, implementation and common examples of proper segregation of duties.
Exclusive
Experts say scandal shows need for controls
- Article
- 10 Jun 2024
- Sherri Welch
The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy embezzlement scandal highlights the need for non-profits to enforce internal controls and fraud awareness training. This article outlines best practice and red flags.
Exclusive
Ethical failure led to the FTX scandal
- Article
- 01 Jan 2024
- Daniel Butcher
Analyzing aspects of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX's fraud and money laundering scandal highlights the importance of ethics, corporate governance, and internal controls, says Daniel Butcher. Some of the failures at the company included unreliable financial statements, mishandling of confidential data, diversion of corporate funds, poor or no recordkeeping and a lack of control of company cash.
Exclusive
Leveraging principle 13 of COSO's 'Internal Control—Integrated Framework'
- Article
- 01 Jul 2023
- Ron Kral
The article explains the difference between information and data, highlights five areas of focus and nine criteria for quality of information, and discusses implementation considerations.
Exclusive
COSO issues guidance on internal control over sustainability reporting
- Article
- 01 Jun 2023
- Dan Goelzer
An update on the publication of guidance by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) on applying its internal control framework to sustainability reporting. It explains how the 17 principles in COSO's framework can be applied to sustainability reporting, emphasizing the importance of effective internal control over sustainability-related matters and the need for audit committees to ensure appropriate controls are in place.
Exclusive
Do internal controls stifle corporate innovation?
- Article
- 01 Feb 2023
- Brian Miller, Amy Sheneman, Brian Williams
Internal controls are often thought of as bureaucratic hurdles that stifle creativity, but better control systems just might be a key to greater innovation, say the authors. Their research suggests that the improved information environment from higher-quality internal controls can help companies identify and patent their most innovative ideas.
Exclusive
An internal controls mindset for Excel
- Article
- 01 Jul 2022
- Nishani Edirisinghe Vincent
With finance professionals’ continued reliance on Excel for everything from analyzing data to producing reports, management must be sure to impose internal controls. The article includes a sample documentation sheet for an Excel workbook.
Exclusive
The five hats of the CFO
- Article
- 01 Oct 2021
- Frank Manzi, Mark Martinelli
CFOs must wear many 'hats' in order to meet their many responsibilities: financial steward, communicator of financial results, leader of financial planning and analysis, driver of internal controls and process improvements, and strategist.
Exclusive
The undoing of Sox 404(b)
- Article
- 01 Jun 2020
- Ramona Dzinkowski
The article discusses the changes introduced by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to the Section 404 (b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a law consisting of auditing and financial regulations for public companies in the U.S.
Exclusive
Small companies avoid internal control attestations by taking on debt
- Article
- 18 Apr 2020
- Michael Cohn
Article reports on a study that shows that many smaller public companies companies have avoided the Sarbanes-Oxley requirement for auditor attestations of their internal controls audits by incurring debt instead of selling stock.
Exclusive
Accounting for cryptoassets: this new form of assets raises several unique and unusual internal control and financial reporting challenges.
- Article
- 01 Nov 2019
- Sean Stein Smith, John Castonguay
The article discusses internal control and financial reporting issues related to cryptoassets that are separate from those of traditional currencies, intangible assets or other investments
Exclusive
Are COSO frameworks enough
- Article
- 01 Aug 2018
- Kristine Brands
The article informs that as technology takes on an increasingly larger role in operations, business-focused frameworks might not be enough. It is mentioned that COSO framework defines internal control as a process, effected by an entity's board of directors, management designed to provide result based on effectiveness and efficiency of operations. The article also discusses about good-practice framework COBIT, and corporate governance of information technology.
Exclusive
Do companies with effective internal controls over financial reporting benefit from Sarbanes–Oxley sections 302 and 404?
- Article
- 01 Apr 2018
- Parveeb P Gupta, Heibatollah Sami, Haiyan Zhou
In this article, the authors attempt to empirically examine and document the impact disclosing material control weaknesses or the consequences flowing to public companies from such disclosures have on information asymmetry and related market micro-structure to promote ‘‘equity’’ in U.S. capital markets post Sarbanes-Oxley.
Exclusive
Report refutes Sarbanes-Oxley critics: Strong evidence exists of a link between auditor-identified weak internal controls and subsequent fraud cases
- Article
- 01 Oct 2017
- David McCann
The article focuses on a study published in the "Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory" periodical over relationship between material weaknesses and company fraud.
Exclusive
Internal control weaknesses and financial reporting fraud
- Article
- 01 Aug 2017
- Dain C. Donaldon, Matthew S Ege, John M McInnis
This study examines whether and how weak internal controls increase the risk of financial reporting fraud by top managers. There is a longstanding debate on whether control strength significantly affects fraud risk, yet little evidence on this issue.
Exclusive
The Board and Third-Party risk oversight
- Article
- 01 May 2017
- Randy Stephens
Advice on managing the liability and reputation risk that comes with using outside contractors and suppliers. Missteps by these third-party partners can bring disaster to your company.
Exclusive
An understanding of the differences between internal and external auditors in obtaining information about internal control weaknesses
- Article
- 23 Aug 2016
- Ian Burt
Article argues that the 'employee identity' of internal auditors can be beneficial and may result in increased quality of internal control.
Exclusive
Cybersecurity: watch out for data leaks
- Article
- 01 Jan 2016
- Barry Nathan | Pem Smith
Often, the biggest threat to data comes from within an organization, whether through deliberately malicious employee actions or accidental security lapses. Rigorous internal controls can help prevent disastrous losses.
Exclusive
Shattered trust: Fraud in the family
- Article
- 01 May 2015
- Stephen Pedneault
To keep your family business safe, ensure you have proper internal controls, including a written statement on handling fraud.
Exclusive
Stacked in your favor
- Article
- 01 Apr 2015
- Stephen J. McNally, Vincent Tophoff
A case study looking at how manufacturing companies can use risk management and internal control to successfully work with third-party co-manufacturing partners. The case study features the application of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission's (COSO's) Enterprise Risk Management Framework by a co-manufacturing company.
Exclusive
How to implement the new internal control frameworks
- Article
- 01 Apr 2015
- Richard Turpen
Advice for non-profit organisations on how two new internal control frameworks can help management and boards with strategic activities such as managing change and assessing risk.
Exclusive
Are your clients ready for the new COSO internal framework?
- Article
- 01 May 2014
- J. Stephen McNally
A five-step process to achieve transition to the new COSO 2013 framework is provided.
Exclusive
Social media: the ongoing evolution of internal controls
- Article
- 01 Oct 2013
- Jennifer L. Klass, Christine M. Lombardo, David A. McManus, Andriette A. Roberts
Written from a U.S. legal perspective, providing guidance for advisers and brokers reviewing their existing internal controls for social media.
Exclusive
Audit committee members: time to hunker down
- Article
- 01 Sep 2013
- Stephen Davis | Jon Lukomnik
A summary of regulatory changes made to auditing in the U.S. and UK in 2013 which are likely to impact on audit committees.
Exclusive
Poor inspection results drive internal control focus
- Article
- 01 Feb 2013
- Tammy Whitehouse
The US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) has released a report summarizing internal control audit problems observed in 2010 inspections of the eight largest firms.
Exclusive
When do we hold the accountants accountable?
- Article
- 01 Jun 2012
- Jeff Adler
Who is responsible for inaccuracies in corporate financial reports? The author believes several different groups need to take accountability, and runs through some processes companies should put in place to ensure accuracy and completeness of their numbers from the beginning.
Exclusive
Sarbanes-Oxley: what do financial executives really think?
- Article
- 06 Jan 2012
- Brian Christensen and Jim DeLoach
Article reports on the findings of a study of nearly 600 executives' views of the costs and benefits of Section 404 compliance, changes in ICFR structure, and risk management.
Exclusive
The ‘mundane’ world of internal control
- Article
- 01 Apr 2011
- Richard M. Steinberg
Often boards misunderstand internal control's relevance to business objectives - directors must recognize the critical importance of relevant controls over company operations.
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Regulation by disclosure: the case of internal control
- Article
- 01 Nov 2010
- Michael Page | Laura F.Spira
The authors explore the use of disclosure as a regulatory tool, describing the background to the Turnbull guidance for directors on internal control reporting.
Exclusive
Work to do with Turnbull 2
- Article
- 01 Feb 2006
The review of the Turnbull guidance on internal controls, led by HSBC FD Douglas Flint, has left a perception that there is virtually no change in the requirements. Martyn Jones points out three significant changes.
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