Internal Control Strategies

Praise for Internal Control Strategies A Mid to Small Business Guide "Internal Control Strategies is an excellent field guide for the implementation and maintenance of efficient and effective internal control systems. The book provides a practical approach to interpreting guidance from oversight agencies and integrating it with industry practice in a real-world environment. This handbook is an essential tool for managers and professionals going through the day-to-day struggle of managing auditor expectations and permitting business to proceed in the most efficient manner." -Michael Rodriguez, former senior manager of finance, Qualcomm Incorporated "Internal Control Strategies is the clearest path forward for middle-market SEC registrants and their independent registered public accounting firms as they streamline the SOX 404 compliance process in 2008 and beyond." -Stephen G. Austin, MBA, CPA, Managing Firm Partner,Swenson Advisors, LLP, Regional PCAOB Accounting Firm "Clearly written and practical, Internal Control Strategies is a must-read for every chief audit, finance, or compliance executive." -Jeff Miller, Partner-in-Charge, Business Risk Services,Squar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda & Williamson, LLP "As a CFO of small to mid-sized publicly traded and privately held companies, one is usually faced with the challenge of developing and implementing the right levels of internal controls and compliance within the restrictions of limited financial and human resources. Internal Control Strategies presents the relevant topics in a clear and concise manner, allowing the reader to understand the internal control framework and specific underlying requirements quickly. The author's vast experience with SOX compliance ensures a targeted and pragmatic approach for the successful implementation of internal controls. Her recommendations are 'to the point' and eliminate some of the guesswork we all have experienced while working towards SOX compliance." -Robert S. Stefanovich, Chief Financial Officer, Novalar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The SEC requires all publicly traded companies to attest to theeffectiveness of their internal controls. Is your business ready? Internal Control Strategies: A Mid to Small Business Guide clearly explains the latest PCAOB, SEC, and COSO guidance, providing you with an effective tool and reference guide for successful implementation of sections 302 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Extremely knowledgeable and insightful, author Julie Harrer brings practical clarity to this complex topic, leading you step by step in addressing the challenges associated in bringing your business in compliance with SOX.

Praise for Internal Control Strategies A Mid to Small Business Guide "Internal Control Strategies is an excellent field guide for the implementation and maintenance of efficient and effective internal control systems. The book provides a practical approach to interpreting guidance from oversight agencies and integrating it with industry practice in a real-world environment. This handbook is an essential tool for managers and professionals going through the day-to-day struggle of managing auditor expectations and permitting business to proceed in the most efficient manner." -Michael Rodriguez, former senior manager of finance, Qualcomm Incorporated "Internal Control Strategies is the clearest path forward for middle-market SEC registrants and their independent registered public accounting firms as they streamline the SOX 404 compliance process in 2008 and beyond." -Stephen G. Austin, MBA, CPA, Managing Firm Partner,Swenson Advisors, LLP, Regional PCAOB Accounting Firm "Clearly written and practical, Internal Control Strategies is a must-read for every chief audit, finance, or compliance executive." -Jeff Miller, Partner-in-Charge, Business Risk Services,Squar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda & Williamson, LLP "As a CFO of small to mid-sized publicly traded and privately held companies, one is usually faced with the challenge of developing and implementing the right levels of internal controls and compliance within the restrictions of limited financial and human resources. Internal Control Strategies presents the relevant topics in a clear and concise manner, allowing the reader to understand the internal control framework and specific underlying requirements quickly. The author's vast experience with SOX compliance ensures a targeted and pragmatic approach for the successful implementation of internal controls. Her recommendations are 'to the point' and eliminate some of the guesswork we all have experienced while working towards SOX compliance." -Robert S. Stefanovich, Chief Financial Officer, Novalar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The SEC requires all publicly traded companies to attest to theeffectiveness of their internal controls. Is your business ready? Internal Control Strategies: A Mid to Small Business Guide clearly explains the latest PCAOB, SEC, and COSO guidance, providing you with an effective tool and reference guide for successful implementation of sections 302 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Extremely knowledgeable and insightful, author Julie Harrer brings practical clarity to this complex topic, leading you step by step in addressing the challenges associated in bringing your business in compliance with SOX.

The concept of internal control has developed along with audit practice. As demands have been made for greater accountability in corporate governance, the significance of internal control systems in companies has increased. Traditionally internal control has had a fairly direct relationship to financial reporting quality but wider approaches to internal control have expanded those boundaries much further. Stakeholders are increasingly concerned with the effectiveness of internal controls, and disclosure requirements are making firms to go public with regard to their internal control systems. From a design perspective, current research suggests that internal control designs are contingent upon variables such as company strategies, risk appetite, regulatory characteristics, and organizational size. Also there is much to learn about internal control quality, and the way internal control quality is associated with overall corporate governance quality. This book fills that gap.

Drawing on her many years as a consultant to numerous companies big and small, author Rose Hightower infuses Internal Controls Policies and Procedures with her wealth of experience and knowledge. Instead of reinventing the wheel, your company can use this useful how-to manual to quickly and effectively put a successful program of internal controls in place. Complete with flowcharts and checklists, this essential desktop reference is a best practices model for establishing and enhancing your organization's control framework.

Many people in organizations resent internal control and risk management; these two processes representing unwelcome tasks to be completed for the benefit of auditors and regulators. Over the last few years this perception has been heightened by the disastrous implementation of section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which is generally regarded as having been too expensive for the benefits it has brought. This important book offers a way of improving this prevailing perception and increasing the value of control and risk management by bringing creativity and design skills to the fore. The value of risk and control activities is often limited by the value of the control ideas available and so Matthew Leitch provides an arsenal of 60 high performance control mechanisms. These include several alternative ways to design controls and control systems, as well as providing controls for monitoring and audit, controls for accelerated learning, and techniques for finding and recovering cash. This design material is combined with insights into the psychology of risk control, strategies for encouraging helpful behaviour and enabling change, and a surprisingly simple integration of internal control with risk management. The book is realistic, practical, original, and easier reading than most in the field. The material is not specific to any one country and has international appeal for internal auditors and all those concerned with risk management, corporate governance and security.

This book provides a relevant introduction to internal control. It introduces some important knowledge and understanding of what may trouble business and how such problem may be addressed or solved. This book is a tool that business owners, managers, and supervisors can utilize in analyzing everyday risks and costs of such risk, including difficulties businesses face. The information this provides, if properly understood, can help managers and business decision-makers to avoid pitfalls such as fraud, non-compliance, and bankruptcy. It's my hope that this book will be beneficial to everyday readers who may want to educate themselves on the topic of internal control.

Step-by-step guidance on creating internal controls to manage risk Internal control is a process for assuring achievement of an organization's objectives in operational effectiveness and efficiency, reliable financial reporting, and compliance with laws, regulations, and policies. This is a "toolkit" approach that addresses a practical need for a series of standards of internal controls that can be used to mitigate risk within any size organization. Inadequate internal controls can cause a myriad of problems that adversely affect its ability to provide reliable, timely, and useful financial and managerial data needed to support operating, budgeting, and policy decisions. Reliable data is necessary to make sound business decisions. • Toolkit approach with detailed controls and risks outlined for key business processes • Foundational for SOX 404 initiatives • Key material to improve internal control efforts • Guidance during M&A projects Poor controls over data quality can cause financial data to be unreliable, incomplete, and inaccurate—this book helps you control that quality and manage risk.

Policymakers and program managers are continually seeking ways to improve accountability in achieving an entity's mission. A key factor in improving accountability in achieving an entity's mission is to implement an effective internal control system. An effective internal control system helps an entity adapt to shifting environments, evolving demands, changing risks, and new priorities. As programs change and entities strive to improve operational processes and implement new technology, management continually evaluates its internal control system so that it is effective and updated when necessary. Section 3512 (c) and (d) of Title 31 of the United States Code (commonly known as the Federal Managers? Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA)) requires the Comptroller General to issue standards for internal control in the federal government.