...F F I C E O F M AN AG E M E N T AN D B U D G E T W AS H I N G T O N , D . C . 2 0 5 0 3 THE CONTROLLER December 21, 2004 MEMORANDUM TO THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS, CHIEF OPERATION OFFICERS, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICERS, AND PROGRAM MANAGERS FROM: Linda M. Springer Controller SUBJECT: Revisions to OMB Circular A-123, Management’s Responsibility for Internal Control OMB Circular No. A-123 defines management's responsibility for internal control in Federal agencies. A re-examination of the existing internal control requirements for Federal agencies was initiated in light of the new internal control requirements for publicly-traded companies contained in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Circular A-123 and the statute it implements, the Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act of 1982, are at the center of the existing Federal requirements to improve internal control. This circular reflects policy recommendations developed by a joint committee of representatives from the Chief Financial Officer Council (CFOC) and the President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE). The policy changes in this circular are intended to strengthen the requirements for conducting management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting. The circular also emphasizes the need for agencies to integrate and coordinate internal control assessments with other internal control-related activities. The revised circular is effective for FY 2006. Agencies should...
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...scandals in corporate financial reporting, the United States Congress passed legislature in 2002 that required publicly traded companies to contain within each annual report an internal control report. The internal control report requires companies to state the responsibility of management for establishing and maintaining an adequate internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting. The internal control report must also contain an assessment of the effectiveness of the internal control structure and procedures of the issuer for financial reporting. These rules are referred to as and contained in Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act (“SOX”). This paper will touch upon an introduction to the SOX Act,...
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...stepping stone in that movement and has impacted many public companies. SOX requires public companies registered with the Securities Exchange Commission to evaluate the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting and disclose this information in its financial statements. For instance, Dell Inc., a large multinational IT corporation, was one of the many large corporations affected by the implications of SOX. First, Section 404 of SOX requires Dell’s management, under the supervision of the CEO and CFO, to establish and maintain adequate internal control in accordance with the rules defined in the Securities Exchange Act. In addition to establishing the controls, they are also required to evaluate the effectiveness of the controls against the criteria established in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by COSO. Second, Section 409 of SOX requires management to disclose material changes in internal control, and the results or potential effects of those changes. Finally, Section 404 of SOX requires Dell’s auditing firm to evaluate management’s assessment of Dell’s internal control and to issue an opinion on the quality and accuracy of the assessment. All in all, SOX raised corporate responsibility to assess and improve internal control over financial reporting. It also...
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...2002 in the wake of corporation financial reporting scandals involving large publicly held companies. SOX instituted new strict financial regulations with the intent of improving accounting practices and protecting investors from corporate misconduct. SOX requires corporate executives to vouch for the accuracy of financial statements, and to institute and monitor effective internal controls over financial reporting. The cost of implementing an effective internal control structure are onerous, and SOX inflicts opportunity costs upon an enterprise as executives have become more risk adverse due to fears of incrimination. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) was created by SOX to oversee the accounting process and dictate independence requirements for auditors and auditing committees. The PCAOB proposed regulations must be approved by the SEC before they are enacted. Since the passage of SOX, the IT department has become critical in designing and implementing the internal controls in company accounting information systems. The Information Technology Governance Institute (ITGI) created a framework called Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology (COBIT) to provide guidance for companies to implement and monitor IT governance. Accounting Information Systems Research Paper The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 changed the landscape of corporate financial reporting and auditing. In the wake of corporate reporting scandals, Congress decided the accounting...
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...2002 in the wake of corporation financial reporting scandals involving large publicly held companies. SOX instituted new strict financial regulations with the intent of improving accounting practices and protecting investors from corporate misconduct. SOX requires corporate executives to vouch for the accuracy of financial statements, and to institute and monitor effective internal controls over financial reporting. The cost of implementing an effective internal control structure are onerous, and SOX inflicts opportunity costs upon an enterprise as executives have become more risk adverse due to fears of incrimination. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) was created by SOX to oversee the accounting process and dictate independence requirements for auditors and auditing committees. The PCAOB proposed regulations must be approved by the SEC before they are enacted. Since the passage of SOX, the IT department has become critical in designing and implementing the internal controls in company accounting information systems. The Information Technology Governance Institute (ITGI) created a framework called Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology (COBIT) to provide guidance for companies to implement and monitor IT governance. Accounting Information Systems Research Paper The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 changed the landscape of corporate financial reporting and auditing. In the wake of corporate reporting scandals, Congress decided the accounting...
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...Role and function of the PCAOB and AS 5 and AS 11 Ramecha Davis This paper is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Auditing BUS5423 Section 70 Texas Woman’s University Dr. John Nugent April 20, 2015 Abstract The purpose of this research paper is to provide an in depth review of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and how it contributes to the interest of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. The research highlights the importance of the PCAOB’s role in the accounting profession as well as prospective changes that may evolve in the future related to PCAOB. Upon reading this research the reader will be familiar with PCAOB’s roles and functions, as well as auditing standards (AS) released such as AS5 and AS11. The PCAOB’s significance in the protection of investors is revealed as well. Keywords: SEC, PCAOB, SOX, AS 5, AS 11, Internal Control, Materiality Table of Contents Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………….5 PCAOB…………….……………………………………..……………………………….……….……5-6 a) The PCAOB Mission, Vision, & Core Values………………………………….………........6-7 b) Current Standards…………………………………………………………….…..............…7-8 c) Future Standard Plans…………………………………………………………………….…8-9 Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 Section 404……………………………………………………………...….9 a) Auditing Standard 5…………………………………………………………………….….9-10 b) Auditing Standard 11……………………………………………………………………..10-12 c) Communication Requirements..............................
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...Audit Report Section 404 Week 4: Team Assignment Withley E., Kacie Wooding, Audie McRae, Dena Brown ACC/546 Professor: HILLARY EDMONDSON July 20, 2015 Anderson, Olds, and Watershed United States of America July 20, 2015 Mr. Larry Lancaster Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and CEO Apollo Shoes, Inc. 100 Shoe Plaza Shoetown, ME 00001 Dear Mr. Lancaster, You have requested that we perform a SOX Section 404 consulting engagement. We are pleased to confirm our acceptance and our understanding of this consulting engagement by means of this letter. Our consultancy will be conducted with the objective of our expressing an opinion on the financial statements. This letter provides information and considerations related to our services under the SOX Section 404 consulting engagement, including: 1. Difference between a financial statement audit and an internal control consulting engagement; 2. Significant regulations and guidelines related to audits of internal control; 3. Internal control risks identified within Apollo Shoes, Inc.; 4. Relationship between internal controls and the audit process; and 5. Brief synopsis of auditor’s responsibility in detecting and reporting fraud. 1. Financial Statement Audit vs. Internal Control Consulting Engagement The following information provides details regarding the differences between a financial statement audit and an internal control consulting engagement: Financial Statement Audit...
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...org/Resources/Sarbanes+Oxley/Sarbanes-Oxley+–+The+Basics.htm. II. Recommended Technical Knowledge The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Section 103 Section 201 Section 203 Section 204 Section 206 Section 301 Section 302 Section 305 Section 401 Title IX PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 5 Paragraph #2 Paragraph #9 Paragraph #11 Paragraph #21-22 Paragraph #25 Paragraph #28-30 Paragraph #69 Paragraph #A5 (in Appendix A) Paragraph #A8 (in Appendix A) III. Case Questions – Answer Key 1. Refer to the second general standard of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS). What is auditor independence and what is its significance to the audit profession? What is the difference between independence in appearance and independence in fact? The second general standard of generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS) is, “In all matters relating to the assignment, an independence in mental attitude is to be maintained by the auditor or auditors.” If the auditor is not independent, the financial statements are considered unaudited for all practical purposes. In case where the SEC has found that a CPA firm was not independent, it has required that the financial statements be re-audited by another firm. A lack of independence can result in disciplinary action by regulators and/or professional organizations and litigation by those who relied on the financial statements (e.g., clients and investors). The profession,...
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...This chapter goes over the section of 404 of the Sarbanes oxley Act 2002 (sox). The rules of management that SEC had released in June 2003 on internal contual they are1) implement the requirements of section 404 of SOX. 2) Amended the officer certifications required by sections 302 and 906 of SOX. 3) The delayed the originally proposed effective date for filling management’s report on internal control over financial reporting. Managers must implement the establishing and maintains adequate internal control of financial reporting. They must identify the framework of COSO which is a committee of supporting organization of the tread way commission report for internal control. Management must assess the effective of internal control of the recent fiscal year. In the statement the disclosure of any weakness of issuers internal control in financial reporting. The Brass tacks is a six stage approach they are 1) plan and scope evaluation. 2) Document your controls .3) evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of your controls. 4) Identify and correct deficiencies. 5) Prepare management’s report on internal control over financial reporting. 6) Prepare for the independent auditor’s report on management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting. Under the plan and scope there are (5) to in process is project governance on going management projects. The need to provide suitable framework for internal control. The ability to disciplinary team, trained...
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...Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act Introduction Before 2002, many U.S. companies, such as Enron, WorldCom and Xerox went bankrupt and caused the serious global issues and financial responsibilities of managers in the world. The primary issue was about an ethical leadership and maintained the clean audit system. Well known examples perhaps were Enron and WorldCom scandals. Dyck and Neubert (2010) mentioned that “Ironically, the lucrative rewards for performance and innovation were keys to Enron’s early success and growth, before excesses in pursuit of these goals contributed to the ethical failures that ultimately destroyed the company. ” (p. 151). According to Dyck and Neubert (2010), both Ebbers as C.E.O of WolrdCom and Skilling as C.E.O of Enron went to a prison for their unethical behavior within their organizational structure caused (p. 449). According to Noreen and colleagues’ (2008), these scandals were involved at the highest level to the former C.E.O including the misuse company money and fraud financial reports (p. 25). In particular, Sadka (2006) indicated that in the case of WorldCom, its financial fraud includes mispricing of its products (p. 439) Moreover, due to WorldCom’s financial fraud, investors of WorldCom’s competitors lose $7.8 billion with additional losses of $49 billion social welfare (p. 463). That is to say, the bankruptcy of one of the biggest company caused a lot of problems in the U.S. As a result, not only investors lost billions of dollars but...
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...Communicating Internal Control 1843 AU Section 325 Communicating Internal Control Related Matters Identified in an Audit (Supersedes SAS No. 112.) Source: SAS No. 115. Effective for audits of financial statements for periods ending on or after December 15, 2009. Earlier implementation is permitted. Applicability .01 This section establishes standards and provides guidance on communicating matters related to an entity's internal control over financial reporting identified in an audit of financial statements. It is applicable whenever an auditor expresses or disclaims an opinion on financial statements. In particular, this section • • • defines the terms deficiency in internal control, significant deficiency, and material weakness. provides guidance on evaluating the severity of deficiencies in internal control identified in an audit of financial statements. requires the auditor to communicate, in writing, to management and those charged with governance,1 significant deficiencies and material weaknesses identified in an audit. .02 This section is not applicable if the auditor is engaged to examine the design and operating effectiveness of an entity's internal control over financial reporting that is integrated with an audit of the entity's financial statements under AT section 501, An Examination of an Entity's Internal Control Over Financial Reporting That Is Integrated With an Audit of Its Financial Statements. Introduction .03 Internal control is a process—effected by...
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...Case Study 2- Internal Control Improving LJB Company Internal Control ACCT 504 Felix M. Fair October 6, 2012 Table Of Contents: 1. Introduction pg. 3 2. Proper Development of Internal Control pg. 3 3. Effective LJB Practices pg. 3-4 4. Areas for Improvement pg. 4 5. Conclusion pg. 5 6. References pg. 6 Improving LJB Company Internal Control Introduction This paper is an academic work that will define, identify, and explain the use of Internal Control within a company, as well as applying the principles of internal control activities. These principles will be reflected in the use of new requirements, comprehensive feedback of where LJB is currently and where they can be with improvement of Internal Control and the application of its principles. Proper Development of Internal Control What is Internal Control? Internal control makes up all methods that are adopted within an organization to safeguard assets, enhance the reliability of accounting records, increase operational efficiency, and ensure compliance with laws and regulations. [Kimmel (). Financial Accounting [6] (VitalSource Bookshelf), Retrieved from http://online.vitalsource...
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...development and hosting services. The audit committee of the company has requested the company to hire a new audit firm with a better experience in auditing of public technology companies. 2. Auditing and reporting issues: Miss Kristine Drew is the senior auditor for this company and is responsible for auditing revenue. She should start by asking for reviews from the predecessor audit firm in order to identify any problems they faced and to incorporate appropriate actions in order to minimize those risks. Ms. Drew should start off by initially accessing the controls of the activity reports. If the controls are strong and the data could not be manipulated, then it can be presumed that the data is accurate if this is not the case, then Ms. Drew should take up the services of a professional to figure out a way and if it is still not possible then she should state the facts on the audit report. The existing customers with hosting contracts of three years are changed to five-year contract, the revenues from this change have to be accounted prospectively. The revenue recognition for the new contracts for hosting that is for five years with three months free service, at the end of the five-year tenure the revenue should be charged over five years and three months and not over...
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...Abstract This research paper explores the creation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) and the role Enron played in its enactment. Specifically, this paper will explore and discuss the Enron crisis, emphasizing the legal and ethical accounting breaches committed by the company. The purpose of SOX and the methods used to address those breaches. A discussion of the major provisions of the act including: (1) Establishment of the Oversight Board commonly referred to as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) (2) Restrictions on non-audit services (3) Rotation of audit partners (4) Auditor reports to audit committees (5) conflicts of interests (6) CEO and CFO certification of annual and quarterly reports and (7) Internal control report and auditor attestation. The necessary requirements concerning internal control for public companies. A discussion of the types of services considered unlawful if provided to a publicly held company by its auditor. A discussion of the broader impact of the act on auditors. Lastly, a discussion from the legal and ethical viewpoint of the level of success the act has had in preventing cases such as Enron. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Enron In any contemporary discussion of corporate governance and the erosion of trust in business, one name is unavoidable: Enron. Enron has become an icon for corporate fraud on a massive scale going to the top of the corporate hierarchy. In any attempt to restore trust, two points will have to be acknowledged...
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...Guide to Internal Control Over Financial Reporting The Center for Audit Quality prepared this Guide to provide an overview for the general public of internal control over financial reporting (“ICFR”). The Guide explains what public company ICFR is and describes management’s responsibility for implementing effective ICFR. The Guide also discusses the responsibilities of the audit committee to oversee ICFR and of the independent auditor to audit the effectiveness of the company’s ICFR. A Guide to Internal Control Over Financial Reporting P reparing reliable financial information is a key responsibility of the management of every public company. The ability to effectively manage the company’s business requires access to timely and accurate information. Moreover, investors must be able to place confidence in a company’s financial reports if the company wants to raise capital in the public securities markets. Management’s ability to fulfill its financial reporting responsibilities depends in part on the design and effectiveness of the processes and safeguards it has put in place over accounting and financial reporting. Without such controls, it would be extremely difficult for most business organizations — especially those with numerous locations, operations, and processes — to prepare timely and reliable financial reports for management, investors, lenders, and other users. While no practical control system can absolutely assure that financial reports...
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