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Published byAvis Harrell Modified over 9 years ago
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The Age of Compliance How Sarbanes-Oxley affects IT management
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The Fall of Enron Filed for Bankruptcy December 2001 Accounting errors = $600 million Special Purpose Entities (SPE) Andrew Fastow (CFO)
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The Demise of Andersen Strong beginnings Role change for Accountants Increase in non-auditing services Cover-up WorldCom debacle Not alone on the corrupt auditing front
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Sarbanes-Oxley Act Architects: –Senator Paul Sarbanes –Representative Michael Oxley July 30, 2002 – signed by President Bush
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PCAOB Public Company Accounting Oversight Board All accounting firms must register 5 member board –2 CPA’s –3 non CPA’s First Chairman – William Webster Current Chairman – William McDonough
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PCAOB Review existing standards Review attestation of internal controls Set new standards Authority to investigate and discipline
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Auditor Independence Non-audit services for auditing clients are no longer allowed –Bookkeeping –IS design –Any other consulting services Rotate partners every 5 years No ex-audit team executives
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Internal Audit Committee Not on the company bank roll Select and compensate auditor Oversee the audit Resolve issues between auditor and company
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New Requirements for execs. Statement of appropriateness –Financial statements and disclosures Section 404 –Internal Control Report
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Internal Control Report Management responsible for IC Assessment of effectiveness of IC If material weaknesses –Must disclose –Can’t issue internal control report Compliance dates –November 15, 2004 (> $75 million mkt caps) –April 15, 2003 (< $75 million mkt caps)
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Disclosures Material Adjustments Off-Balance Sheet transactions Company – Executive transactions Financial expert on Audit Committee Code of Ethics
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White Collar Crime Enhancement Keep audit papers and email 7 years Destroying files = felony Securities Fraud –Statute of Limitations increased –Maximum imprisonment increased to 10 years “Whistleblower Protection”
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White Collar Crime Enhancement Mail/wire fraud increased imprisonment SEC can prevent felons from exec. Positions SEC can stop oversized payments to officers Financial Statement fraud –$5 million –20 years imprisonment
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Pre Sarbanes-Oxley Flexibility Loosely defined policies Unsegregated responsibility
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Initial Reactions [I] doubt if the CIO would even be interested -Patrick Kiernan; senior financial systems analyst Companies that don’t involve the CIO are simply missing the point of the legislation -Tom Patterson; KPMG senior manager
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Forced Changes Role of CIO changes IT departments shift focus
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Compliance Issues Infrastructure Software Storage Outsourcing
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Infrastructure Issues Network integrity –Increased dependency on open IP network –IP guidelines are in an “embryonic state” Lack of security Policies
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Steps in Addressing Infrastructure Issues Update financial transaction and reporting systems Document proper maintenance procedures Develop policies for making adjustments to financial systems
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Software Aid in Compliance Developers include –Oracle –Redmond –OpenPages –Concur
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Data Storage Develop written police for retaining and storing data Maintain records for seven years (recommended) –Three tiered approach
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Outsourcing Use of service providers doesn’t reduce the responsibility of corporate executives from maintaining effective internal controls -Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
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Evaluating Controls of Business Parrners SAS 70 –In-depth examination of internal controls –Service offered by accounting firms Satisfactory SAS 70 Type II Audit –Likely to meet Sarbanes-Oxley requirements –Mitigates Risk
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Benefits Comapnaies with well run compliance processes enjoy share-price premiums, competitive advantages, improved moral, and reduced risk -Steven Lindseth; Chairman of Axentis Inc.
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Costs Loss of control Loss of privacy Project delays
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Career in a Compliance Driven Era Expanding opportunities –Systems auditing –Storage experts Skills That could give you a competitive advantage –Understand control objectives –Exhibit professional skepticism –Comprehension of basic components of Sarbanes-Oxley –Maintain a basic knowledge of accounting terminology and accounting systems
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