We just read this great article from Fraud Magazine here is a snippet that we thought we'd share:
Accounting Tip of the Day: 10 Pointers for Fighting Fraud
Tags: Accounting Tip of the Day, audit, fraud prevention, fraud, corporate governance, audit deficiency
Failed Audits of China-Based Company Lead to SEC Charges
Since our Vibato® Internal Control Suite® tools are available in Mandarin and our products have been being sold in China for several years, we are always interested in news surrounding SEC audits there. It is unfortunate to see a US-based auditing firm failing their clients and helping to continue the negative press China companies often receive while trying to comply with SEC standards.
Tags: audit, Securities and Exchange Commission, financial reporting, Compliance in China, SEC, SEC fines, audit deficiency
SEC Investigates Medifast, $200,000 Penalty & Cease-and-Desist Order
This is a great article looking at the outcome of a recent SEC investigation into Medifast's financial reporting from 2006 through 2009. Medifast disclosed, without admitting or denying the SEC's findings, that under the terms of the settlement it has consented to a Cease-and-Desist Order and agreed to pay a $200,000 civil penalty.
Tags: Internal Controls, audit, 10k, White Collar Fraud, disclosure, SEC, SEC fines, audit deficiency, Internal Control Deficiency
The Securities and Exchange Commission has released news of its temporary suspension of trading in the securities of America’s Energy Company – AECo. The decision was based off a lack of filing of periodic reports set forth in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Brokers, dealers and shareholders are advised to beware that the AECo may give no quotes until they have provided the commission with the reports they have requested. To read more about this topic and who to contact with questions click here, and to see a list of other companies which have also been suspended- click here.
Tags: audit, Securities and Exchange Commission, trading, brokers, shareholders, stock market, Securities Exchange Act, fraud, SEC, federal investigation, audit deficiency, stock, AECo, American's Energy Company
An internal control deficiency can be caused by a number of issues but it is primarily defined as an error discovered during internal controls testing (e.g., a payment was coded to utilities when it should have been coded to inventory) or during a review of the internal control evidence (e.g., the internal or external auditors discover the coding mistake rather than management finding it as part of their closing activities). An internal control deficiency may also occur simply from someone forgetting to execute one of their internal controls entirely.
Tags: Internal Controls, Compliance tools, risk assessment, audit, SOX, 404 audit, best-practice, Controls Testing, 10k, Product Information, Sarbanes-Oxley Training, compliance, risk management, Sarbanes-Oxley, audit deficiency, Internal Control Deficiency