Let’s face it, dealing with internal controls from time to time can be a headache and can certainly get out of hand. The power of an organized internal control structure yields a plethora of benefits in terms of cost efficiency, reduced workload, fewer headaches, and happier employees – You know what they say, Organized People Play™.

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Tags: Internal Controls, segregation of duties, control reduction, SOX, auditing standards, audit costs, Controls Testing, SOX Compliance Made Simple, internal audit, Process Improvement, software, sox compliance, internal control, Sarbanes-Oxley, Vibato, audit scope, internal control tips

There are 17 Principles discussed in the new COSO 2013 guidance that every public company must demonstrate compliance with by 12/15/2014. 

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Tags: Sarbanes-Oxley Articles & Information, segregation of duties, Sarbanes-Oxley Training, internal control, Sarbanes-Oxley, COSO 2013, Sarbanes-Oxley for Non-Profits

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Tags: Internal Controls, Sarbanes-Oxley Articles & Information, segregation of duties, risk assessment, Announcements, SOX, external audit, SOX Compliance Made Simple, White Collar Fraud, Bay Area Accounting Professionals Mixer, Sarbanes-Oxley Training, internal control, risk management, Sarbanes-Oxley, external auditing, Internal Control Education, internal control tips, Sarbanes-Oxley for Non-Profits, corporate governance

Tags: Internal Controls, fraud prevention, Press Release, software, compliance, internal control, internal control tips, fraud, Ernst & Young, key words

The jobs act created a new category of issuer, called an "Emerging Growth" (ECG) company, in the interest of stimulating equity investment in companies by modifying the regulations surrounding registration, capital-raising activities, and compliance requirements. To qualify for this category, a company must have produced less than 1 billion of revenue in it's prior fiscal year (and must not have sold common equity in a registered offering prior to December 8, 2011). A qualifying company would lose ECG status when one of the following occurs:

• Five years elapse from the IPO date
• Company produces more than 1 billion in gross revenue
• Company issues more than 1 billion in non-convertible debt within a 3-year period
• Company reaches accelerated-filer status (>$700MM public market float)

As an ECG, a company would be exempt from an external audit of their internal controls over financial reporting (SOX 404(b)) as long as they maintain ECG status. This would be a maximum of 5 years from the IPO date if no other conditions specified above are met before that time.

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Tags: Internal Controls, Pre-IPO, 404, SOX, internal control