...Memorandum: Internal Control Report To: President, In order for Company to go public in the future, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that companies must maintain an adequate system of internal controls and that outside independent auditors must verify the adequacy of the internal controls. Internal controls consist of five factors. First, develop and maintain a controlled environment that makes it very clear across the organization that unethical behavior and fraud will not be tolerated. Second, set up and implement a risk assessment that identifies various business factors that could cause risk and determine how to manage the risks. Third, manage and maintain control activities that will reduce fraud occurrence by developing policies and procedures aimed to manage the risks. The fourth factor is the information and communication control that ensures all parties have access and knowledge of the appropriate information to manage the risks at all levels of the organization as well as appropriate external third parties. The fifth and final control is monitoring the internal control systems on a regular basis for adequacy. Within these controls are the principles of internals control activities that include the establishment of responsibility, segregation of duties, documentation procedures, physical controls, independent internal verifications, and human resources controls. These principles will be referenced in our review of LJB Company’s controls. Company does...
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...Re: Audit Report and Internal Control Evaluation Date: June 10, 2013 CBA Auditing Firm has audited the balance sheets of Apollo Shoes as of December 31, 2012. In addition, our auditing firms also reviewed statements of income such as shareholders equity, comprehensive income, and cash flows for the same period. Our company also assessed Apollo Shoes financial reporting internal controls based on the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO criteria) and determined that they are adequate and effective for the period ending December 31, 2012. Apollo Shoes Inc. management holds sole responsibility for maintaining effective internal controls, validity of their financial statements. CBA Auditing responsibility is only to reflect an opinion on management’s assessment, the company’s internal controls, and the financial statements based on the results of our Audit. Our audit was conducted in accordance with the standards set by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. These standards require for our organization to prepare and execute the inspection to attain reasonable assurance of whether Apollo Shoes Inc. financial statements are without material misstatements and determine if the internal controls are effective enough over financial reporting for all material aspects. Our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion; therefore the audit included the examination of; * Evidence supporting amounts * Implementation of internal controls ...
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...Case Study 2—Internal Control ACCT 504 WK 5 Professor: Melinda Howerton Date: April 5, 2014 Table of Contents Introduction 3 New Internal Control Requirements 4 Internal Control Strengths 4 Internal Control Weakness 5-6 Recommendations and Conclusion 6-7 Works Cited 8 Introduction This report is being presented as an assessment of the preparedness of the LJB Company to go public, and must first understand what and why successful internal controls are necessary. Internal control is a plan of organization and a system of procedures implemented by company management and the board of directors designed to accomplish the following five objectives: Safeguard assets- A company must safeguard its assets against waste, inefficiency, and fraud. Encourage employees to follow company policy- Everyone in an organization—managers and employees—needs to work toward the same goals. A proper system of controls provides clear policies that result in fair treatment of both customers and employees. Promote operational efficiency- Companies cannot afford to waste resources. They work hard to make a sale, and they don’t want to waste any of the benefits. Ensure accurate, reliable accounting records-Accurate records are essential...
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...LJB Company Audit Report regarding Internal Control Activity Requirement Evaluation for Initial Public Offering and Indelible Ink Printer Procurement Recommendation Author: Phillip Stevens, Buck Stops Here Accounting Associates Securities Exchange Commission Internal Control Requirement Explanation As part of the Initial Public Offering application process with the Securities and Exchange Commission, companies are required to document and validate their internal control activities including policies and procedures. The internal controls must ensure reliable financial reporting, effective and efficient operations, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Safeguarding assets against theft and unauthorized use, acquisition, or disposal is also part of internal control “best practices”. The Securities Exchange Commission guidelines for internal control activity validation include one or more of the principles: • Segregation of duties requires that different individuals be assigned responsibility for different elements of related activities, particularly those involving authorization, custody, or recordkeeping. For instance, the same person who is responsible for an asset's recordkeeping should not be responsible for physical control of that asset. • Proper authorization of transactions and activities helps ensure that all company activities adhere to established guide lines unless responsible managers authorize another course of action. Proper authorization...
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...Audit Report and Internal Control Evaluation Nathalie Salib University of Phoenix ACC546/PR April 9, 2015 Prof. Rafael Marrero - Diaz ANDERSON, OLDS & WATERSHED Certified Public Accountants Independent Auditor’s Report To the Board of Directors of Apollo Shoes, Inc. We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Apollo Shoes, Inc. as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and the related statements of income, shareholder’s equity and cash flow for the two years in the period ended December 31, 2007. Apollo Shoes’ management is responsible for the financial statements presented, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of internal control. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements, an opinion on management’s assessment, and an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of the financial statements including examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the...
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...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 take steps in FY 2005 to prepare for its implementation. OMB plans to continue to work closely with the CFOC and the PCIE to provide further...
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...Controls for InformationTechnology and Reporting and Evaluation Julie Strange University of Phoenix ACC/544 Internal Control Systems Christina Yang October 24, 2011 Controls for Information Technology The success of a business is determined by how effective its managers are in managing risk. Therefore, acquiring effective risk management helps to protect the company from losses because of poor accounting practices as well as fraudulent activities. Using good controls protect managers from liabilities that may arise when certifying financial statements used in annual reports because when these reports are issued, they are also a reflection of the company’s internal controls. The internal control process begins with management and the attitude that management portrays through the company. Manager duties include implementing the policies and procedures used within the company, these policies and procedures are also used to build the structure which is found within the internal control environment. Internal Control Reporting Options An audit report has three general functions used to report a company’s financial statements. These reports indicate whether the financial statements are presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Auditors use their reports to highlight any unusual aspects of the audit examination, and the reports can be used to communicate useful information to decision makers that may...
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...independent audit of the internal controls of Apollo Shoes, Inc. This letter will outline the nature and limitations of the services we will provide. Anderson, Olds, and Watershed will provide consultation to Apollo Shoes Inc. about the internal control requirements of the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) Section 404 and test the internal controls to identify any significant deficiencies and/or material weaknesses. Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) 115 states that these are matters that warrant the attention of management, our purpose is to provide our opinion and recommendation. At the conclusions of the engagement we will provide to Management and the Audit Committee a detailed report, including an executive summary, of all findings and recommendations. The purpose of this engagement letter is to define the terms of contract between Anderson, Olds, and Watershed and Apollo Shoes, Inc. and to identify the assurance services to be provided. This letter will also provide background information on the following conditions: * Significant regulations and guidelines related to audits of internal control * Relationship between internal controls and the audit process * Internal control risks identified with Apollo Shoes * A brief synopsis of our responsibility in detecting and reporting fraud Responsibilities are different between management and the auditor for internal controls. The auditor is required to prepare an audit report on internal control over...
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...was a large 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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...An Examination of LBJ Distribution Company Internal Controls Infrastructure Pre IPO ACCT 504: Financial Accounting Keller Graduate School of Management Professor Ganesh Pandit Date: February 9, 2014 Pre IPO Examination of LBJ Distribution Company Internal Controls Infrastructure Prepared for: President, LBJ Distribution Company Prepared By: Véron S.A. Lake Company: LLMCO Date: 9 February 2014 Table of Contents Introduction 3 Purpose 4 Legal Requirement of Internal Controls 5 IPO Readiness: Financial Internal Controls 5 IPO Readiness: Recommendations 6 Reliable Monthly Reports 6 Adequate Staffing of Financial Departments 6 Implementation of Audit Infrastructure 6 IPO Readiness: LBJ Internal Control Strengths 7 Pre-numbered Invoices 7 Recommendations: Indelible Ink Machine 7 IPO Readiness: LBJ Internal Control Weaknesses 7 Staffing: Accounting Department 7 Staffing: Human Resource Department 8 Recommendations: Handling Petty Cash 8 Recommendations: IT Department Physical Controls 9 Conclusion 9 Works Cited 10 Introduction A company going public today is different than what it was in the dot com era; this is because the IPO landscape has changed significantly in the last decade (KPMG, 2013). Recently experts has seen compression in the markets, decreasing or shifting mergers and acquisition activity, faltering businesses and more scrutiny on balance sheets and company cash as well as access to capital (KPMG, 2013; Morgan...
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...Internal Control - Integrated Framework Executive Summary Senior executives have long sought ways to better control the enterprises they run. Internal controls are put in place to keep the company on course toward profitability goals and achievement of its mission, and to minimize surprises along the way. They enable management to deal with rapidly changing economic and competitive environments, shifting customer demands and priorities, and restructuring for future growth. Internal controls promote efficiency, reduce risk of asset loss, and help ensure the reliability of financial statements and compliance with laws and regulations. Because internal control serves many important purposes, there are increasing calls for better internal control systems and report cards on them. Internal control is looked upon more and more as a solution to a variety of potential problems. Internal Control Internal control means different things to different people. This causes confusion among businesspeople, legislators, regulators and others. Resulting miscommunication and different expectations cause problems within an enterprise. Problems are compounded when the term, if not clearly defined, is written into law, regulation or rule. This report deals with the needs and expectations of management and others. It defines and describes internal control to: 1. Establish a common definition serving the needs of different parties. 2. Provide a standard against which business and other entities--large...
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...Internal Controls xxxxxx Accounting 280 April 8, 2012 xxxxxxxx Internal controls ensure that all public companies follow a standard set of rules to operate and report finances in business. It is required by law to monitor the different models of internal controls. According to Renee O'Farrell (2012), "'internal controls' can be defined as actions and procedures by which a company monitors itself". The two primary goals of internal controls are to safeguard assets from theft and unauthorized use, and to enhance the accuracy and reliability of company accounting records to avoid errors and irregularities in the accounting process. The establishment of responsibility, the use of physical, mechanical, and electronic controls, the segregation of duties, and the independent internal verification are internal control principles. Establishing responsibility is necessary to hold all employees responsible for the records reported. If a company successfully reports records inaccurately, the scandals that occurred in the early 2000s could be repeated. By holding employees, management, the board of directors, and auditors responsible, it helps control that documents and records are truthful when reported. This allows the shareholders' of the company to make the best financial decisions with the information given (Internal Control", 2012). The physical control of the company is established as a safeguard for records. This includes physical safeguards and IT Security. Physical...
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...Michael Oxley, Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in July 2002 (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2013). The mission of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is stated in Public Law 107-204 (2002), “To protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures made pursuant to the securities laws, and for other purposes” (p. 1). To determine if the mission of SOX is successful the following will be discussed; the main advantages and disadvantages associated with SOX, the affects SOX has on public company Chief Operating Executive’s (CEO’s) and Chief Financial Executive’s (CFO’s), the impact SOX has on outside independent audit firms, and the improvement SOX section 404 has established on corporations’ internal financial controls. The final discussion will address whether SOX can guarantee the accuracy of public company financial statements. Main advantages and disadvantages associated with SOX There are several positive things that occurred after the passage of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. One, companies were being held...
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...Chapter 9 Introduction to internal control systems Internal controls: the controls established to protect the assets of an organization. Internal control: describes the policies, plans, and procedures implemented by the management of an organization to protect its assets, to ensure accuracy and completeness of its financial information, and to meet its business objectives. Four objectives of internal control system: 1. Safeguard assets, 2. Check the accuracy and reliability of accounting data, 3. Promote operational efficiency, 4. Enforce prescribed managerial policies. Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 piece of legislation with respect to internal controls Section 404: reaffirms management is responsible for establishing and maintaining an adequate internal control structure. 1992 Coso report: established common definition of internal control for assessing control system, as well as determined how to improve controls. An internal control system should consist of the five components: 1. The control environment 2. Risk assessment 3. Control activities 4. Information and communication 5. Monitoring Control environment: foundation for all other internal control components and provides discipline and structure. Top management oversight, integrity, and ethical principles that guide the organization Risk assessment: identify organizational risks, analyze their potential in terms of costs and likelihood of occurrence, and implement only those controls whose projected benefits...
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...An Examination of LBJ Distribution Company Internal Controls Infrastructure Pre IPO ACCT 504: Financial Accounting Keller Graduate School of Management Professor Ganesh Pandit Date: February 9, 2014 Pre IPO Examination of LBJ Distribution Company Internal Controls Infrastructure Prepared for: President, LBJ Distribution Company Prepared By: Véron S.A. Lake Company: LLMCO Date: 9 February 2014 Table of Contents Introduction 3 Purpose 4 Legal Requirement of Internal Controls 5 IPO Readiness: Financial Internal Controls 5 IPO Readiness: Recommendations 6 Reliable Monthly Reports 6 Adequate Staffing of Financial Departments 6 Implementation of Audit Infrastructure 6 IPO Readiness: LBJ Internal Control Strengths 7 Pre-numbered Invoices 7 Recommendations: Indelible Ink Machine 7 IPO Readiness: LBJ Internal Control Weaknesses 7 Staffing: Accounting Department 7 Staffing: Human Resource Department 8 Recommendations: Handling Petty Cash 8 Recommendations: IT Department Physical Controls 9 Conclusion 9 Works Cited 10 Introduction A company going public today is different than what it was in the dot com era; this is because the IPO landscape has changed significantly in the last decade (KPMG, 2013). Recently experts has seen compression in the markets, decreasing or shifting mergers and acquisition activity, faltering businesses and more scrutiny on balance sheets and company cash as well as access to capital (KPMG, 2013; Morgan...
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