Publications

April 23, 2012
Today’s Top Priorities for Internal Auditors
Without question, technological advancement is creating new challenges for CAEs and their teams, who must build their understanding of these technologies and how they support the business, and also leverage them to perform internal audit activities with greater effectiveness. In this podcast, Protiviti Executive Vice President Brian Christensen discusses these and other key trends in internal auditing, based on results from the 2012 Internal Audit Capabilities and Needs Survey.
CONTENT AREA: Podcasts
TOPICS: Social Media Risk, IT Audit, Internal Audit, Continuous Auditing, Cloud Computing

April 16, 2012
Current Status of the PCAOB’s Auditor Rotation Dialogue
On March 20 and 21, 2012 the PCAOB met with various panels of investors, advocates, senior executives of major public companies and audit firms, academics and others to obtain input on audit firm term limits, often described as mandatory auditor rotation. The Board had previously issued a concept release in August of last year inviting public comments on these issues. The purpose of this Flash Report is to summarize some of the topics discussed at the PCAOB meeting and where the dialogue on auditor rotation stands at this time. The related poll asks: What do you think of requiring periodic rotation of auditors?
CONTENT AREA: Regulatory Updates
TOPICS: Sarbanes-Oxley Act, External Auditor, PCAOB, Section 404-Internal Control Reporting

April 16, 2012
Five Key Actions for Turning around Projects
There are five key actions for turning around projects in trouble. They are called the five E’s: Energize, Envision, Explore, Evaluate and Execute. This article provides guidance for project managers who need to reverse a project's fortunes.
CONTENT AREA: Articles
TOPICS: Performance Management/Measurement, Project Management

April 16, 2012
Maximizing the Value of Competitive Intelligence
Competitive intelligence in its truest form is an ethical and essential function that involves collecting and analyzing often public but little-noticed information in order to “connect the dots” and gain a competitive advantage. A competitive intelligence function provides management with an external focus – it helps companies decipher the early signs of opportunity or trouble before they become obvious to everyone else. In this podcast, Protiviti Managing Directors Jay Thompson and Jim DeLoach discuss the value of implementing a competitive intelligence function in organizations.
CONTENT AREA: Podcasts
TOPICS: Corporate Governance, Audit Committee & Board, Enterprise Risk Management, Strategic Risk, Ethics

April 16, 2012
Winners and Losers in Governance Rollbacks
For better or worse, Congress now seems poised to pass the JOBS Act this week. From here forward, a large swath of companies going public on U.S. capital markets will have a five-year exemption from many corporate governance and investor protections. Compliance Week Editor Matt Kelly examines who wins and who loses in that new world.
CONTENT AREA: Articles
TOPICS: Sarbanes-Oxley Act, External Auditor, PCAOB, Section 404-Internal Control Reporting, Initial Public Offering

April 9, 2012
Assessing Risk: A Strategic Perspective
Arising from internal process issues and disruptive change in the external business environment, these strategic risks can be lethal because they may not be known to management and the board. This issue of Board Perspectives: Risk Oversight discusses how strategic risk analysis can assist senior management with understanding the critical assumptions underlying the strategy and how contrarian analysis can be used to challenge those assumptions.
CONTENT AREA: Newsletters
TOPICS: Audit Committee & Board, Enterprise Risk Management, Strategic Risk

April 9, 2012
More on Performing SOC Report Evaluations: Introduction to “SOC 2 This Year?”
The need to evaluate and determine whether the Service Organization Control (SOC) report is adequate for incorporation into your company’s Sarbanes-Oxley compliance program or for your external auditors to use hasn’t changed a bit with SSAE16/SOC 1 superseding SAS 70. This article discusses that now is the time for new ownership and scrutiny of the SSAE16/SOC 1 product.
CONTENT AREA: Articles
TOPICS: Sarbanes-Oxley Act, IT Controls, Section 404-Internal Control Reporting, Outsourcing/Co-sourcing/Shared Services, SAS 70

April 9, 2012
Top Priorities for Internal Audit in Healthcare Provider Organizations
According to the healthcare internal audit executives and professionals who participated in Protiviti’s 2012 Internal Audit Capabilities and Needs Survey, the strongest internal audit functions within healthcare providers recognize the need to: master compliance; manage existing and emerging risks; enhance efficiency; and network and negotiate. The results from healthcare participants in the 2012 Internal Audit Capabilities and Needs Survey present a picture of healthcare internal audit functions that are prioritizing their activities, deploying their skills and balancing tactical requirements with strategic contributions.
CONTENT AREA: Survey Reports
TOPICS: Audit Committee & Board, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals Industry, Internal Audit, Compliance

April 2, 2012
CIO Success Secrets: How to Select and Develop IT Risk Leaders Who Can Help You Avoid "Surprises," Cut Costs and Enable Profitable Revenue
CIOs struggle to avoid IT investment errors that could cause pain for years, projects that run off the rails, and operational failures that jeopardize revenue. This article shares a practical approach to avoiding common mistakes and helping the CIO bring more benefit to the business.
CONTENT AREA: Articles
TOPICS: Information Technology Risk, Risk Assessment, IT Audit, IT Controls, IT Strategy

April 2, 2012
Congress Passes JOBS Act, Reducing Regulatory Requirements for Start-Ups
On March 27, the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly passed the Senate-amended “Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act” (the “JOBS Act”) designed to make it easier for small businesses and entrepreneurs to attract investors and access capital while complying with U.S. securities laws. In this Flash Report, we review the key provisions of the JOBS Act and provide guidance to pre-IPO organizations that may be classified under the act as emerging growth companies.
CONTENT AREA: Regulatory Updates
TOPICS: Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Section 302-Executive Certifications, Section 404-Internal Control Reporting, Initial Public Offering