The following 556 items are listed by Content Data.
Regulatory Updates
Accounting Research Manager
The following accounting update summaries are provided courtesy of Accounting Research Manager, a subscription service t...
Guides
Managing Large Scale Business Projects Guide
This guide discusses the common challenges faced by finance leaders and suggests structuring a finance program managemen...
Audit Programs
Service-Level Controls Audit Work Program
This tool contains two sample programs that provide best-practice steps organizations can use to audit and enhance their...
Policies & Procedures
Contract and Project Approval Policy
This policy outlines procedures for evaluating, negotiating, and executing significant contracts and internal and extern...
Checklists & Questionnaires
Treasury Internal Control Questionnaire
This sample questionnaire can be used by management performing a control self-assessment of their operations.
Audit Programs
Close-the-Books Audit Work Program
The best-practice audit steps included in this tool can be used to design your next close-the-books audit.
Policies & Procedures
Impairments Policy
This sample policy is designed to help organizations define processes for reviewing impaired property and equipment.
Guides
Risk Assessment Guide
This tool contains four guides that can be used by auditors to understand and improve their risk assessment process.
Policies & Procedures
Confidentiality Policy
This tool includes three sample policies that define guidelines concerning confidential company information.
Policies & Procedures
Charge Description Master Policy
This sample policy ensures that the charge description master for all departments within a company is complete and accur...
Guides
Forecasting in Lean Times Guide
In this tool, we provide an outline that can be used to help ensure accurate and efficient forecasting in lean times.
Policies & Procedures
Capitalization and Fixed Asset Accounting Policy
This policy establishes guidelines for capitalizing, depreciating, transferring, disposing and maintaining control of ca...
Policies & Procedures
Close-the-Books Policy
The purpose of this policy is to provide timely information regarding a company’s reporting requirements.
Guides
Data Analytics and Audit Coverage Guide
This document includes two sample guides that can be used for understanding and leveraging an organization’s data analyt...
Policies & Procedures
Allocating Contract Cost Policy: Capital Projects
This policy sample outlines procedures to ensure that company capital allocated to projects is managed cost-effectively ...
Guides
Auditing Corporate Governance Guide
This guide can be used by auditors to assess and understand the four pillars of an organization’s governance framework.
Policies & Procedures
Business Planning Policy
The purpose of this policy is to develop a structured approach to business planning and state the categories to be addre...
Policies & Procedures
Record Retention Policy
This tool contains five sample policies that establish standards and procedures for the retention of electronic and pape...
Audit Programs
Accounting Reconciliation Audit Work Program
Use this work program sample to ensure that discrepancies are reconciled and accounting reconciliations are performed ac...
Policies & Procedures
Depreciation Policy
This policy provides guidelines for the computation and recording of capitalized property, plant and equipment costs dep...
Guides
Data Migration Strategy Guide
This guide is designed to help auditors successfully execute a data migration from end to end.
Policies & Procedures
Rebate Payments Policy
Organizations can use this sample policy to identify rebate payments to be made and calculate the appropriate payment va...
Audit Programs
Revenue Forecasting Audit Work Program
This work program template highlights general steps an organization should follow with respect to effective revenue fore...
Audit Reports
Audit Committee Report - Internal Audit Plan
This tool contains four sample audit reports that can be used to evaluate and improve the internal audit plan.
Benchmarking Tools
Managing Financial Risks Leading Practices
This tool features several leading practices to assist with measuring and improving an organization’s financial risk man...
Newsletters
Setting the 2023 Audit Committee Agenda
This issue of The Bulletin discusses eight agenda items for 2023 based on input from our interactions with client audit ...
Articles
Audit and Non-Audit Fees of the S&P 500
Audit Analytics looks at audit and non-audit fees for the S&P 500 across its different industries.
Articles
Audit Fee Trends in Europe: 2010 – 2021
Audit Analytics looks at audit fee data for public companies listed on European exchanges dating back to 2010.
Guides
Risk-Based Auditing Guide
This guide is designed to help auditors respond to organizational risks more timely and provide insights to management t...
Articles
Q3 2022 IPO Trends: Market Continues to Cool
Audit Analytics looks at the major decrease in the number and size of initial public offerings during the third quarter ...
Policies & Procedures
Repair and Maintenance Expenditures Policy
Organizations can use the guidelines included in this policy to review and approve their repair and maintenance expendit...
Policies & Procedures
Accounts Receivable Reserves Policy
This policy outlines steps for developing an accounts receivable reserve account for bad debts, returns and allowances, ...
Articles
Who Audits Public Companies – Spain 2021
In this article, Audit Analytics examines Spain’s audit market of the top companies for fiscal year 2021.
Policies & Procedures
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses Policy
This policy sample establishes guidelines organizations should follow when recording and issuing accounts payable transa...
Policies & Procedures
Accounts Receivable – Employee Receivable Policy
This sample policy is designed to help organizations approve, process and collect employee receivables.
Audit Programs
Financial Analysis Audit Work Program
In this work program sample, we provide general best-practice steps for the financial analysis audit process.
Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Manage Data Center Operations: Business Acquisition RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to business acquisition and data center management in a risk control ma...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Who Audits Public Companies – France 2021
In this article, Audit Analytics looks at France’s audit market of the top companies for fiscal year 2021.
Policies & Procedures
Accounts Receivable Negotiated Debt Forgiveness Policy
Use this policy to adequately protect receivable investments and all distributions in place of payments related to forma...
Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Manage Employee Sales Commissions RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to managing employee sales commissions in a risk control matrix (RCM) f...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Twenty-Year Review of Audit & Non-Audit Fee Trends Report
Audit Analytics examines trends in audit and non-audit fees disclosed by SEC-registered companies between 2002 and 2021.
Policies & Procedures
Commitment and Expenditure Authorization Policy
This sample policy establishes guidelines for all transactions that bind or commit the company to performance or expend ...
Checklists & Questionnaires
Financial Close Process Questionnaire
This sample questionnaire can be used by auditors to analyze and enhance the financial close process.
Articles
Who Audits Public Companies – Italy 2021
In this article, Audit Analytics looks at Italy’s audit market of the top companies for fiscal year 2021.
Benchmarking Tools
Manage Capital Planning Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
This document includes key performance measures an organization can use to improve its capital planning process.
Articles
Who Audits Public Companies – Germany 2021
In this article, Audit Analytics examines Germany’s audit market of the top companies for fiscal year 2021.
Audit Programs
International Site Visit Audit Work Program
This tool includes two sample audit programs that provide steps organizations can take when embarking upon an audit of a...
Checklists & Questionnaires
Audit Committee Responsibilities Questionnaire
The questions included in this tool can be used by audit committees to evaluate the scope of their responsibilities.
Subscriber Content
Articles
Auditor Changes Roundup: Q2 2022
Audit Analytics looks at the large increase in global and national firm engagements in Q2 2022.
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Consolidated Financial Statement Reporting and Disclosures Policy
This tool contains two sample policies that can be used to ensure the completeness and accuracy of disclosures made in q...
Subscriber Content
Articles
A Closer Look at Shareholder Votes Against Auditor Ratification – 2021
Audit Analytics looks at the highest percentage votes against auditor ratification between January 1, 2019, and December...
Subscriber Content
Methodologies & Models
Revenue Process Capability Maturity Model (CMM)
This capability maturity model can be used to measure the maturity of an organization’s revenue process and to assist it...
Subscriber Content
Checklists & Questionnaires
Close-the-Books Process Questionnaire
This sample questionnaire can be used to review and improve an organization’s close-the-books process.
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Employee Expense Policy
This tool includes two sample policies that document recommended processes for the corporate AP department to follow whe...
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Revenue Recognition Policy
This sample policy is designed to help organizations recognize revenue on sales transactions in a timely manner.
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Financial Statement Preparation Policy
The two sample policies included in this tool outline procedures to ensure content quality when creating financial state...
Subscriber Content
Methodologies & Models
Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting Compliance Capability Maturity Model (CMM)
This capability maturity model can be used to measure the maturity of an organization’s compliance with internal control...
Subscriber Content
Articles
SOX 404 Disclosures: An Eighteen-Year Review
Audit Analytics takes a closer look at trends in internal controls over financial reporting disclosures, spanning from f...
Subscriber Content
Checklists & Questionnaires
System Implementation Process Questionnaire
The questions included in this tool can be applied to the implementation of new systems or major upgrades.
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Significant Accounting Updates Policy
This tool contains two policy samples that document the controls designed to ensure the implementation and application o...
Subscriber Content
Benchmarking Tools
Close-the-Books Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Organizations can use the leading practices included in this tool to measure and improve their close-the-books process.
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Manual Journal Entry Review Policy
This tool contains two policy samples that establish guidelines and procedures that must be followed with respect to an ...
Subscriber Content
Methodologies & Models
Six Elements of Infrastructure for Public Company Readiness
This document includes the six elements of infrastructure focused on an organization’s public company readiness process.
Subscriber Content
Benchmarking Reports
2022 IT Audit Benchmarking Survey
The results of the latest IT Audit Technology Risks Survey from ISACA and Protiviti show a dynamic threat landscape that...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Q2 2022 Initial Public Offering Trends: 2022 Slowdown Continues
Audit Analytics examines the continuous decrease in the number and size of initial public offerings during the second qu...
Subscriber Content
Methodologies & Models
Finance Process Capability Maturity Model (CMM)
This capability maturity model can be used to measure the maturity of an organization’s finance process and to assist it...
Subscriber Content
Benchmarking Reports
2022 Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance Survey
The 2022 edition of Protiviti's annual SOX report shows that costs and hours continue to increase across most, if not al...
Subscriber Content
Guides
Fast Close Guide
In this tool, you will get two guides that provide leading close practices and key indicators of improvement opportuniti...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Who Audits Public Companies – 2022 Edition
Audit Analytics looks at who is currently conducting audits of SEC public registrants, based on reports filed with the S...
Subscriber Content
Articles
2021 Financial Restatements Review
Audit Analytics looks at the trends and statistics of financial restatements filed with the Securities and Exchange Comm...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Adjustments Continue to Decline in 2021
Audit Analytics examines the major decrease in financial adjustments over a 10-year period.
Subscriber Content
Checklists & Questionnaires
Control Deficiency Assessment Questionnaire
This questionnaire serves as a guide to determining the severity of deficiencies cited during the internal control testi...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Pent-Up Demand in the U.S. Lifts Commercial Real Estate Short-Term
Protiviti’s Jon Critelli and Joe Kornik sat down to discuss the U.S. commercial real estate sector and how it’ll impact ...
Subscriber Content
Methodologies & Models
Enterprise Resource Planning Capability Maturity Model (CMM)
This capability maturity model can be used to measure the maturity of an organization’s ERP management process and to as...
Subscriber Content
Audit Programs
Enterprise Risk Planning (ERP) Integration Architecture Audit Work Program
This work program template provides steps organizations can take to perform an enterprise risk planning (ERP) integratio...
Subscriber Content
Articles
IPOs Cool Off: Q1 2022 IPO Trends
In this article, Audit Analytics looks at the major decrease in initial public offerings compared to 2021.
Subscriber Content
Articles
Going Concerns: A 21-Year Review
Audit Analytics examines select trends and statistics of going concerns filed with the Securities and Exchange Commissio...
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Sales Process Policy
This tool contains three sample policies that define the general sales approach to assist in sales personnel’s understan...
Subscriber Content
Methodologies & Models
Financial Reporting Capability Maturity Model (CMM)
This capability maturity model can be used to measure the maturity of an organization’s financial reporting process and ...
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Collections Quality Assurance Policy
This sample policy is designed to help organizations standardize the collection process and identify additional training...
Subscriber Content
Articles
The SEC Focuses on Climate Change in Latest Round of Comment Letters
Audit Analytics looks at the latest round of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's climate-change-related commen...
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Corporate Aircraft Policy
This tool contains two policy samples that outline administrative and accounting procedures organizations should follow ...
Subscriber Content
Audit Programs
External Financial Reporting Audit Work Program
This audit program can be used by organizations to evaluate the operating effectiveness of internal controls associated ...
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Tax Accounting Policy
This tool contains two sample policies that establish uniform procedures for recording and filing U.S. taxes for a compa...
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Cash and Cash Equivalents Policy
The purpose of this policy is to establish uniform policies for cash and cash equivalents for companies that preserve pr...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Trends in 2020 Canadian KAMs
Audit Analytics examines the trends and risks of the 2020 Canadian key audit matters and provides insight into the amoun...
Subscriber Content
Audit Programs
Control Environment Audit Work Program
This audit work program focuses on the control environment component of the COSO Framework.
Subscriber Content
Memos
Treasury Operations Scoping Memo
The purpose of this sample memo is to outline the scope, objectives, planned work and general timing of a treasury opera...
Subscriber Content
Checklists & Questionnaires
Integrating Section 404 and Section 302 Compliance Questionnaire
This tool contains two sample questionnaires that can be used by management and board members to achieve a sustainable i...
Subscriber Content
Regulatory Updates
Developments at and During COP26: The First Week
In this Flash Report, we offer suggestions for companies to consider in the aftermath of the first week of the UN Climat...
Subscriber Content
Checklists & Questionnaires
Disclosure Committee Questionnaire
Use the questions included in this tool to ensure that all necessary quarterly financial reporting disclosures are addre...
Subscriber Content
Checklists & Questionnaires
Monthly Financial Close Process Checklist
This tool contains two sample checklists that can be used to determine the extent to which various best business practic...
Subscriber Content
Audit Programs
Fixed Assets and Property Audit Work Program
In this work program sample, we provide general steps organizations can take when conducting a property and fixed assets...
Subscriber Content
Articles
AQRM Red Flags: Auditors
Audit Analytics looks at the auditor-specific aspects of its Accounting Quality + Risk Matrix (AQRM) and explains why so...
Subscriber Content
Charters
Disclosure Committee Charter
This document provides two examples of guidelines for creating a disclosure committee charter.
Subscriber Content
Articles
Impacts of COVID-19 on Public Companies
Audit Analytics looks at the pandemic’s impacts on certain aspects of financial reporting and financial health metrics o...
Subscriber Content
Articles
AQRM Red Flags: Financial Reporting
In this article, Audit Analytics breaks down the risks associated with specific firm-level events included in the Accoun...
Subscriber Content
Benchmarking Tools
Budgeting Leading Practices
This tool provides a systematic process and the best-practice elements for managing an organization’s budgeting function...
Subscriber Content
Benchmarking Tools
Pricing Risk Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
This document includes leading practices and questions an organization should consider when developing its pricing strat...
Subscriber Content
Articles
AQRM Red Flags: Changes in Accounting Estimates
Audit Analytics examines the significant changes in accounting estimates related to property, plants and equipment for 2...
Subscriber Content
Benchmarking Tools
Audit Committee Responsibilities and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
This tool contains leading practices and key performance indicators organizations should use for the audit committee's r...
Subscriber Content
Research Reports
Growing Number of ICFR Issues Following IPO
In this exclusive report, Audit Analytics explores trends in companies reporting internal control deficiencies immediate...
Subscriber Content
Articles
AQRM Red Flags: Controls
Audit Analytics examines the red flag events concerning a company’s control environment, including control weaknesses, l...
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Intercompany Accounting Policy
This tool contains three sample policies that outline guidelines and procedures related to an organization’s intercompan...
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Earnings Per Share Policy
This tool contains two policy samples that can be used by organizations to establish uniform policies for the calculatio...
Subscriber Content
Audit Programs
Application Audit Work Program
This tool includes three audit program samples that can be used by organizations to evaluate and improve business unit a...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Initial Public Offerings: Recent Trends in Corporate Governance Risks
Audit Analytics takes a deeper look at the risks that initial public offerings pose to investors, regulators and other f...
Subscriber Content
Benchmarking Tools
Sales Compensation Leading Practices
This tool features several leading practices to assist with evaluating and improving an organization’s sales compensatio...
Subscriber Content
Articles
SEC Adopts Final Rule to Modernize MD&A and Related Financial Disclosures
In this article, we discuss the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s final rule to modernize, simplify and enhance ...
Subscriber Content
Articles
FinCEN and the Banking Agencies Clarify Due Diligence Requirements for Charities, Non-Profit Organizations
A look at how finance firms can determine the risk of a charity or non-profit organization (NPO) and develop a customer ...
Subscriber Content
Articles
A Closer Look at Votes Against Auditor Ratification — 2020
Audit Analytics looks at the highest percentage votes against auditor ratification between January 1, 2018, and December...
Subscriber Content
Audit Programs
Enterprise Resource Planning Security Audit Work Program
In this work program sample, we list general best-practice steps for the enterprise resource planning security process.
Subscriber Content
Audit Reports
Enterprise Resource Planning Upgrade Audit Report
Auditors can use this audit report template for conducting and documenting the results of an enterprise resource plannin...
Subscriber Content
Articles
SOX Compliance Under COVID-19: Considerations for Completing Quarterly Assessments
In this article, we provide a brief reminder on guidance and disclosure requirements, highlight current SEC insights and...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Academic Spotlight: Auditor Ratification’s Impact on Audit Quality
In this article, Audit Analytics examines a frequency distribution analysis of percentage votes against auditor ratifica...
Subscriber Content
Benchmarking Reports
2021 Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance Survey
The 2021 edition of Protiviti's annual SOX report explains some of the changes SOX compliance practices have faced post-...
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Chart of Accounts Policy
The three sample policies included in this tool establish standards for governing the handling of all of an organization...
Subscriber Content
Articles
SEC Enforcement Actions Reveal Continuing Importance of Accurate Disclosures
Audit Analytics examines the recent increase in the amount of enforcement actions citing false and/or misleading stateme...
Subscriber Content
Charters
Board of Directors Authorization Charter
This sample establishes guidelines and responsibilities for developing a board of directors authorization charter.
Subscriber Content
Articles
SEC Enforcement Highlights Late Filing Disclosure Risks
Audit Analytics examines the SEC’s recently announced charges against companies that failed to disclose complete informa...
Subscriber Content
Benchmarking Reports
2020 Finance Trends Survey Report: The Transformation of Transactional Work
When comparing the findings of our latest global survey of finance trends to the results of prior years, one of the most...
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Foreign Currency Policy
The purpose of this policy is to establish uniform policies for recording foreign currency transactions and translations...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Importance of Internal Controls for Cybersecurity
Audit Analytics examines the increase in cybersecurity breaches disclosed by public companies since 2011.
Subscriber Content
Articles
Counting on Cycle Counts? A Re-Think May Be in Order
To ensure the reliability of cycle counts and stave off the necessity for a full wall-to-wall inventory count at year-en...
Subscriber Content
Articles
A Farewell to Paul Sarbanes
Protiviti Managing Director Jim DeLoach honors Paul Sarbanes and highlights his efforts to protect investors and create ...
Subscriber Content
Benchmarking Tools
Opportunity Cost Risk Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
This benchmarking tool outlines the business risks of opportunity cost and shares the root causes and performance measur...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Setting the 2021 Audit Committee Agenda: Your Questions Answered
Protiviti’s Chris Wright and Brian Christensen address some of the questions asked by attendees of a recent webinar on t...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Q1 2021 IPOs: Auditor Market Share and Stats
Audit Analytics examines the unprecedented rise in initial public offerings in U.S. markets between January 1, 2021, and...
Subscriber Content
Articles
SPACs Are Hot But Be Well Prepared — The SEC Is Watching
This article explains how special purpose acquisition company sponsors can mitigate potential liability related to publi...
Subscriber Content
Benchmarking Tools
External Financial Information Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
This tool focuses on the key objectives for providing external financial information, the outcome measures associated wi...
Subscriber Content
Articles
SPACs Spotlight: Filings Trend Meets Fine Print in Latest SEC Statement
In this article, we examine what was buried in the footnotes of the SEC's latest Division of Corporation Finance stateme...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Changes to Accounting Standards Offer Transformational Opportunities for Insurers, With Extended Time to Implement
This article shares how insurers can take advantage of the FASB’s deferred compliance dates to transform key business fu...
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Financial Close Policy: Capital Project Procedures
This sample policy highlights capital project procedures organizations should follow during the financial close process.
Subscriber Content
Benchmarking Tools
Project Management Risk Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
This tool contains leading practices and questions companies should consider when creating their project management stra...
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Financial Close Policy: Bank Reconciliation Procedures
This policy sample outlines bank reconciliation procedures organizations should follow during the financial close proces...
Subscriber Content
Articles
How the SEC’s Focus on Climate Change Might Affect Comment Letters
In this article, Audit Analytics examines the SEC's recent decision to focus on climate-related disclosures as well as t...
Subscriber Content
Benchmarking Tools
Communicate With Shareholders Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
This tool outlines leading practices and questions that can be used by organizations to develop and manage shareholder c...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Serving Their Purpose? Insights on Critical and Key Audit Matters
Here, Audit Analytics analyzes the differences, viability and effectiveness of critical and key audit disclosures.
Subscriber Content
Benchmarking Tools
Accounts Payable Process Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
This tool includes key performance indicators an organization should use to measure and improve its accounts payable pro...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Audit Opinion Types Available in Our Europe Database
Audit Analytics explores the differences between an unqualified opinion and a modified opinion, noting which ones should...
Subscriber Content
Articles
A Closer Look into Human Capital Management Disclosures
Audit Analytics examines environmental, social and governance disclosures of amended regulations regarding human capital...
Subscriber Content
Articles
New Territory: Private Equity Firms Eye the 401K Market
This article recaps the U.S. Department of Labor’s recent Information Letter and outlines key risks private equity firms...
Subscriber Content
Articles
SPAC Popularity Continues to Grow
Audit Analytics examines 2020’s unprecedented rise in special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) initial public offering...
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Standard Shipping and Packaging Policy
The purpose of this sample policy is to ensure that all items manufactured by an organization are given the necessary pr...
Subscriber Content
Process Flows
Treasury and Cash Management Process Flow
This tool includes two sample process flows that can be used as a general guide to understanding and reviewing the steps...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Remediating Internal Control Weaknesses During a Pandemic
As 2020 ends and many public companies are preparing annual financial statements, Audit Analytics examines the companies...
Subscriber Content
Articles
CECL and the AICPA Practice Aid (Part 4): Modeling Considerations and COVID-19
Part 4 of our AICPA Practice Aid highlights the pandemic’s impact on loss models and provides key considerations finance...
Subscriber Content
Process Flows
Close-the-Books Process Flow
This tool includes two sample process flows that can be used as a general guide to understanding, reviewing and mapping ...
Subscriber Content
Benchmarking Tools
Warehouse and Storage Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
This tool outlines leading practices and key performance indicators for the warehouse and storage process.
Subscriber Content
Newsletters
10 ESG Reporting Questions Directors Should Consider
This issue of Board Perspectives: Risk Oversight poses 10 questions boards should focus on to ensure sustainable and res...
Subscriber Content
Articles
PCAOB Adopts Amendments to Independence Rules, Announces 2020-2024 Strategic Plan
Here, Audit Analytics analyzes the PCAOB’s targeted amendments to its interim independence standards applicable to lendi...
Subscriber Content
Audit Reports
Site Review Audit Report
This document contains three sample reports that can be used by auditors to learn how other organizations facilitated a ...
Subscriber Content
Newsletters
One Year Later: Does The Business Roundtable Statement Matter?
This issue of Board Perspectives recaps the Business Roundtable’s latest statement and suggests ways directors can overs...
Subscriber Content
Newsletters
Setting the 2021 Audit Committee Agenda
In this issue of The Bulletin, Protiviti suggests eight 2021 audit committee agenda issues and offers questions for audi...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Rise of the SPACs: Understanding the Risks and Rewards in This Vogue IPO Vehicle
This article explores the rising popularity of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) and shares how they can hel...
Subscriber Content
Articles
SOX 404 Disclosures: A Sixteen-Year Review
Audit Analytics examines the trends in Section 404 disclosures over a sixteen-year period, considering both auditor atte...
Subscriber Content
Checklists & Questionnaires
Internal Control Structure Validation Questionnaire
This tool features questions to consider for verifying an organization’s internal controls over financial reporting (ICF...
Subscriber Content
Articles
2020 Audit Committee Transparency Barometer
Audit Analytics examines the Audit Committee Transparency Barometer’s continuous upward trends among S&P 500 compani...
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Bad Debt Policy
This tool contains two sample policies that establish procedures for determining the bad debt reserve when finalizing ac...
Subscriber Content
Checklists & Questionnaires
Project Management Office (PMO) Strength Questionnaire
This tool provides cost-effective project management questions to consider for examining and enhancing an organization’s...
Subscriber Content
Checklists & Questionnaires
Internal Audit External Quality Assessment Process Results Questionnaire
This tool outlines questions organizations can use to measure the external quality of their internal audit functions.
Subscriber Content
Articles
SOX Compliance: Consider COVID-19 Impact on Management Review Control Execution
This article outlines steps to consider as you prepare your control documentation along with some specific assumption co...
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Spreadsheet Controls Policy
This tool contains two samples that outline policies and procedures to give guidance and ensure compliance related to fi...
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Capital Assets Policy
This tool contains two sample policies that outline procedures for handling and identifying capital assets across the co...
Subscriber Content
Audit Reports
Executive Report on Internal Controls
This tool contains two samples that provide specific guidance internal audit can use when reporting on the state of inte...
Subscriber Content
Charters
Audit Committee Charter
This document contains nine samples that provide guidelines and standards for creating an audit committee charter.
Subscriber Content
Checklists & Questionnaires
Effective Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting (ICFR) Testing Questionnaire
This tool outlines best practices and questions to consider when documenting the summary and results of ICFR testing.
Subscriber Content
Policies & Procedures
Record Management Policy
This tool contains two sample policies that outline guidelines and procedures related to managing and retaining business...
Subscriber Content
Checklists & Questionnaires
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Results Questionnaire
This tool highlights best practices and questions to consider when evaluating an organization’s risk assessment process ...
Subscriber Content
Articles
A Finance Labor Model Tailor-Made for Navigating Crises
This article details the challenges finance leaders have faced during COVID-19 and explains what makes a managed service...
Subscriber Content
Checklists & Questionnaires
Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting (ICFR) Deficiencies Questionnaire
This tool highlights questions to consider for understanding and assessing internal control over financial reporting (IC...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Managing and Mitigating Credit Risks and Losses Through the Crisis and Beyond
This article describes the impact of COVID-19 on the financial services industry and outlines steps lenders should take ...
Subscriber Content
Checklists & Questionnaires
Internal Control Process Improvement Questionnaire
This sample questionnaire uses process capability frameworks to identify internal control improvement opportunities for ...
Subscriber Content
Articles
PCAOB Debuts New Inspection Report Format
Audit Analytics describes the PCAOB’s newly designed inspection report and highlights the report’s key changes.
Subscriber Content
Checklists & Questionnaires
Internal Audit Skills Questionnaire
This sample questionnaire measures an organization’s CPE program and co-sourcing arrangements with respect to the skills...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Pre-IPO Companies – Put Your Vendors’ SOC Reports on Your 2020 Reading List
This article underlines the importance of SOC reporting and how it can better prepare private companies for a successful...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Going Concerns Related to Unknown COVID-19 Impacts
Audit Analytics reviews the audit opinions of SEC-registered public companies that have been significantly impacted by t...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Mandatory Audit Firm Rotation in the FTSE 350
Audit Analytics examines 34 FTSE 350 companies that are required to rotate audit firms or conduct a tender process by 20...
Subscriber Content
Articles
COVID-19 Impacts on Accounting, Reporting and Internal Controls
This article discusses key accounting and audit impacts and practices finance leaders should consider as they respond to...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Moving Finance to the Cloud: What Finance Leaders Need to Know
This article summarizes the importance of cloud migration and provides insight finance leaders need to execute their mig...
Subscriber Content
Articles
Working Together: Bank Regulators Encourage Flexibility and Offer the Same During COVID-19 Pandemic
This article explains what a joint statement recently issued by the regulatory agencies means for financial institutions...
Subscriber Content
Articles
2020 Trends in Cybersecurity Breach Disclosures
In this article, Audit Analytics analyzes the trends and statistics of public company cybersecurity disclosures over the...
Subscriber Content
Checklists & Questionnaires
Configurable Application Controls Questionnaire
This sample questionnaire uses configuration tools to evaluate and improve an organization's configurable application co...
Subscriber Content
Audit Reports
Critical Business Processes Audit Report
This sample audit report can be used by auditors for assessing and improving an organization’s business process risk.
Subscriber Content
Articles
COVID-19 Impacts on European Audit Opinions
In this article, Audit Analytics examines the currents trends of European small- and large-cap filers that have been imp...
Subscriber Content
Audit Programs
Hotel Financial Reporting and Revenue Recognition Audit Work Program
This sample audit program includes steps that can be used to perform a comprehensive review of hotel revenue.
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Standardized Testing Program Questionnaire
This tool can be used to gain a better understanding of common SOX standardized testing risks and to develop a standard ...
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Articles
The Federal Reserve Steps in to Help Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
This article outlines how the Federal Reserve assisted small and medium-sized businesses by making the paycheck protecti...
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Audit Reports
Equity Compensation Review Audit Report
This document contains two sample audit reports that can be used by auditors for assessing and reviewing an organization...
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Newsletters
What Directors Should Be Asking Right Now
This issue of Board Perspectives: Risk Oversight poses 10 questions meriting consideration for most industries during th...
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Articles
COVID-19 and SOX: Practical Considerations While Navigating the Crisis
This article discusses Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic and identifies long-term...
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Audit Reports
Financial Close Review Audit Report
This audit report sample can be used by auditors for understanding and reviewing an organization’s financial close proce...
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Articles
The COVID-19 Effect on IPOs: Pre-Public Firms Press ‘‘Pause’’ for Now, but IPO Readiness Must Continue
This article explains the current pace of companies' initial public offerings from COVID-19 and outlines measures organi...
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Articles
FEMA Funding $$$$ Beginning With the End in Mind: COVID-19 Efforts
This article explains the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) funding process and outlines key considerations h...
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Articles
Class Action Lawsuits and Regulatory Litigation Related to COVID-19
In this article, Audit Analytics analyzes class action security lawsuits that were filed against companies due to circum...
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Audit Programs
Accounts Receivable/Collections Audit Work Program
This tool contains two sample work programs that provide general steps organizations should use when facilitating an acc...
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Policies & Procedures
Fixed Assets Policy
This tool contains three sample policies that establish guidelines and procedures for reviewing and understanding an org...
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Articles
Insurers Targeted in UK Supervisory Authorities’ Latest Effort to Develop Formal Operational Resilience Regulations
This article provides some insight on what makes global insurers the latest regulatory effort to strengthen the operatio...
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Audit Programs
Bank Branch Internal Audit Work Program
This document includes a variety of sample work programs that can be used to audit bank branch processes, including cert...
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Articles
Critical Audit Matters in Audit Committee Disclosures
Audit Analytics shares its findings on S&P companies that have disclosed the audit committee’s role in critical audi...
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Articles
Succession Planning in Finance: Sourcing the Next Generation of Leaders
This article explains why today’s finance leaders are compelled to adapt their succession planning approaches and offers...
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Articles
CECL and the New AICPA Practice Aid (Part 2): Financial Statement Presentation and Enhanced Financial Statement Disclosures
Part two of our CECL discussion will drill down into requirements intended to ensure that financial statement presentati...
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Policies & Procedures
Finance End-User Computing Policy
This document contains two sample policies that provide guidelines and procedures for reviewing an organization’s financ...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Control Rationalization and Cost-Effectiveness Questionnaire
This tool highlights questions to consider when implementing and measuring an organization’s cost-effectiveness and cont...
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Benchmarking Tools
Developing Budgets Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
This benchmarking tool contains two examples that focus on cost-based, quality-based and timed-based performance measure...
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Articles
Decade of Data: Trends in Audit Fees Across Europe
In this article, Audit Analytics examines 10 years of annual audit and non-audit fee trends of companies listed on regul...
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Articles
In Latest Operational Resilience Proposals for UK Institutions, Regulators Outline Expectations for Outsourcing Arrangements and Third-Party Risk Management
This article outlines the Prudential Regulation Authority’s (PRA) significant proposal, which provide the strongest indi...
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Articles
The 2020 Audit Committee Agenda: Asking the Right Questions
This article discusses seven key questions audit committees should consider for enhancing the context of their risk over...
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Policies & Procedures
Contingent Liabilities Policy
This document contains two sample policies that provide guidelines and procedures for recognizing and disclosing an orga...
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Articles
Audit Fees of the S&P 500
In this article, Audit Analytics takes a closer look at what audit fees look like across different industries within 500...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Executive Sponsorship Change Management Questionnaire
This tool outlines questions to consider for effectively managing all essential elements of organizational change in an ...
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Policies & Procedures
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Policy
This tool contains two sample policies that establish processes organizations can use for ensuring that uniform accounti...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Business Process Re-Engineering Questionnaire
This tool outlines questions to consider for measuring and restructuring organizations’ business processes.
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Audit Programs
Returned Checks Audit Work Program
This sample audit program provides general steps organizations should follow when reviewing returned checks.
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Outsourcing, Alliances and Joint Ventures Risk Questionnaire
This tool highlights questions to consider for understanding and assessing an organization’s outsourcing, alliances and ...
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Newsletters
Operational Resiliency and the Role of the Board
This issue of Board Perspectives covers some of the important points and key takeaways discussed during Protiviti’s meet...
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Articles
LIBOR Transition: Preventing History From Repeating Itself
This article describes the financial markets’ preparedness to replace the London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR) and provid...
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Articles
PCAOB Shares Audit Committee Insights
This article takes a closer look at some top-level insights from Protiviti’s recent Flash Report, which highlights key p...
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Articles
Expected Filing Season Trends, Including Coronavirus Disclosures
In this article, Audit Analytics explains some of the new and interesting trends, including the novel coronavirus, discl...
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Policies & Procedures
Internal Disclosure Certification Process Policy
This policy documents the internal disclosure certification process, which is designed to provide comfort to the executi...
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Articles
RPA Offers a Fast and Cost-Effective Way to Automate Account Reconciliations
This article shares how one of the most labor-intensive finance department activities, robotic process automation, can o...
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Articles
CECL and the New AICPA Practice Aid: What Audit Committee Members Need to Know (Part 1)
This article explores the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) accounting standard updates and introduces the AICPA’s Pra...
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Methodologies & Models
Financial Close Process Capability Maturity Model (CMM)
This capability maturity model can be used to measure the maturity of an organization’s financial close process and to a...
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Articles
Changes to Auditor Independence Regulations: US vs. UK
This article reviews the anticipated changes proposed by the SEC and revised standards implemented by the Financial Repo...
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Articles
OCC Flags Warning Signs of Operational, Credit and Interest Rate Risks
This article takes a look at the current and emerging risks facing finance firms as of last year, based on the OCC recen...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Controls Self-Assessment Questionnaire
The questions included in this control self-assessment questionnaire can be used to evaluate an organization’s business ...
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Policies & Procedures
Prepaid Expenses Policy
This tool contains two sample policies that establish standards and procedures for identifying and recording an organiza...
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Articles
FFIEC’s Updated BCM Booklet Highlights Operational Resilience Concepts
This article looks at the significant changes made to the FFIEC’s updated business continuity management booklet and pro...
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Articles
Seventeen-Year Review of Audit Fee and Non-Audit Fee Trends
In this article, Audit Analytics summarizes some of the highlights from its annual audit fees report, which focuses on t...
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Articles
Dynamic Markets, Changing Regulations: Is Your Loan Portfolio Management Practice Moving in Step?
This article reviews loan portfolio risk in today’s financial market and identifies four key areas where loan portfolio ...
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Articles
PCAOB Announces 2019-2023 Strategic Plan
In this article, Audit Analytics examines the PCAOB’s recently revealed strategic plan, compares it to previous years’ p...
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Methodologies & Models
Six Elements of Infrastructure for International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Conversion
This sample document includes the six elements of infrastructure for an organization's international financial reporting...
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Articles
Public Company Transformation: Critical Audit Matters Should Matter for Soon-to-Be-Public Companies
This article shares some insight on critical audit matters (CAMs) and what they mean for private companies as part of th...
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Articles
SOX Compliance: Faster Automation, Fewer Controls and How to Get There
This article reviews what parts of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance can benefit from automation and provides credible rec...
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Articles
In Many Technology Firms, the “Tech Balance” Wave Is Building in the Finance Function
This article looks at some tech industry-related findings from our recent finance trends survey that highlight how many ...
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Articles
More to Discover With CAMs
In this article, Audit Analytics presents its findings on critical audit matter (CAM) counts and introduces a new CAM on...
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Newsletters
Setting the 2020 Audit Committee Agenda
This issue of The Bulletin identifies several agenda items for audit committees to consider in the upcoming year.
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Articles
With FASB Deadlines Finalized, a Final Checklist for CECL Readiness
For the smaller institutions that have until the end of 2022 to comply with the FASB's four major accounting standards, ...
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Methodologies & Models
Mergers and Acquisitions Integration Methodology
This tool provides an overview of an organization's process for executing mergers and acquisitions and includes a four-s...
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Articles
What Investors Need to Know About Audits
In this article, Audit Analytics evaluates the state of today’s audit process by looking at four areas of financial repo...
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Audit Programs
Investments Audit Work Program
This audit program sample includes steps that can be used to audit an organization’s investments process.
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Articles
Lease Accounting Changes: The Journey So Far
This article summarizes finance organizations’ lease accounting journey and provides steps that can be used for the leas...
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Provide Financial Information to External Parties: 10-K Preparation RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to 10-K preparation during the “provide financial information to extern...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Quote-to-Cash Scoping Questionnaire
This sample questionnaire can be used to assess the process associated with quote-to-cash management.
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Articles
The History of Critical Audit Matters
In this article, Audit Analytics examines the story behind how the disclosure of critical audit matters came to be in th...
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Articles
The OCC’s 2020 Supervision Plan Targets Emerging Risks Facing Financial Institutions
This article discusses the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s supervisory plan for 2020, which is designed to h...
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Articles
SOX Control Awareness and Communication Is One Way Organizations Can Help Reduce Costs and Hours
This article outlines some communication techniques organizations can use to reduce the total number of hours spent on S...
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Articles
What Can We Learn About CAMs from KAMs?
In this article, Audit Analytics examines similar trends between critical audit matters (CAMs) and key audit matters (KA...
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Benchmarking Reports
Five Ways Customer-Focused CFOs Thrive
This paper provides five finance trends and related actions for boards to consider, based on key takeaways from Protivit...
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Articles
It’s Time for a Closer Look at Consumer Loan Monitoring: Here Are Some Best Practices
This article focuses on three areas that can help risk managers enhance credit risk management practices over consumer p...
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Manage Customer Orders: Sales Approval Process Risk and Control Matrix (RCM)
This document outlines risks and controls common to sales approval during the ‘‘manage customer orders’’ process in a ri...
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Audit Reports
Close-the-Books, Finance, IT and Human Resources Review Report
This sample audit report can be used for evaluating the financial close and payroll processes with respect to use of the...
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Policies & Procedures
Compensation Expense Policy
This policy establishes guidelines and procedures for calculating compensation expenses for the employee stock purchase ...
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Articles
Importance of Critical Audit Matters (CAMs) for Investors
In this article, Audit Analytics explains some of the ways CAMs, as disclosures of items related to important aspects of...
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Benchmarking Reports
The CFO and Finance Organization: Five Trends for Boards to Watch
This paper provides five finance trends and related actions for boards to consider, based on key takeaways from Protivit...
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Audit Reports
Financial Reporting Process Review Audit Report
This sample audit report focuses on improving an organization's close-the-books and financial reporting processes.
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Manage Base and Variable Compensation: Equity Compensation Risk and Control Matrix (RCM)
This document outlines risks and controls common to the equity compensation aspect of the ‘‘manage base and variable com...
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Articles
New Finance Trends Survey by Protiviti Reveals a Strategic Shift in CFO Priorities
This article takes a closer look at the significant shift in priorities and activities for CFOs and senior finance execu...
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Articles
Trends in the Number of Key Audit Matters Reported
In this article, Audit Analytics analyzes significant trends in the number of key audit matters (KAMs) disclosed in annu...
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Articles
Evolution of SOX 404 Disclosures for EGCs
In this article, Audit Analytics analyzes SOX 404 disclosures as the target of those seeking to introduce further regula...
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Benchmarking Reports
2019 Finance Trends Survey Report
Protiviti’s latest Global Finance Trends Survey Report highlights the top issues facing CFOs and finance leaders, includ...
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Articles
CECL: A Regulators’ Perspective
In this article, Protiviti’s Todd Pleune and Jeffrey Marsh outline regulators’ viewpoint on the CECL journey, as outline...
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Disclosure Procedures: Legal Reserves RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to creating and monitoring legal reserves during the disclosure procedu...
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Articles
Compliance 2.0: Transforming SOX Practices With Technology
This article describes a new technology-driven SOX model, SOX compliance 2.0, and its ability to encourage innovative th...
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Articles
FASB Proposes Delaying New Lease Standards for Private Companies, But There’s No Time to Waste
This article summarizes the lease accounting standard pressures organizations face and offers a step-by-step process for...
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Guides
Process and Activity-Level Controls Assessment Guide
This sample document can be used as a guide to assessing controls at the process or activity level.
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Purchase Materials and Supplies: Monitor Contract Spend RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to monitoring contract spend during the “purchase materials and supplie...
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Guides
Sarbanes-Oxley 404 Compliance Project Testing and Documentation Standards Guide
This guide can be used by Sarbanes-Oxley project teams to test Section 404 key controls and document the testing results...
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Articles
Cyber Risks Drawing Increased Scrutiny in Public Company Transition
In this article, Protiviti Managing Directors Nicholas Spinks and David Taylor explain how important it is to sharpen th...
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Articles
Microsoft Discloses Critical Audit Matters
In this article, Audit Analytics analyzes Microsoft’s August 2019 annual report, which provided a wealth of information ...
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Provide Financial Information to External Parties: Risk Reporting RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to the risk reporting aspect of the “provide financial information to e...
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Articles
SOX Compliance Survey: One Decade of Insights
This article highlights a decade of SOX compliance efforts documented in Protiviti’s annual Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance su...
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Audit Reports
Tax Compliance Process Report
This sample audit report outlines the business process related to tax compliance and provides tips to help a Sarbanes-Ox...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Financial Reporting Process Questionnaire: Consolidation Systems
This sample questionnaire focuses on the financial reporting process within a consolidation system.
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Guides
Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 Compliance Guide
This sample document can be used as a guide for establishing an organization’s framework and standard policy for complia...
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Articles
Frequency of KAMs
In this article, Audit Analytics examines key audit matter disclosures from the audit opinions of approximately 1,400 co...
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Articles
No Stone Unturned: Key Considerations for Finalizing CECL Model Implementation and Validation
This article answers questions related to the implementation of the new CECL standard and helps organizations become bet...
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Guides
PMO Interim Status Reporting Guide
This guide outlines the interim status reporting process set up by a project management office (PMO).
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Audit Reports
Close-the-Books Diagnostic Audit Report
This sample audit report can be used to measure and improve the close-the-books process for the accounting/finance funct...
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Newsletters
The Caremark Standard: Tough but Not Impregnable
This issue of Board Perspectives: Risk Oversight describes the background and implications of the Caremark decision and ...
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Articles
Considering Internal Whistleblower Systems When Evaluating External Risk
In this article, Audit Analytics outlines the importance of assessing an internal whistleblower system when evaluating t...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Public Company Readiness Questionnaire
This questionnaire focuses on certain aspects of the IPO preparation process and specific areas management should addres...
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Articles
Following Through on the Audit Committee Agenda for 2019: Financial Reporting
This article looks back at the implementation of revenue recognition, assesses how things are going with the adoption of...
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Articles
Overcoming ERP Change Management Challenges: Part Two
Part one of this discussion with Protiviti’s Ronan O’Shea and Kathie Topel introduced some of the biggest challenges com...
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Articles
SEC Expected to Approve Reg BI in ‘‘the Next Few Months’’ but Final Outcome Remains Uncertain
In this article, Protiviti Managing Director Douglas Wilbert outlines the Securities and Exchanges Commission's standard...
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Articles
When Does Insurance Cover Cyberattacks?
In this article, Audit Analytics explores recent trends in cybercrime, including insurance payout pushback and what comp...
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Guides
Control Testing Responsibility Guide
This guide outlines the Sarbanes-Oxley responsibility assignments and testing process for primary manual controls.
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Articles
Overcoming ERP Change Management Challenges: Part One
This article, based on a conversation with Protiviti’s Ronan O’Shea and Kathie Topel, outlines effective ERP implementat...
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Articles
Applying Qualitative Factor Overlays on CECL Models: Key Considerations
This article provides qualitative and environmental factors an organization should consider for a successful CECL prepar...
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Articles
CEO and CFO Departures: 2016-2018
In this article, Audit Analytics takes a closer look at overall departure trends of CEOs and CFOs filed in an 8-K Item 5...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Sales Order Entry Questionnaire
This sample questionnaire is designed to document a review of the sales order entry process. This process focuses on evi...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
IT Planning Questionnaire
This sample questionnaire can be used to help organizations brainstorm how they can develop a deeper knowledge of the IT...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
General Accounting Questionnaire: Finance Process Improvement Project Plan
This tool reviews questions to consider for tracking details associated with financial process efficiency and improving ...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Inventory Management Process Controls Questionnaire
This sample questionnaire includes a list of items to consider when reviewing an organization’s inventory management pro...
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Audit Reports
Stock Option Measurement and Grant Date Review Report
This sample audit report outlines the results of an internal audit review of a company’s stock option granting activitie...
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Benchmarking Reports
2019 Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance Survey
This report describes how several emerging SOX compliance practices are growing and how the cost, hours and control coun...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
IFRS Questionnaire
There are many practical issues surrounding the possible future use of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Revenue Process Controls Questionnaire
This sample questionnaire includes a list of items to consider when reviewing an organization’s revenue process controls...
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Audit Reports
Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 Program Executive Scorecard Report
This document serves as an executive report template focused on the progress of a company's Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 p...
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Articles
Pros and Cons of Using Non-GAAP Metrics for Executive Compensation, Including ESG Considerations
Here, Audit Analytics discusses the frequently debated topic of companies that use non-GAAP metrics for executive compen...
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Guides
SOX Training Guide: Remediation Efforts and Needs
An important part of complying with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Section 404 is ensuring that control deficiencies are accuratel...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Financial Close Process Questionnaire: Generate Financial Statements and Disclosures
This questionnaire focuses on the financial close process, specifically generating financial statements and related disc...
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Audit Reports
Financial Transformation Report: Lean Consolidation
This sample report discusses how to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization's financial consolida...
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Articles
ICFR Weakness as a Risk Factor — Similarities in Companies With Ineffective Controls
In this article, Audit Analytics highlights three companies with internal control weaknesses and examines their common i...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
IT Selection and Integration Risk Questionnaire
IT integration is a process in which separately produced components or subsystems are combined and problems in their int...
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Articles
Private Companies: Avoid Revenue Reckoning — Tackle Revenue Recognition Now
Although it is possible for private companies to wait until year-end to comply with new revenue recognition rules, this ...
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Articles
Insurance Accounting Changes Are Coming Globally, and a Coordinated Approach Is Best
This article takes a look at the latest guidance on long-duration insurance contracts and what insurers should be doing ...
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Articles
Proactive ESG Reporting Could Give Energy and Utilities Firms a Competitive Advantage
In this article, Protiviti’s Tyler Chase and Bob Hirth offer reporting tips that can lead to positive bottom-line result...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Sales Planning and Forecasting Process Appraisal Questionnaire
This questionnaire sample includes questions that can be addressed when evaluating an organization's sales planning and ...
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Audit Programs
Travel Agent Commissions Review Audit Work Program
This work program focuses on the high-level assessment and validation of key controls in place for the travel agent comm...
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Audit Programs
Order Entry/Customer Service Audit Work Program
The purpose of this work program is to provide the general steps used to perform an order entry/customer service audit.
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Articles
Planning to Go Public in 2019? How to Get and Stay IPO-Ready Through the Government Shutdowns and Other Market Conditions
If your organization is considering a public offering in 2019, we recommend you review this article to learn the fundame...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Sarbanes-Oxley Section 302 Diagnostic Survey
This tool helps an organization assess how well it complies with various Sarbanes-Oxley Section 302 activities.
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Articles
Slow Adoption Progress of ASC 842 – Leases
The FASB issued a new lease accounting standard (ASC 842) in February 2016, but it didn’t come into effect until 2019 fo...
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Articles
Back Off, Inefficiencies: Conquering Chaos in the Back Office Is Closer Than You Think
This article explains how a hard-working team of internal resources and external partners can apply their respective exp...
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Audit Reports
Sarbanes-Oxley Year-End Audit Committee Report
This sample report to the audit committee focuses on the progress of an organization's Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 progra...
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Newsletters
Sustainability Reporting: Time to Get Serious?
This issue of The Bulletin discusses sustainability reporting – what it is, how it is being enabled, why it is important...
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Articles
CECL Financial Statement Disclosures — What’s Changing?
Protiviti explains precisely which aspects of legacy U.S. GAAP and other related guidance are changing under the CECL st...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Site Audit Questionnaire
This questionnaire includes an extensive — but not exhaustive — list of questions typically used to drill down to the fa...
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Newsletters
Sustainability Reporting: Why Boards Should Care
This issue of Board Perspectives: Risk Oversight discusses 10 key sustainability reporting factors for interested compan...
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Audit Reports
Foreign Subsidiary Review Audit Report
This sample report documents an internal audit review of several aspects of a foreign subsidiary, including revenue and ...
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Articles
Overview of European Key Audit Matter (KAM) Disclosures
In this article, Audit Analytics looks at the key audit matter disclosures of more than 1,200 companies over the past th...
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Articles
Finance Trends: RPA Paves the Way for Process Improvement
This article explores the broader benefits, challenges and opportunities of robotic process automation (RPA), focusing s...
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Articles
Highlighting Recent Cyber-Related Financial Losses, the SEC Urges Public Companies to Revisit Internal Accounting Controls
This article offers insights on the SEC’s report advising public companies to review internal accounting controls relate...
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Articles
Building Bot Boundaries: RPA Controls in SOX Systems
This article examines some of the SOX compliance challenges that may result from an RPA implementation and how to avoid ...
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Manual Journal Entries RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to the “manual journal entries” process in a risk control matrix format...
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Benchmarking Reports
2019 Internal Audit Capabilities and Needs Survey
In this benchmarking report, we take an in-depth look at the adoption of next-generation internal audit competencies suc...
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Audit Reports
Incentive Compensation Process Audit Report
This sample report summarizes an internal audit review of an organization's incentive compensation process. The report i...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Accounts Payable Internal Controls Questionnaire
This tool features questions to consider for performing a control self-assessment of an organization’s accounts payable ...
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Process Accounts Receivable and Collections RCM
This document outlines the risks and controls common to the accounts receivables and collections process in a risk contr...
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Articles
Top Risks 2019: CFOs Focus on People and Technology
In this article, we explore the top five risks on CFO’s minds for 2019 and discuss the importance of an organization dev...
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Articles
2018 Finance Trends: Security, Privacy and Governance of Finance Data Are Top Concerns, for Good Reason
Protiviti Managing Directors Ken Thomas and Scott Laliberte discuss the results of Protiviti’s most recent Finance Trend...
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Articles
Setting the 2019 Audit Committee Agenda: A Closer Look
In this article, Protiviti Managing Director Jim DeLoach takes a closer look at the agenda items that Protiviti has iden...
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Articles
Protiviti Survey Measures SOX Automation, Costs, Hours and More
Learn more about some of the standout Sarbanes-Oxley compliance trends for 2019 in this article, which summarizes key re...
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Guides
Financial Statement Risk Assessment Guide
This guide provides a detailed overview of key steps to the financial statement risk assessment process, which includes ...
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Articles
Managed Services Can Help Emerging Tech Firms Scale for Growth and Maintain Momentum
This article describes how managed services providers can help emerging technology businesses implement the processes th...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Month-End Walk-Through Questionnaire
This tool provides questions to consider when reviewing an organization's month-end close process and determining whethe...
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Articles
Applying RegTech to KYC Activities, Including Periodic Reviews: A Brief Overview of Possibilities
This article discusses some key digital technologies that can deliver a variety of benefits, including enhanced regulato...
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Audit Reports
Distributor Sales Review Audit Report
This audit report focuses on the distribution sales process, including items such as current distributor contracts and c...
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Articles
Impact of the New Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) Methodology
In this article, Protiviti provides a summary of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s proposed CECL methodology an...
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Audit Reports
Business Partner Royalty Audit Report
This sample audit report covers business partner agreement compliance and includes a review of company compliance relate...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Financial Reporting Risk Profile Questionnaire
This questionnaire focuses on topics board members and management should consider when discussing financial reporting ri...
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Newsletters
Setting the 2019 Audit Committee Agenda
In this issue of The Bulletin, we have identified several agenda items for audit committees to consider in the year ahea...
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Articles
Maintaining Staffing Equilibrium With a Flexible Workforce
Historically, accounting has been a straightforward function. However, leaders in finance and accounting may find that t...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Control Self-Assessment Questionnaire: Financial Reporting and General Ledger
This sample helps a company determine whether its established controls for financial reporting and the general ledger ar...
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Articles
Regtech Investment Is Increasing, But Leaders Are Still to Emerge
The regulatory technology (regtech) market is rapidly evolving and expanding, with lots of players, but it has yet to co...
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Audit Reports
Sales Order Processing Review Audit Report
This audit report evaluates the control adequacy and operational effectiveness of the sales order processing cycle.
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Articles
Are You Ready for CECL Model Validation? The Answer Is a Resounding … Maybe.
Whether financial services organizations are prepared for the impact of the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) standard...
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Articles
Challenges to Model Validation Under the New CECL Standard
On June 16, 2016, the Federal Accounting Standards Board (FASB) finalized the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) standa...
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Audit Reports
Billing and Collections Review Audit Report: Hospitals and Clinics
This sample audit report focuses on accounts receivable (AR) controls and processes associated with hospitals and health...
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Articles
It Is Time to Bring Order to the M&D Lease Universe
This article outlines some of the major impacts of the new lease accounting standard and explores some of the challenges...
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Articles
Simplifying the Modeling Challenges in PPNR
This article looks at two of the challenging decisions bank holding companies commonly face when looking to develop and ...
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Benchmarking Reports
2018 Finance Trends Survey Report
As revealed in the results of Protiviti’s latest Finance Trends Survey, the standout priority for CFOs and finance leade...
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Audit Reports
Financial Controls Review Audit Report
This audit report reviews financial controls at an equipment facility plant.
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Articles
Market Volatility: Is Your IPO Ready to Go?
In this article, Protiviti’s Chris Wright explores some of the things IPO-bound companies should consider right now.
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Articles
AT&T-Time Warner Win Could Mean More Multimedia Megadeals: A Closer Look
Many traditional telecom providers that have been slow to react to digital transformation are at risk of being left behi...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Banking Controls: Management Control Structure Evaluation Questionnaire
This guide is designed to assist management in analyzing the effectiveness of a company's management control structure M...
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Audit Reports
Co-Op Advertising Internal Audit and Process Review Report
This 30-page audit report outlines the activities and tasks included in the co-op advertising process and provides manag...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
IT Application Control Deficiency Decision Process Questionnaire
This sample helps to determine the severity of any deficiencies cited during the control testing process.
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Articles
SEC Amends Smaller Reporting Company Thresholds: A Closer Look
In this article, Protiviti’s Charles Soranno takes a closer look at a recent Flash Report on the Securities and Exchange...
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Articles
A Lease Accounting Technology Solution Requires Some Homework: Five Steps to Get Started Now
This article addresses the new lease accounting standard, one of the key topics at the SAP GRC and Financials 2018 confe...
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Protiviti Booklets
Guide to Public Company Transformation
This guidance, now in its fourth edition, is designed to serve as a convenient and user-friendly resource that executive...
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Process Flows
Target Costing and Profit Management Process Flow
This process flow sample provides steps for completing the target costing and profit management process at an automotive...
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Articles
SEC Updates Disclosure Requirements
This article details recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) amendments and describes how the SEC is implementin...
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Memos
Journal Entry Review Planning Memo
This sample memo includes a review of policies, procedures and internal controls currently in place regarding the proces...
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Benchmarking Reports
2018 Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance Survey
This report discusses how changes continue to influence SOX compliance efforts, but the areas of most significant concer...
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Audit Reports
Internal Audit Status Update Report
This sample internal audit report includes a status update to be presented to the audit committee.
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Control Design Effectiveness Review Checklist
This tool provides guidelines to consider while reviewing effectiveness of the controls designed to mitigate risks.
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Articles
Can Digital Mortgages Connect You to Millennials? Find Out in the Latest Compliance Insights Podcast
This article includes a transcript of a conversation with Protiviti Managing Directors Steven Stachowicz and Rob Gould a...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Bank Controls: Information Systems Evaluation Tool
This tool helps to assist management in analyzing the effectiveness of the internal control structure over financial rep...
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Guides
Facilitating SOX Compliance Using a Committee Structure Guide
This guide discusses the duties, composition, structure and interrelationships of the disclosure committee that needs to...
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Guides
Journal Entry Training Guide
This guide can be used to train auditors on the various aspects of an organization’s journal entry process.
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Articles
Inventory: The Key to Unlocking Integrated Business Planning and an SIOP Process
In this article, Protiviti’s Tony Abel explains how a robust sales, inventory and operations planning (SIOP) process can...
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Audit Reports
SAP Change Management Review Audit Report
This sample audit report provides management with an assessment of its current state and associated SAP change managemen...
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Manage Billing/Account Adjustments RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to the manage billing/account adjustments process in a risk control mat...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 Documentation Readiness Checklist
This tool includes checklist to evaluate the adequacy of Section 404 process documentation prior to submitting to the ex...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Internal Audit Department: Quality Assurance Review External Auditor Interview Questions
This tool includes questions to consider while conducting interviews with the external auditors to solicit their views a...
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Invoice the Customer RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to the invoice the customer process in a risk control matrix (RCM) form...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Update Testing: Control Self-Assessment Questionnaire
This questionnaire helps to assess if the controls are operating effectively within a business unit.
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Managed Fixed Assets: Maintenance RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to the asset acquisition component of the “maintenance” process in a ri...
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Drafting and Reporting Financial Statements RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to the drafting and reporting financial statements process in a risk co...
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Managed Fixed Assets: Asset Acquisition RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to the asset acquisition component of the “managed fixed assets” proces...
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Sarbanes-Oxley CPE Courses
Documenting Processes and Internal Controls (KLplus CPE Course)
This course will give you a fundamental understanding of documenting processes and internal controls.
Audit Reports
Sales Commissions Audit Report
This sample report provides findings from a sales commissions review at a company.
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Order Processing Benchmarking Questionnaire
This questionnaire template can be used to perform a benchmarking survey for order processing.
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Audit Reports
Real Estate Services Agreement Audit Report
This sample audit report provides findings from a company’s real estate services agreement review.
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Audit Programs
Bank Financial Reporting Cycle: Control Objectives and Audit Work Program
This tool helps management analyze the effectiveness of the internal control structure over financial reporting for the ...
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Audit Reports
Intercompany Reconciliation Audit Report
This audit report focuses on reducing intercompany out-of-balance differences to an immaterial amount.
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Manage Employee Compensation: Executive Compensation RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to the executive compensation component of the “manage employee compens...
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Newsletters
Setting the 2018 Audit Committee Agenda
Our suggested agenda consists of eight issues—four pertaining to enterprise, process and technology risks and four to fi...
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Policies & Procedures
Research and Development Expense Policy
Research and development expenses include the conceptual formulation, design and testing of product alternatives, constr...
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Audit Programs
Bank Deposit Cycle: Control Objectives and Audit Work Program
This tool helps management analyze the effectiveness of the internal control structure over financial reporting for the ...
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Policies & Procedures
Deduction and Rebate Payment Verification Policy
The following sample outlines a set of policies and procedures for the verification of customer deductions and rebates i...
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Policies & Procedures
Finance Code of Conduct Policy
This sample policy serves as a code of conduct specific to senior financial officers of a company with the purpose of do...
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Policies & Procedures
Related-Party Transactions Policy
This policy defines related party transactions, identifies the significance of related party accounting implications, an...
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Audit Programs
Bank Expenditure Payroll Cycle: Control Objectives and Audit Work Program
This tool helps management analyze the effectiveness of the internal control structure over financial reporting for the ...
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Audit Programs
Bank Loan Cycle: Control Objectives and Audit Work Program
This tool helps management analyze the effectiveness of the internal control structure over financial reporting for the ...
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Audit Programs
Bank Investment Cycle: Control Objectives and Audit Work Program
This tool assists department management in analyzing the effectiveness of the internal control structure over financial ...
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Audit Programs
Bank Trust Cycle: Control Objectives and Audit Work Program
This tool assists department management in analyzing the effectiveness of the internal control structure over financial ...
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Policies & Procedures
Relationship with External Auditors Policy
This sample document sets out policies and procedures for the external audit of a company.
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Audit Programs
Bank Expenditure Non-Payroll Cycle: Control Objectives and Audit Work Program
This tool helps management analyze the effectiveness of the internal control structure over financial reporting for the ...
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Manage Fixed Assets: Asset Management RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to the asset management component of the “manage fixed assets” process ...
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Policies & Procedures
Management Reporting: Purchasing Policy
This sample addresses useful reporting and analysis related to the purchasing cycle for better managing the business.
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Purchase Materials and Supplies: P-Card Purchases RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to the p-card purchases component of the “purchase materials and suppli...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Sales, Accounts Receivable and Cash Receipts Questionnaire
This tool includes questions to consider in the sales, accounts receivable and cash receipts process, in areas such as g...
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Policies & Procedures
Intercompany Commissions Policy
This sample policy defines guidelines, requirements and processes for revenue sharing between two subsidiaries of a comp...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Due Diligence Checklist
This document provides a list of items to consider when performing due diligence on a potential acquisition.
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Policies & Procedures
Oracle eBusiness Suite Policy
This sample policy outlines procedures for controlling access to and use of the Oracle eBusiness suite and database.
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Policies & Procedures
Invoice Deductions Policy
This sample outlines a set of policies and procedures for analyzing and dealing with customer invoice deductions in a re...
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Newsletters
10 Keys to Effective Board Oversight of M&A
Based on insights from NACD/Protiviti roundtables and experience serving clients in the M&A space, this issue of Boa...
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Policies & Procedures
Licenses and Royalties Policy
This sample policy provides guidelines for the proper treatment of licenses and royalty payments.
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Policies & Procedures
Warranty Policy
This sample policy establishes a methodology for determining and calculating warranty rates, warranty accrual, and analy...
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Policies & Procedures
Non-Standard Terms Policy
This sample policy establishes a streamlined process to authorize non-standard discounts on products or services or non-...
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Policies & Procedures
Subsequent Events Policy
This sample policy establishes a process to evaluate events that provide evidence about conditions that did not exist at...
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Guides
Strategic Forecasting Guide
This guide discusses market drivers of forecasting, annual budgeting vs. rolling forecasts, integrated business planning...
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Policies & Procedures
Purchasing Bypass Process Policy
This sample policy outlines the circumstances in which employees are allowed to bypass the company policy requiring all ...
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Sarbanes-Oxley CPE Courses
Executive Certification: Understanding Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (KLplus CPE Course)
This is a basic-level course that provides an overview of Sections 302 and 906 and describes disclosure controls procedu...
Checklists & Questionnaires
Audit Committee Annual Planning Schedule
This sample schedule provides an annual planner for audit committee activities and demonstrates how to schedule and trac...
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Audit Reports
Financial Due Diligence Report
This sample report presents findings from a financial due diligence analysis of a company being acquired.
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Policies & Procedures
Trade Accounts Receivable Policy
This sample policy ensures that trade accounts receivable are recorded accurately, completely, timely, consistently betw...
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Internal Audit CPE Courses
Using Sampling in Internal Auditing (KLplus CPE Course)
This basic-level course introduces the learner to audit sampling and the role it plays in controls testing as well as fo...
Sarbanes-Oxley CPE Courses
Validating Operational Effectiveness (Testing of Controls) (KLplus CPE Course)
This basic-level course provides an overview of Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 requirements for validating operational effec...
Checklists & Questionnaires
Internal Controls Structure Questionnaire
The purpose of this questionnaire is to help in the assessment of a company’s general controls and internal controls by ...
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Internal Controls Checklist
This sample internal controls checklist provides a list of items to consider when assessing internal controls for common...
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Policies & Procedures
Journal Entry Policy
This policy sample provides a standard for preparing, authorizing and posting journal entries and ensuring the adequacy ...
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Policies & Procedures
Debt Covenant Policy
This policy sample sets forth appropriate guidelines for monitoring and complying with debt covenants related to financi...
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Newsletters
Setting the 2017 Audit Committee Agenda
This issue of The Bulletin suggests 10 top issues for audit committees to consider for the coming year based on Protivit...
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Process Flows
Tax Process Flow
This sample tax process flow focuses on income tax provision, forecast of annual book income, tax reserves, discrete ite...
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Process Flows
Accounts Receivable Process Flow
This process flow focuses on the accounts receivable process including steps for credit review and credit limit granting...
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Process Flows
Financial Reporting Process Flow
This process flow focuses on the annual reporting on Form 10-K and quarterly reporting on Form 10-Q.
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Process Flows
Forecasting and Budget-vs-Actual Analysis Process Flow
This process flow focuses on the development of the annual plan, development of the quarterly forecast, and the quarterl...
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Process Flows
Impairment Process Flow
This process flow details the various steps involved in the impairment process, covering determination of reporting unit...
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Memos
Sarbanes-Oxley Walkthrough Preparation Memo
This Sarbanes-Oxley process memo informs and prepares business process control managers to engage in “walkthrough” discu...
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Memos
Internal Control Audit Instructions Memo
This memo documents instructions for reviewing and testing a company's internal control environment.
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Manage Cash Flow/Treasury RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to the "manage cash flow/treasury" process in an RCM format.
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Memos
Enterprise Accounting System Post-Implementation Review Memo
This review focuses on the configurable application controls, application security, and segregation of duties for the ac...
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Audit Programs
Hotel Financial Reporting and Management Contract/Lease Agreement Areas Review Audit Work Program
This audit program outlines steps to perform a comprehensive review of a hotel's financial reporting area and its compli...
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Audit Programs
U.S. Domestic Income and Property Tax Review Audit Work Program
This work program reviews key tax processes and systems related to a company’s U.S. operations.
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Memos
Expense Reporting Policy Violation Memo
This expense reporting violation review focuses on an employee’s potential noncompliance with this standard corporate po...
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Policies & Procedures
Domestic Intercompany Accounting Policy
This policy outlines procedures for recording accounting transactions that occur between two or more company locations.
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Internal Financial and Management Information RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to the internal financial and management information process.
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Memos
Sarbanes-Oxley Spreadsheet Controls Memo
This is a sample email sent by the process owner to finance staff regarding the documentation of controls over spreadshe...
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Policies & Procedures
Foreign Intercompany Accounting Policy
This policy outlines guidelines for financial transactions that arise between a domestic (U.S.) and a foreign entity or ...
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Memos
Process-Level Documentation Requirements Memo
This memo describes the documentation requirements for each in-scope process related to Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 compl...
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Memos
Financial Elements and Business Process Prioritization Memo
This memo summarizes the customized models used to prioritize financial statement elements (FSE) and processes for Sarba...
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Newsletters
Principles for Improving Board Risk Reporting
This issue of Board Perspectives discusses six principles for delivering the focused risk reporting the board needs.
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Memos
Sarbanes-Oxley Testing Strategy Memo
This memo documents a company's high-level testing strategy for Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.
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Checklists & Questionnaires
Setting the Audit Committee Agenda Questionnaire
Good business leaders are aware that the world is changing–dramatically. This questionnaire is for executive management,...
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Short-Term Investments Borrowing RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to the short-term investments and borrowing process.
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Newsletters
Setting the 2016 Audit Committee Agenda
Interesting challenges are in store for audit committees in the coming year and in this issue of The Bulletin, we delive...
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Consolidation RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to the consolidation process in a risk control matrix (RCM) format.
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Newsletters
Accounting for Revenue Recognition: A New Era
In this issue of The Bulletin, we discuss several important topics related to the the Financial Accounting Standards Boa...
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Audit Programs
Warranty Processing Review Audit Work Program
The purpose of this audit work program is to review a company’s method of tracking and recording in-warranty repairs, ou...
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Audit Programs
Journal Entries Audit Work Program
This audit work program reviews company procedures focused on creating, posting and retaining journal entries between op...
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Audit Programs
Investments in Securities, Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Audit Work Program
The objective of this audit program is to review the controls related to a company’s investment procedures.
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Audit Programs
Balance Sheet Review Audit Work Program
This audit work program ensures that each account on the balance sheet is assigned to someone for reconciliation during ...
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Audit Programs
Customer Service and Support Renewal Audit Work Program
This audit program provides steps to review the overall effectiveness of the customer service and support renewal functi...
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Policies & Procedures
Insider Trading Policy
This policy outlines a set procedures for insider trading. Transactions must comply with these procedures in order to co...
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Audit Programs
Budgeting Process Audit Work Program
The purpose of this sample audit program is to evaluate the overall process for planning and completing budgeting, to de...
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Audit Programs
Cost Estimation Audit Work Program
This audit program sample covers several cost estimation areas, including bids, labor/material cost, engineering, other ...
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Audit Programs
Third-Party Labor Contractor Audit Work Program
This audit program sample covers topics such as contract/bid processes, billing matters and time reporting controls.
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Audit Programs
Other Assets Audit Work Program
This sample audit program reviews the other assets account maintenance process and related accounting controls.
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
Develop Budgets RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to the "develop budgets" process in a risk control matrix (RCM) format.
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Risk & Control Matrices - RCMs
General Ledger Accounting—Close the Books RCM
This document outlines risks and controls common to the “general ledger accounting—close the books” process in a risk co...
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Process Flows
Order Entry, Billing and Shipping Process Flow
There are many steps involved from the time a customer places an order to the time their order is delivered to them. To ...
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Process Flows
Product Pricing Process Flow
Product pricing is the process a business goes through when it sets the price to sell its products and services. This pr...
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Process Flows
Accounts Receivable Aging and Collections Process Flow
This process flow outlines the accounts receivable aging and collection process.
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Process Flows
Sales and Marketing Development Process Flow
This sample process flow focuses on the sales and marketing development function.
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Audit Programs
IT Strategy Management Audit Work Program
This document outlines steps to audit an organization’s IT infrastructure management strategy process.
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Guides
Hotel Site Audit Training Material Guide
This guide illustrates how to conduct a hotel site audit.
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Process Flows
Budgeting Process Flow
The budgeting process focuses on developing corporate strategy, creating an annual budget, approving the annual budget, ...
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Policies & Procedures
Sales and Use-Tax Policy
This policy establishes the responsibilities, controls, authorizations and procedures for sales and use-taxes for all co...
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Policies & Procedures
Order Management Process Audit Work Program
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance for the period-end close cycles required to prepare financial statemen...
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Policies & Procedures
Investment Income Policy
This policy sets forth guidelines for recording revenue on the sale of investments.
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Audit Programs
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Qualification Audit Work Program
This sample audit work program focuses on processes and controls a company may use to select, qualify, approve and maint...
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Audit Programs
Stock Option Review Audit Work Program
This internal audit work program focuses on understanding and evaluating a company's stock option management process, pe...
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Audit Programs
Order Management Process Audit Work Program
This work program provides key steps for a review of the order management process, including identification of performan...
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Audit Programs
Sales Compensation Audit Work Program
This audit work program suggests steps for a review of a company's sales compensation and commission payment process.
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Audit Programs
Accrued Liabilities Audit Work Program
This audit program primarily focuses on identification and reporting of contingencies and accrued liabilities.
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Policies & Procedures
Non-Routine Transactions Policy
This policy establishes uniform procedures for identifying and recording non-routine transactions.
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Audit Programs
Cash Accounts Audit Work Program
This work program covers existence, accuracy and cut-off of cash balances.
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Process Flows
Project Management Process: Monitoring, Scope Changes, Forecasting and Contract Closing Process Flow
There are many steps involved in the project management process, such as monitoring, forecasting and contract closing. I...
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Process Flows
Sarbanes-Oxley Check Disbursement Process Flow
This sample process flow provides the tasks involved in the process of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) check disbursement, includin...
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Audit Programs
Incentive Compensation Audit Work Program
This document provides two work programs focused on reviewing incentive policies and procedures, speaking with key indiv...
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Process Flows
Acquisition of Business, Contracting and Revenue Recognition Process Flow
There is pervasive business risk associated when projects are not properly maintained, resulting in revenues that are no...
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Audit Programs
Capital Leasing Audit Work Program
The purpose of this work program is to provide the general steps used to perform a capital leasing audit.
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Process Flows
Sales Forecast Process Flow
This sample process flow can be used as a general guide to help with understanding and reviewing a company's sales forec...
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Newsletters
Setting the 2015 Audit Committee Agenda
This issue of The Bulletin details 10 items that audit committees should consider as they look forward in 2015.
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Process Flows
Close the Books Process Flow: Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll and Sales Tax
This sample process flow shows the close-the-books process organized by day-to-day activities.
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Audit Programs
Consolidation of Finance Functions Audit Work Program
The purpose of this work program is to provide the general steps used to perform an audit on consolidation of finance fu...
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Policies & Procedures
Management Reporting (Revenue) Policy
This policy addresses the regular reporting and analysis requirements relating to the revenue cycle that must be produce...
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Policies & Procedures
Sales Commissions Policy
The purpose of this policy is to establish accountability for setting commission rates and to define the point at which ...
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Policies & Procedures
Sales Contracts Policy
The purpose of this policy is to outline basic contract content and authorization requirements for sales contracts.
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Policies & Procedures
Customer Master File Maintenance Policy
The purpose of this policy is to establish the guidelines for setting up new customers and modifying existing customer i...
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Policies & Procedures
Invoicing Policy
This sample outlines a set of policies and procedures for invoicing customers and issuing invoice corrections.
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Policies & Procedures
Price Administration Policy
This sample outlines a set of policies and procedures for establishing guidelines related to price administration, inclu...
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Policies & Procedures
Estimate-at-Completion Policy
This policy establishes guidelines and methods for maintaining an accurate revenue recognition process by periodically a...
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Process Flows
SOX Process Flow: High-Level Methodology
This process flow documents a high-level methodology for Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.
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Audit Programs
Management Reporting Audit Work Program
The objective of this work program is to evaluate the management reporting process.
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Policies & Procedures
Financial Document Access Control Policy
This policy documents the controls and procedures designed to ensure limited access to, and control of financial reporti...
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Policies & Procedures
New Disclosures Policy
This policy is intended to facilitate the early detection and disclosure of reportable items to the SEC and to improve t...
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Policies & Procedures
Duplicate Deductions Policy
This policy outlines a set of procedures for identifying and correcting duplicate deductions and/or rebate payments in a...
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Policies & Procedures
Financial Policy Development Policy
This document outlines procedures for developing company financial policies and the related approval process.
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Policies & Procedures
Sales Customer Follow-Up Policy
The following sample outlines a set of policies and procedures for sales customer follow-up.
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Policies & Procedures
Termination of Benefits Liability Policy
This policy establishes guidelines for appropriate recognition of a liability relating to employee termination benefits ...
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Policies & Procedures
Sales Order Entry Policy
The following sample outlines a set of policies and procedures for sales order entry.
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Policies & Procedures
Sales Returns Policy
The following sample outlines a set of policies and procedures for sales returns.
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Policies & Procedures
Sales Training Policy
The following sample outlines a set of policies and procedures for sales training.
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Policies & Procedures
Expense Recognition Policy
This sample policy establishes the standards and procedures to ensure that accounting for expense recognition is in comp...
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Policies & Procedures
Financial Close Schedule Policy
This sample outlines a set of policies and procedures to establish standards and a calendar for the monthly financial cl...
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Policies & Procedures
Creating or Revising Financial Policies
The following sample outlines a set of policies and procedures for creating or revising corporate financial policy state...
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Policies & Procedures
Deferral of Collateral Charges Policy
The following sample outlines a set of policies and procedures for ensuring that accounting for deferring and amortizing...
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Policies & Procedures
Monthly Accruals Policy
The following sample outlines a set of policies and procedures for monthly accruals.
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Policies & Procedures
Translation of Foreign Financial Statements Policy
The following sample outlines a set of policies and procedures for translation of foreign financial statements.
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Policies & Procedures
Shareholders’ Equity: Corporate Finance Responsibilities Policy
This sample policy documents the approval process required to incur long-term debt or issue equity to fund major interna...
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Policies & Procedures
Asset Management Policy
This policy focuses on maintaining an asset management system to monitor and manage investments made in fixed assets and...
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Policies & Procedures
Shareholders’ Equity – Investor Relations Policy
This policy focuses on having continuous dialogue with present and potential investors; informing them of the company’s ...
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Policies & Procedures
Financial Systems Policy
This policy addresses the development, implementation, enhancement and maintenance of financial systems such as the gene...
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Policies & Procedures
Internal Control Policy
This policy outlines scope, responsibilities and procedures for establishing an internal control environment that meets ...
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Policies & Procedures
Unusual or Non-Recurring Items Policy
This policy focuses on identifying unusual or non-recurring items so they can be properly disclosed and discussed in ext...
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Policies & Procedures
Accounting for Goodwill Policy
The primary goal of this policy is to help document a company’s process and procedures for accounting for goodwill under...
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Protiviti Booklets
Guide to International Financial Reporting Standards
This booklet will answer IFRS-related questions to provide guidance regarding the conversion to IFRS.
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Newsletters
Public Company Readiness: Getting Ready for Prime Time Before the Market Does
In this issue of The Bulletin, we focus on certain aspects of the IPO preparation process, including the need for a rea...
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Newsletters
Managing Outsourcing and Offshoring Risk
This issue of The Bulletin explores the advantages, disadvantages and risks associated with outsourcing and offshoring, ...
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Newsletters
Setting the 2009 Audit Committee Agenda
This issue of The Bulletin provides observations and ideas for board members to consider as they get through the trying ...
Subscriber Content
Protiviti Booklets
Guide to Internal Audit
This booklet is designed to be a resource that internal audit professionals can refer to regularly in their jobs.
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Newsletters
Credit Rating Analysis of Enterprise Risk Management at Nonfinancial Companies: Are You Ready?
This issue of The Bulletin explores how consideration of ERM quality can impact the ratings process and what nonfinancia...
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Newsletters
Creating Transparency Into Your Largest Risk Exposures
This issue of The Bulletin offers approaches for improving transparency into an entity’s most significant risk exposures...
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Newsletters
IFRS or Country-Specific GAAP: Who’s on First
This issue of The Bulletin considers the issues and the ramifications of transitioning from country-specific GAAP to IFR...
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Newsletters
Setting the 2008 Audit Committee Agenda
This issue of The Bulletin provides observations and ideas for boards of directors and their audit committees regarding ...
Subscriber Content
Protiviti Booklets
Guide to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act: Internal Control Requirements - Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Section 404
This booklet is designed to help answer questions about the sections of SOX pertaining to public reporting; this informa...
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Newsletters
The SEC’s New Guidance on Section 404: What It Means to You
In May, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved its interpretive guidance to management on implementing Se...
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Newsletters
The Financial Reporting Risk Profile: Getting Ahead of the Curve
In this issue of The Bulletin, we address the process of understanding and continuously evaluating an organization’s fin...
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Newsletters
Section 404 Compliance: Lessons Learned for the Next 12 Months
In this issue of The Bulletin, we articulate seven lessons for improving Section 404 assessment and compliance processes...
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Newsletters
Setting the 2006 Audit Committee Agenda
This issue of The Bulletin provides eight agenda items for audit committees to consider regarding matters in the upcomin...
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Newsletters
Section 404 Compliance: Planning for Next Year
This issue of The Bulletin focuses on some of the opportunities companies should consider as they plan for Year Three of...
Subscriber Content
Newsletters
Wanted: A Cost-Effective Approach to Validating Performance of the Internal Control Structure
This issue of The Bulletin addresses the importance of integrating self-assessment, entity-level monitoring, and indepen...
Subscriber Content
Protiviti Booklets
Internal Auditing Around the World: Volume 1
This booklet details the internal audit best practices, processes and strategies being employed at 13 leading multinatio...
Subscriber Content
Newsletters
Driving Value Out of the Section 404 Compliance Process
In this issue of The Bulletin, we incorporate insights and lessons learned regarding finance processes and show how valu...
Subscriber Content
Newsletters
Establishing an Effective Complaint and Confidential, Anonymous Reporting Process
In this edition of The Bulletin, we address the issues that audit committees and management should consider as they coll...
Subscriber Content
Newsletters
Strengthening Governance Through Risk Management
This issue of The Bulletin provides five comprehensive recommendations for strengthening governance through improved ris...
Subscriber Content
Protiviti Booklets
FAQ: Sarbanes-Oxley Act Executive Certification Requirements
This booklet describes a major area of emphasis for many companies preparing to make their first filing subsequent to Au...
Subscriber Content
Blog
Audit Committee: Importance to the Board of Directors
What should the audit committee’s relationship be with an organization’s board of directors, compensation c...
Blog
Change Management Audits: Key Factors You Need to Know
Information technology is critical to the long-term success of most organizations. It is a key driver for ...
Blog
Close-the-Books Guide: Reduce Financial Close Risk
A fast, close-the-books process provides multiple benefits for the finance function and for the company. Fi...
Blog
Communicating With Shareholders: What You Need to Know
Communicating with shareholders is about capital – the ability to access either equity or debt at the lowes...
Blog
Developing Budgets: What You Need to Know
In a previous blog on Managing Mergers and Acquisitions KPIs, we discussed what exactly key performance ind...
Blog
Disclosure Controls and Procedures: Key Facts You Need to Know
The SEC introduced “disclosure controls and procedures” as a new term in its initial August 29, 2002, relea...
Blog
How Does Opportunity Risk Apply to Financial Business Processes?
Opportunity risk occurs whenever there’s a possibility that a better opportunity may become available after...
Blog
How to Build an Effective Business Process
Key Performance Measures Improving the Process
An effective business process is built on a set of well-def...
Blog
How to Determine the Most Effective Budgeting Process
A budget is a systematic method of allocating financial, physical and human resources to achieve strategic ...
Blog
How to Effectively Audit Fixed Assets
Auditing fixed assets is extremely important to ensure that accounting for capital assets and depreciation...
Blog
Improving the Close-the-Books Process
An effective business process is built on a set of well-defined and clearly stated business objectives. The...
Blog
Integrating SOX Compliance Efforts for Optimal Results
Maintaining Control
Corporate governance has become increasingly critical over the years, with organizatio...
Blog
Is Your Financial Close and Reporting Process Too Manual?
Most organizations continue to invest a significant number of hours every month in a particular set of acti...
Blog
What is Strategic Forecasting?
Budgeting is a systematic process for:
Expressing future plans in formal quantitative terms
Allocating re...