Enriching AIS Courses With SOX Compliance Activities

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joann Segovia ◽  
Carol M. Jessup ◽  
Marsha Weber ◽  
Sheri Erickson
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Accounting Profession ◽  
Investor Confidence ◽  
Reporting Requirements ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Significant Change

A very significant change to the accounting profession occurred in 2002 when the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) was enacted. This legislation had a significant impact on corporations and their audit firms. The objective was to improve corporate governance and its quality of financial reporting to improve investor confidence. This paper provides instructors with a background on SOX and suggests readings and activities that reflect the requirements of SOX as it relates to the AIS environment and the analysis of internal controls. These activities can strengthen students' understandings of how corporations respond to the various reporting requirements of this Act.

scholarly journals The Attributes of Japanese Corporate Governance Influencing the Quality of Internal Controls

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 119
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Uemura
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Independent Directors ◽  
High Status ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Financial Expertise ◽  
The Difference

This study examines the corporate governance characteristics that influence the improvement in the quality of internal controls. Previous studies suggest that corporate governance independence and expertise affect the quality of internal controls (Krishnan et al. 2005; Hoitash et al. 2009). In Japan, however, any company that discloses significant deficiencies (SD) in internal controls has the motive to increase the independence of corporate governance to mitigate any subsequent negative consequences. As a result, independent directors are made the scapegoats, rather than allowing them to fulfill the expectation of improvement in the quality of internal controls. On the other hand, directors with financial expertise that have a high status in a company do influence the improvement in SD in internal controls. This suggests that in Japan it is important to provide financial experts with the power and authority to improve the quality of internal controls in the short term, due to the difference in the provisions between the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (J-SOX) and the Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX). The requirements in Japanese Corporate Law (JCL) for independent directors are not as strict as those within SOX. Therefore, companies in which the boards are able to promote expert directors to important positions improve the quality of internal controls more often than those that are not. It is thus revealed that auditors should be able to discuss with the financial experts as to what is required to improve any significant deficiencies that are detected in the process of internal control audits.

Assessing Internal Control Over Cash Receipts at NADCo Communications: An Instructional Case

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bromley
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Final Section ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Certified Public Accountants ◽  
American Institute ◽  
Accounting Profession ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Supporting Materials

The audit of internal control over financial reporting required by the Sarbanes Oxley Act has radically changed the accounting profession. The evaluation and disclosure of the assessment of the internal control's effectiveness is now required by management and their auditors. This paper describes the use of an internal control assessment case, as well as web-based supporting materials that can enhance students' ability to analyse internal controls and improve their writing skills. The need for these skills has been well established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the American Accounting Association (AAA) Albrecht and Sack (2000) and others in the accounting profession. These resources are presented below along with a section describing the learning objectives they were designed to achieve. The assessment of these materials is presented in a final section. The results were positive and provide accounting educators with resources that can improve students' ability to evaluate internal controls and communicate their findings.

Valences of Financial Reporting According to IFRS. Up-to-Date Challenges for Financial Auditors

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (164) ◽  
pp. 706-723
Author(s):  
Maria Manolescu ◽  
◽  
Georgeta Petre ◽  
Alexandra Lazar ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
National Level ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Accounting Profession ◽  
Reporting Requirements ◽  
Natural Development

Through this paper, the authors want to mark the centenary of the accounting profession in our country (1921-2021). They aim to analyze the evolution of financial reporting, at the national level, in the last three decades, parallel to the natural development of the accounting profession and to bring into the spotlights: – how developments at the national level have kept pace with the ever-changing European and international financial reporting requirements; – the current challenges for the accounting profession in general and financial auditors, in particular, generated by the frequent and particularly complex changes of international standards in the field, changes generated precisely by the need to strengthen the quality of the information provided by financial reporting; – the natural steps to be taken to strengthen professional cooperation and collaboration within and in the interest of the accounting profession, to respond effectively to the expectations of all stakeholders in the development of financial reporting.

scholarly journals Corporate governance, audit firm size and restated financial statement in Indonesia stock exchange

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ardiansyah Rasyid ◽  
Cenik Ardana
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
External Auditor ◽  
Big Four

This research aims to describe the corporations to take restatement in financial statement such as, corporate governance implementation and size of Audit Firm. Corporate Governance and size of Audit Firm are involved in auditing process. Theoretically, those influence the quality of financial statement. The occurrence of restatement of financial reporting is as a proxy for a lower of financial statement quality. Hence, corporate governance and size of Audit Firm should prevent from restated financial statement. The result of this research describe that number of independent commissioner and number of audit committee do not prevent from restated financial statement. In addition, size of Audit Firm is not obvious to increase the quality of financial statement, because there are several of big four audit firms have been appointed by such corporation as external auditor or some of restatements have been done by non-big four. This research describes the composition of independent commissioner, audit committee and also Audit Firms size do not influence directly to restated financial statement.

Investor Perceptions of Government Deregulation: Evidence from Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin W Hoffman ◽  
John L. Campbell ◽  
Jason L. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Government Regulation ◽  
Abnormal Returns ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Litigation Risk ◽  
Section 404 ◽  
Fraud Risk ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Public Company

We investigate the stock market's reaction to events leading up to the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's (PCAOB) 2007 regulatory changes that reduced the scope of and documentation requirements for assessments of firms' internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR), as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The stated goal of these regulations was to reduce firms' and auditors' compliance costs with mandatory ICFR assessments, while maintaining the effectiveness of these assessments. We examine abnormal returns surrounding key dates leading to the passage of these regulations and offer two main findings. First, investors reacted negatively on key event dates, suggesting that investors viewed the regulations as likely to reduce financial reporting quality rather than to drive firm and audit efficiencies. Second, this negative market reaction is larger when ICFR effectiveness should matter most - when firms are more complex, have higher litigation risk, and greater fraud risk. In additional analysis, we find that restatements increase in the post-regulation time period, consistent with investors' concerns that the effect of the legislation would be a reduction in ICFR effectiveness. Overall, our results may imply that investors prefer stronger government regulation when it comes to the assessments of a firm's internal controls over financial reporting.

The Impact of Client and Misstatement Characteristics on the Disposition of Proposed Audit Adjustments

2011 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Joe ◽  
Arnold Wright, and ◽  
Sally Wright
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Big 4 ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Confidentiality Agreement ◽  
Financial Scandals ◽  
The Impact

SUMMARY We present evidence on the resolution of proposed audit adjustments during a unique time period, immediately following several U.S. financial scandals and surrounding calls for reforms in auditing and financial reporting, which culminated in the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). During this period, auditors and their clients faced increased scrutiny from investors and regulators. In addition, auditors had to contend with changed incentives, a new external regulator (i.e., the PCAOB), and upcoming annual PCAOB inspections. We extend prior studies by considering a broader range of factors potentially impacting the resolution of proposed adjustments, including the effect of client tenure, strength of internal controls, and repeat adjustments. Data on 458 proposed adjustments are obtained from the working papers of a sample of 163 audit engagements conducted during 2002 by a Big 4 firm. We find that 24.2 percent of proposed adjustments were subsequently waived. The results indicate audit adjustments are more likely to be waived for clients with whom the audit firm has had a longer relationship, although the pattern does not reflect favoring such clients. We also find that adjustments are more likely to be waived for repeat adjustments. Data Availability: Due to a confidentiality agreement with the participating audit firm the data are proprietary.

scholarly journals The effect of governance system and degree of convergence to IFRs on the quality of financial reporting: Evidence from Asia

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 409-423
Author(s):  
Ratna Wardhani ◽  
Sidharta Utama ◽  
Hilda Rossieta
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Financial Reporting Quality ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Governance Practice ◽  
Corporate Governance Practice ◽  
Degree Of Convergence

This research investigates the effect of governance system and degree of convergence to IFRS on financial reporting quality. With sample of Asian countries, this study concludes that country level and firm level governance systems, both at, and the degree of convergence have positive influence on financial reporting quality.The effect of degree of convergence of local GAAP to IFRS and corporate governance practice to financial reporting quality will be stronger for companies in countries with weak investor protection. Also, we find that in company with weak corporate governance practice, the adoption of international standards will increase the quality of financial reporting.The results indicate that the adoption of international accounting standard become more important in the countries and companies with weak governance system.

scholarly journals Political and financial background in board interlocking and earnings management in Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristian Baú Dal Magro ◽  
Roberto Carlos Klann
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Accounting Information ◽  
Real Earnings Management ◽  
The Political ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Of Accounting Information

Purpose Although board interlocking underlying forces are largely hidden, the purpose of this paper is to provide managers, auditors, analysts, regulators and other stakeholders with sociological board interlocking information considering the different backgrounds of their members. Design/methodology/approach The research sample gathered 1,606 observations from 2010 to 2017. For data analysis, the direct and indirect board interlocking linkages, considering the different backgrounds of board members, established the centrality indicators. Subsequently, the authors used these indicators according to each measured background in the regression models. Findings The results indicate that the political background of board interlocking members is positively related to real earnings management practices, while the financial background has a mitigating effect on such practices. Research limitations/implications The findings suggest that individual skills and interests conveyed across the corporate social network have shaped corporate governance, with distinct impacts on the quality of accounting information. Practical implications The authors conclude that both backgrounds could have implications on agency conflicts, increasing (policy) or reducing (financial) information asymmetry between the company and its various stakeholders, which indicates that the authors must consider sociological and not just economic aspects within corporate governance. Social implications The sociological background of individuals is necessary for the congruence of monitoring mechanisms, and consequently, the quality of accounting information. Originality/value This study examines the influence of the political and financial background of board interlocking members on real earnings management practices in Brazilian publicly traded companies in the International Financial Reporting Standards post-adoption period.

scholarly journals Quality of financial reporting under IFRS and corporate governance influence: Evidence from the Greek banking sector during crisis

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 8-20
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Ballas ◽  
Alexandros Garefalakis ◽  
Christos Lemonakis ◽  
Vassiliki Balla
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Financial Stability ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Debt Crisis ◽  
Financial System ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Governance Practices

The financial system consists, without doubt, one of the most important determinants of the world national economies, which undergoes numerous changes and challenges with major impact on the economic growth prospects of a country. A healthy financial system is the steam engine of the economy, a major source for economic growth through which capitals are attracted for investments; hence, it is regarded as a trustee of financial stability. Given the difference in structure and function of the financial sector in various countries, we investigate the extent to which the implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) accompanied by Corporate Governance practices affected the quality of financial and narrative reporting offered within published statements of Greek banks for the period from 2008 to 2011. The originality of the work lies at the fact that it focuses on Greek financial institutions for a period that incorporates both the burst of global financial crisis and the beginning of the Greek sovereign debt crisis making inferences on quality of reporting as a result of IFRS and Corporate Governance practices adoption. Our analysis revealed the positive contribution of both of the above categories of variables to the accuracy and quality of the information offered to stakeholders.

The Effect of Corporate Governance on Auditor-Client Realignments

2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cory A. Cassell ◽  
Gary A. Giroux ◽  
Linda A. Myers ◽  
Thomas C. Omer
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Portfolio Decisions ◽  
Audit Market ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Corporate Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Governance Index

SUMMARY Events leading up to the implementation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) increased the public's focus on corporate governance and increased regulatory scrutiny of corporate governance mechanisms. These events also contributed to a massive restructuring in the audit market that resulted in the transfer of a large number of clients from Big N to non-Big N audit firms. We extend prior research examining the determinants of auditor-client realignments by investigating the effect of corporate governance on downward (i.e., from Big N to non-Big N auditors) switching activity. We develop a corporate governance index comprised of governance characteristics that we expect auditors to find more desirable in their clients (specifically, board and audit committee independence, diligence, and expertise). The results suggest that Big N auditors consider client corporate governance mechanisms when making client portfolio decisions. Specifically, downward auditor-client realignments are more likely for clients that score lower on our corporate governance index. However, the influence of audit committee-related corporate governance components on downward auditor-client realignments decreased post-SOX. The reduced effect of audit committee-related corporate governance components is consistent with what would be expected if the audit committee-related rules imposed by SOX reduced the variation in audit committee quality across clients. Data Availability: The data used are publicly available from the sources cited in the text.

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