At a recent Compliance Week annual seminar, one of the SEC Commissioners signaled that smaller companies need to begin preparations for Section 404(b) compliance1. This provision of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requires external auditors to express an opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. For smaller organizations, this additional scrutiny by the external auditor brings unique challenges and risks in their efforts to comply with Section 404. During this webinar, we will explore considerations for smaller public companies as they prepare for their first auditor attestation, including:

 

-An overview of the PCAOB’s guidance, for auditors of smaller public companies
-Potential internal control issues – A look back at the issues identified by nonaccelerated filers in their first management assessment
-Getting started – Key decision points along the Section 404 compliance process to align management’s assessment approach with the auditor’s attestation process
-A simple approach – SOX compliance for the smaller public company

In addition, participants will learn the benefits of running a cost-effective SOX program, including better planning/scoping, reduced key controls population, streamlined testing, use of automated controls and other practical techniques for the small cap company.
 
Sessions:
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. PT | 12:00 p.m. CT | 1:00 p.m. ET

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. PT | 12:00 p.m. CT | 1:00 p.m. ET

 

Moderator:
Jim DeLoach, Managing Director, Protiviti

 

Speakers:
Bonnie-Jeanne Gerety, Managing Director, Protiviti
Paresh Raghani, Managing Director, Protiviti

 

For questions, please contact Carlyn Manly at carlyn.manly@protiviti.com or +1.415.402.6440.