SOX Internal Controls For Accounts Payable

Setting up controls for the purchasing and payment processes and analyzing the risk to the financial statements can be a daunting task. Since most companies have to purchase many different items every day, there is a real potential for fraud.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 makes company executives of publicly traded US companies personally and criminally responsible for the accuracy and reliability of the financial disclosures of their companies. They are required to sign reports that attest to the effectiveness of their companies’ internal controls, including foreign subsidiaries.

This webinar looks at specific issues affecting Accounts Payable, including Payables Risk Management, the adequacy of payment oversight, dependence on processes outside the Payables department, and outside the company.

This webinar will provide you with the tools you need to establish and maintain strong internal controls in the A/P department that meet Sarbanes-Oxley standards and reduce risk and protect company assets. There will be opportunities for online discussion and questions.

Major Topics Covered: 

• Safeguarding inventory purchasing
  
• Examining supplier payments
• Reviewing risks associated with payroll and taxes
• Know best practices and types of approvals
• Reviewing repetitive processes
• Understanding the dangers inherent in inter-company payments
• Verifying accruals
• Assess currency issues
• Building and using audit trails
• Review the approval process
• Examining the role of IT systems 
• Integrating SOX into daily routines
• Techniques for testing Credit and Accounts Receivable controls 
• Documentation requirements specific to Credit and Accounts Receivable