CorporateGovernor white paper series

The CorporateGovernor white paper series explores a range of topics of concern to the governance community--boards of directors, chief audit executives and others responsible for ensuring that companies are run well and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Current and future topics range from fraud prevention and detection to financial reporting control and regulatory compliance.

Our latest white paper: Keeping third-party risk in check

The reliance on third parties has become a business reality in today’s highly competitive environment. The risks involved are also a reality. As more companies outsource significant and critical business functions, they’re relinquishing more of their control environment to others.

No wonder these relationships are a key area of concern. Organizations need to have a consistent and comprehensive process for evaluating and mitigating the risks inherent in these relationships, preferably as part of the ongoing internal audit risk universe and risk management initiatives.

Download the white paper

Read the other issues of the CorporateGovernor white paper series:

• Covering your assets: A proactive approach to securing sensitive data addresses how to understand the location and flow of sensitive data and implement data leakage prevention and includes an illustrative case study on addressing a data leakage issue.
• The blank sheet of paper: An old tool is new again explores the use of a blank sheet of paper approach by internal audit to design and deliver consultative business reviews.
• Zone of insolvency: Decision-making in times of distress presents an analysis of insolvency tests and other financial and nonfinancial indicators of distress. The paper also proposes a decision framework for directors and officers tasked with guiding companies in distress.
• Fraud in the economic recovery discusses the key issues organizations face when it comes to identifying, dealing with, and protecting themselves from two important types of fraud: fraud committed by or against a private enterprise and fraud committed by entities against the federal government.
• Enterprise risk management: Creating value in a volatile economy addresses the reasons why implementing an enterprise risk management (ERM) program can benefit companies in a down economy, and how ERM can help enhance business strategy.
• Hear that whistle blowing! Establishing an effective complaint-handling process addresses an important mandate of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act: the requirement that audit committees establish procedures for receiving, documenting, and handling complaints related to accounting and auditing matters.