Tools
The following tools were published on KnowledgeLeader this week:
Back-Office Process Optimization Report
This document contains two sample audit reports that can be used by auditors to learn how other organizations performed a back-office process optimization audit. Testing involved activities such as implementing a purchase order system, centralizing accounts payable, increasing the usage of electronic payments, outsourcing check printing and mailing, and outsourcing accounts payable processing.
Security Management Audit Work Program
The general steps included in this work program can be used by organizations looking to conduct a security management audit. Sample work steps include determining the extent of network connectivity internally and externally and the boundaries and functions of security domains and identifying systems that have recently undergone significant changes, such as new hardware, software, configurations and connectivity.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Policy
Gain insights into our Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Policy and its implications for managing accounts receivable and revenue cycle processes. According to this policy, all variations from this policy must be approved by the vice president responsible for control, the vice president responsible for the treasury function or the chief financial officer.
Licenses and Royalties Policy
The purpose of this sample policy is to provide guidelines for the proper treatment of licenses and royalty payments. This policy details procedures related to initial royalty payments, subsequent royalty payments, licensing agreements, and the termination of licensing agreements, both when the company is the licensee and when the company is the licensor.
Product Lifecycle Risk Audit Work Program
This sample work program reviews the risks in the planning and initiation, requirements analysis, design, development, testing, implementation and roll-out, and post-implementation areas of IT projects. For planning and initiation, some of the risk areas reviewed are system requirements specification, cost-benefit analysis, quality/time/cost, prioritization, methodology, and management approval and sponsorship.
Direct Deposit of Royalty Payments Audit Work Program
This direct deposit of royalty payments audit work program focuses on determining whether the sensitive information collected for the direct deposit of royalty payments is properly stored, processed, distributed and accessed by appropriate users. Audit procedures include observing the process for receipt of royalty owner direct deposit forms and determining whether the mail correspondence submitted by royalty owners reaches the destination in a secure manner.
System Implementation Process Questionnaire
The questions included in this tool can be applied to the implementation of new systems or major upgrades. Sample questions include: Has there been an application implementation risk assessment and who contributed? Is there a documented risk management plan for the implementation effort?
Publications
KnowledgeLeader has also published several publications this week.
Heidi Crebo-Rediker on Future-Proofing Your Business Amid Geopolitical Risks
Heidi Credo-Rediker has held senior leadership positions in both in government and business, providing advice on geo-economics and international economic policy for two U.S. presidents. She is a former CEO and currently a partner at International Capital Strategies, an executive vice president at America’s Frontier Fund, and an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Joe Kornik, editor-in-chief at VISION by Protiviti, sat down with Crebo-Rediker to discuss how business leaders can future-proof their businesses amid geopolitical risks.
Finding and Dealing with Key Project Issues: A New Approach
This article includes a full checklist, solutions and data on the systems developed to better address project gaps. Checklist questions addressed in this article include: Are the user stories able to be executed without further clarification? Is there a project status report produced and distributed to all key stakeholders on a biweekly basis or more frequently?
When Executives Stand in the Way — Create the Right Tone at the Top for Change
In the race toward innovation and transformation, it can be easy for leadership to overlook their crucial role in driving change in the organization. In fact, leadership teams often become obstacles to, rather than catalysts for, the very change they’re striving to achieve in people and behaviors. The bottom line is that executives need to align their views and approaches regarding setting the right tone at the top for change. In this issue of The Bulletin, we list seven ways leaders can cultivate change while instilling new behaviors throughout their organization.
Recommended Resources
This list of recommended resources from the web may be of interest to you. Click each link to learn more.
- New Protiviti Research: Achieving Audit Relevance
- Managing Change in Audit Technology Transformation
- SEC Approves First US Climate Disclosure Rules