This guide is designed to assist management in analyzing the effectiveness of a company's management control structure (MCS) over financial reporting. The MCS consists of the environment and processes put into place by management to ensure that significant risks presenting threats to the successful achievement of key business objectives are identified, evaluated, and reduced to an acceptable level. The guide also facilitates management's documentation of its evaluation of the MCS.

This information is intended only to serve as a guide for studying and evaluating internal controls. It should not be relied upon with regard to any particular transaction or company.