This is a sample email sent by the process owner to finance staff regarding the documentation of controls over spreadsheets as part of Section 404 Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.

This part of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires companies to document controls over spreadsheets and other user-developed programs impacting the financial reporting process. In order to prevent errors with respect to formulas, data uploaded into the spreadsheet, logic errors and end-user computing tools must have additional control procedures to help identify errors. These controls protect the integrity of the financial statement transaction amounts or balances. This memo outlines procedures for enforcing the additional controls.