PCAOB are concerned over auditors working too many hours
Audit firms have certainly had their difficulties lately.
Companies need to prepare systems for Internet taxes
It's too early to tell if the Marketplace Fairness Act, which authorizes states to collect taxes on internet-based transactions, will become law. The bill made it easily through the Senate, but will likely face stiffer resistance in the House.
Companies ponder social media disclosure
When the SEC updated its guidance on disclosure via social media last month, many applauded it for joining the modern communications era.
Inadvertent data releases a growing problem
More companies are being victimized by inadvertent releases of information. Sometimes the results are simply embarrassing. Sometimes they are quite sensitive from a compliance standpoint. And sometimes they are almost dangerous.
The tax risk management imperative
These days, everyone claims they are in favor of corporate tax reform, especially when it comes to tax programs that take advantage of tax havens abroad. But that's where the similarities end. The debate in Washington has been heated so far, and it will likely stay that way. The conventional wisdom seems to be that scrutiny of corporate taxes will be high, which means companies had better have their act together when it comes to tax risk management.
The ERM vs. GRC battle continues
In our industry, people have become accustomed to the ever-raging ERM vs. GRC debate. The conflict rears its head often, with partisans spewing a fair amount of vitriol. But if you were to pin down executives and ask what the distinction really is, you would end up with a lot of muddled answers.
The CISO's morphing role
As the GRC mandate spread throughout enterprises, many pondered the exact role of the CFO, the General Counsel, the Chief Risk Officer and the Chief Security Officer, not to mention the Chief Compliance Officer, all in relation to the board of directors and the CEO.
Splitting the GC and CCO?
The conventional wisdom holds that the offices of the General Counsel and the office of the Chief Compliance Officer should be separate. That's the clear preference of regulators, and it makes a lot of sense. Internally, people get that there's a difference between the two offices, though the distinctions are often unclear and driven by some stereotypical thinking.
Good AML processes mimic anti-forgery art processes
Compliance Week offers an interesting metaphor for GRC processes set up to grapple with AML concerns: "Who knew that the art of anti-money laundering (AML) compliance had so much in common with the science of spotting fake paintings?"
Rethinking the future of GRC
Former Forrester Research analyst Michael Rasmussen -- who coined the term GRC for governance, risk management and compliance back in 2002 -- offers a short history of the movement from his perspective.
Jeff Skilling to get out of jail early
Ex-Enron CEO Jeff Skilling, the poster child of corporate fraud and the de facto father of Sarbanes-Oxley, has never given up his fight to get out of jail. That long, expensive effort, which saw him take his case all the way to the Supreme Court, has finally paid off.
The need to manage fake press releases, Twitter hacks
Fake press release continue to be problem, especially as media outlets continue to run with stories without checking releases for veracity.
Hazy future for whistleblowers? Don't count on it
The conventional wisdom lately has been that we live in a Golden Era for whistleblowers. We've seen some huge rewards handed out.
FCPA investigation has Walmart audit committee in overdrive
An FCPA investigation is no trivial matter, and you can bet the audit committee will be working overtime. And the extra work, in the mind of the Walmart board anyway, deserves extra compensation.
GRC market set for fast growth
When it comes to assessing the state of the GRC market, it's tempting to call the glass three-fourths full.
Nuanced view of social media privacy on Wall Street
Several states are moving to ban companies from looking at the social media activity of their employees.
Ace gives up on earnings guidance
It's fair to say that the fundamental premise of earnings guidance has changed significantly over the past few years. It was once a best practice of sorts -- an attempt to inform the market and keep expectations in line. But Reg FD has led to a sea change in thinking in the IR community. And more companies are concluding that continuing to offer guidance simply isn't worth the Reg FD hassles.
HR, compliance partnership will work wonders
Are there any synergies between the compliance office and the human resources office? You bet there are, says Compliance Week.
Searching for the tipping point in the security industry
The cyberthreat landscape has gotten very complex in recent years, giving rise to lots of anger and fear on the part of targets, but also to an extraordinary amount of innovation in the security industry.
Symantec: Small companies hit hardest by cybercriminals
A new report from Symantec has confirmed what many small business executives already know: Their companies are often the most vulnerable to cybercrime.
