Accounting Information Systems Research Paper Essay

AbstractThe Sarbanes-Oxley comport of 2002 (SOX) was enacted into law in 2002 in the wake of corporation monetary reportage scandals involving large-mouthed commonplacely held companies. SOX appointd bracing strict fiscal regulations with the intent of up(p) history dodge practices and protecting investors from incarnate misconduct. SOX requires corporate executives to vouch for the trueness of fiscal statements, and to institute and monitor efficient inhering locks everyplace pecuniary describe. The damage of machineing an effective ingrained ascendence structure argon onerous, and SOX inflicts opportunity costs upon an try as executives concord buzz off more(prenominal) risk adverse collectible to fears of incrimination.The humanity Comp any Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) was created by SOX to superintend the account statement mathematical mathematical process and dictate independence fates for canvasors and canvassing committees. The PCAOB proposed regulations moldiness be approve by the SEC before they are enacted. Since the passage of SOX, the IT de get aroundment has buy the farm critical in designing and implementing the internecine realizes in play along be tuition establishments. The Information Technology G oernance Institute (ITGI) created a fashion model c each(prenominal)ed delay Objectives for Information and Related Technology (COBIT) to provide steerage for companies to implement and monitor IT formation.Accounting Information Systems Research PaperThe Sarbanes-Oxley turning of 2002 changed the grace of corporate monetary reporting and auditing. In the wake of corporate reporting scandals, Congress decided the story profession was unable to self-regulate, and The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was sign(a) into law. The law addresses corporate greed and dishonesty by requiring companies to implement lengthy inner(a) control procedures to deter fraud and hold corporate executives accountable . The habitual Company Accounting Oversight Board is the enforcement arm of the legislation, and is infra the dresser of the SEC to oversee accounting and auditing processes. Public companies are call for conflate sexual controls in their accounting nurture systems to ensure data stiffness and guarantor. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002In the aftermath of several corporate financial reporting scandals involving large universely held companies such as Enron, WorldCom, and Tyco, the United States Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and enacted it into law on July 30, 2002. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) takes its name from its two primary congressional sponsors, Representative Michael Oxley (R-OH) and Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) (Hoffman, 2005, p. 3). SOX instituted new strict financial regulations with the intent of improving accounting practices and protecting investors from corporate misconduct. The law is intended to protect stakeholders from corporate greed, fra ud, and misleading financial reporting. SOX legislation tackles several important concerns including corporate responsibility, infixed controls, attender independence, financial disclosures, criminal and fraud liability, conflicts of interest, and corporate tax returns (Moffett and Grant, 2011, p. 3). below the law, independent auditors and corporate officers of publicly traded companies must af debauched both the accuracy of the financial statements and their supporting processes and data (Hoffman, 2005, p. 3). The law requires corporate officers to vouch for the strong point of the companys internal controls and to be honest and transparent in financial reporting. SOX is organized under eleven titles, with the majority of the compliance principles written under sections 302, 401, 404, and 409 (A Guide to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, 2006). subdivision 302 requires company officers to certify the truthfulness and completeness of every quarter and annual reports. Additionally, the signing officers are responsible for assembleing and containing the internal controls, and must have judged the effectiveness of the controls within 90 days prior to certifying the financial statements (Hoffman, 2005, p. 4). plane section 401 of SOX requires corporations to issue financial statements that are complete and accurate and include all material off-balance sheet obligations or liabilities (A Guide to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, 2006).This regulation was instituted to prevent public corporations from hiding liabilities from investors, and thus artificially inflating stock prices. Section 404 requires public companies to establish internal controls and report annually on their effectiveness over financialreporting. The CFO and CEO are held personally responsible for the internal controls via the requirement to sign a statement certifying the adequacy of the internal control system (Moffett and Grant, 2011, p. 3). Additionally, the companys independent auditor must issue an proof regarding attentions assessment of the internal structure as part of the companys annual report (Bloch, 2003, p. 68). Material changes to a companys financial condition or operations must be disclosed to the public in a timely manner under the provisions of Section 409. Rapid disclosure applies to all showcases of company study i.e. product recalls, military group changes, or loss of a major client (Hoffman, 2005, p. 4). Internal Controls stiff internal controls protect a companys assets, maintain compliance, improve operations, prevent fraud, and promote accuracy in financial reporting. In 1992 the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) designed an internal control mannikin of five components the control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and monitoring (Moffett et al, 2011, p. 3). Companies aim this framework to implement internal control systems tailored to their own needs. noneinternal control system is infallible, however, effective controls provide reasonable government agency company assets are protected and financial reporting is accurate.Section 404 compliance. Section 404 mandates that Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered companies implement and maintain adequate internal control procedures for financial reporting, and also appropriately assess and report on the internal controls effectiveness (Conway, 2003, p. 19). Company executives and audit committees are expected to take an brisk role in defining and evaluating the internal control structure and procedures. The COSO internal control framework is widely accepted as the best criteria for rating of a companys internal control structure. Documentation of internal control procedures is essential to the evaluation process. Documentation provides differentiate that controls have been set and can be monitored. All relevant financial statement statements and each of the five COSO internal co ntrol components should be documented. When support is lacking or nonexistent, independent auditors will report either a significant need or material weakness in internal control (Conway, 2003, p. 19).Furthermore, documentation provides evidence that trouble applies cognizance to protecting company assets and instills integrity in financial reporting in a way that is pleasing to the Lord, as affirmed in Proverbs 243, By wisdom a domiciliate is built, and through understanding it is established (New International Version). Internal controls should be evaluated to take root whether they are operating effectively and to substantiate concerns asseveration on the adequacy of the controls. Internal control testing and results should be documented, with deficiencies famed and remediation plans identified (Conway, 2003, p. 19). Upon completion of the evaluation process, management prepares its assertion on the effectiveness of internal control over the financial reporting process. A s part of the independent audit, the external auditor will test and evaluate the internal control system, and subsequently attest to managements assertion regarding internal controls.Section 404 impact on dispirited stock. One of the biggest concerns to small firms is the onerous cost of implementing Section 404 on internal controls. Companies have seen audit fees increase by as much as 30% delinquent to tougher accounting and auditing standards required by SOX (Solomon & Bryan-Low, 2004). In addition to external auditing expenses, the cost of hiring employees to create, implement and monitor Section 404 compliant internal controls can be burdensome to small tradees.In addition to the financial burden created by SOX compliance, SOX imposes significant opportunity cost on corporations by making executives more risk-adverse by instilling in managers a fear of incrimination (Vakkur, McAfee, & Kipperman, 2010, p. 19). SOX inflicts superiorly punitive measures on corporate executive s to include penalties, incrimination, private litigation, and potential delve market penalties (Ahmed, McAnally, Rasmussen & Weaver, 2010, p. 354). When managers time is consumed with regulatory compliance, they are not focused on new-product development or growing the business, resulting in lower profits and cut down marketplace competitiveness. The PCAOBThe Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) was created by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to oversee the accounting process and dictate independence requirements for auditors and auditing committees (Kim, 2003, p. 236). In order to curb the system of accountants self-regulation, only two of the five members of the PCAOB may be current or former certified public accountants. The PCAOB conducts annual case inspections of accounting firms that audit more than one hundred companies and periodical inspections of all other accounting firms (Kim, 2003, p. 241). The PCAOB has the authority to conduct special(a) inspections of acco unting firms at any time, and can impose sanctions on an accountant or accounting firm if the Board finds unreasonable failure to supervise any person associated with auditing or superior control standards (Kim, 2003, p. 241). The SEC maintains authority over the PCAOB, and must approve PCAOB proposed regulations in order for them to become effective. PCAOB PronouncementsPronouncements connect to accounting information systems. Auditing monetary standard No. 12, Identifying and Assessing Risk of Material Management, addresses the auditors requirement to understand the companys information system, including relate business processes, relevant to financial reporting. This includes understanding minutes that are significant to the financial statements, and the procedures by which these proceeding are initiated, authorized, processed, go intoed, and reported. The auditor is to obtain understanding of link up accounting records, supporting information, and specific accounts that a re used to initiate, authorize, process and record transactions. The auditor should understand how the information system captures events and conditions that are important to the financial statements and how information engineering science affects the companys flow of transactions. Additionally, the auditor should become knowledgeable or so the companys period end financial reporting process, including general ledger procedures, application of accounting principles, procedures used to process and record journal entries and adjustments, and procedures for preparing financial statements and related disclosures (Auditing Standard No. 12, 2010).Pronouncements related to internal controls. Auditing Standard No. 5, An Audit of Internal Control over Financial Reporting thatis Integrated with an Audit of Financial Statements, establishes requirements and provides direction for audit engagements of managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting tha t is part of a financial statement audit. Effective internal control over financial reporting provides reasonable office regarding the reliability of financial reporting and related financial statements. The auditor is required to plan and perform the audit to obtain appropriate evidence about whether material weaknesses exist in the internal control over financial reporting. General standards apply in the audit, including technical proficiency as an auditor, independence, due professional like, and professional skepticism.The auditor prepares and signs a report expressing whether the company retained effective internal control over financial reporting that is date and issued in conjunction with the report on the audited financial statements (Auditing Standard No. 5, 2007). Auditing pronouncements. SOX authorized the PCAOB to establish auditing and professional practice standard to be employ by registered public accounting firms. Auditor compliance is mandatory. On an interim ba sis, the PCAOB has adopted the generally accepted auditing standards as described in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Auditing Standards Boards Statement on Auditing Standards No. 95, Generally Accepted Auditing Standards, in existence on April 16, 2003 (Auditing, 2003). morality and independence pronouncements. In accordance with Rule 3520, the registered accounting firm and auditors must be independent of the firms audit client end-to-end the audit and the engagement period.In accordance with Rule 3500T, the registered accounting firm and auditors shall comply with ethics standards as written in AICPAs formula of Professional Conduct Rule 102, and interpretations and rulings as in existence on April 16, 2003 (Ethics & Independence, 2003). Quality control pronouncements. In April 2003 the PCAOB adopted as interim quality control standards the AICPAs Auditing Standards Boards Statements on Quality Control Standards, as in existence on April 16, 2003. The sec tion requires that certified public accounting firms shall have a system of quality control for its accounting and auditing practice that ensures services are completely delivered and adequately supervised. Firm personnel are to comply with applicable professional standards and the firms standards of quality (Quality Control, 2003).Attestation pronouncements. In April 2003 the PCAOB adopted as interim attestation standards the AICPAs Auditing Standards Boards Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements, related interpretations, and statements of position as in existence on April 16, 2003.The practitioner shall have adequate facts of life and proficiency in the attest function and the subject matter. The practitioner shall maintain independence in mental attitude, and exercise due professional care in the engagement. Work shall be adequately planned and supervised, and sufficient evidence shall be obtained to support a reasonable basis for the conclusion convey in the repor t (Attestation, 2003). Future PCAOB pronouncements. The PCAOB is considering including an Auditors Discussion and abbreviation (AD&A) with an auditors report. The AD&A could include information related to the audit, including audit risks, audit procedures and results. It could also include discussion related to the auditors views of managements judgments and estimates, accounting policies and practices, and difficult issues. (Current Activities, 2013). SOX and PCAOB Impact on Accounting Information SystemsThe SOX requires that companies evaluate the effectiveness of both the design and operation of internal controls (Holmes & Neubecker, 2006, p. 25). Because of the reliance on accounting information systems for financial transactions and reporting, internal controls must be built into in the accounting system infrastructure in order to provide reasonable assurance that financial reporting is valid, complete, and free of fraud. Damianides (2005) stresses, IT will be crucial to achie ving this objective and establishing the founding for a sound internal control environment. Prior to SOX, there were no definitive requirements on the extent of accounting system information technology controls a company was expected to implement. Prior to SOX, sage managers and companies that placed high importance on integrity had already instituted internal control procedures. The al-Quran speaks to this concept of being good stewards of the property entrusted to us. As noted in Proverbs 2723, Be sure you know the condition of your flocks give special attention to your herds (New International Version).Once SOX became law, more attention was given to internal controls that should be inherent in accounting information systems. Accountingtransactions from inception to disposition are changed, resulting in a direct kinship between IT effectiveness and operational effectiveness in companies (Holmes et al., 2006, p. 25). The chief information officer plays a critical role in SOX internal control compliance. IT professionals are tasked to provide accurate, visible, and timely information while ensuring the protection and security of information systems (Damianides, 2005, p. 77).IT organisation is a process whereby a companys IT system sustains and supports company goals and objectives (Gelinas, Dull, & Wheeler, 2012, p. 264). The Information Technology Governance Institute (ITGI) created a framework called Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology (COBIT) to provide guidance for companies to implement and monitor IT governance. The five key elements of the COBIT framework are strategic fusion, service slant, resource management, risk management, and performance measurement (Kepczyk, 2012, p. 5).Strategic alignment is the integration of the IT infrastructure into an enterprises strategic plans. Service delivery refers to the IT systems ability to securely provide information system access on any company-approved device from any location, on -site or remote. Resource management is the proactive monitoring and control of IT hardware and software costs, proactively applying cost-benefit analysis. Risk management encompasses the identification of threats and vulnerabilities to IT infrastructure, with proactive actions taken to mitigate potential impacts. Lastly, performance management is process of determining the acceptable levels of network performance and monitoring trammel through such tools as balanced scorecards and benchmarks (Kepczyk, 2012, p. 5).Businesses that apply biblical wisdom to learning and understanding legal requirements and how to implement them will be fortunate in overcoming the tactical challenges of complying with the law. We are reminding in Proverbs 15, let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance. ConclusionThe Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is the most significant legislation concerning market regulation since the Exchange Acts of 1933 and 1934 (Holmes et al., 2006, p. 27). Public corporations are most impacted by the stringent internal control requirements. The PCAOB oversees accounting processes and auditing requirements. Companies that are successful in establishing and maintaining effective internal controls automate them within their accounting information systems. As the automation in business processes is continually growing, managers are challenged to ensure transactions are valid, security is strong, and reports are accurate and valid.ReferencesA Guide to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. (2006). Addison-Hewitt Associates. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http//soxlaw.com Ahmed, A., McAnally, M., Rasmussen, S. & Weaver, C. (2010). How costly is the sarbanes oxley act? Evidence on the effects of the act on corporate profitability. Journal of Corporate Finance, 16, 352-369. Attestation. (2003). Retrieved April 30, 2014, from www.pcaobus.org Auditing. (2003). Retrieved April 30, 2014, from www.pcaobus.org Auditing Standard No. 5. (2007). 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