Magisteruppsats i företagsekonomi inom ramen för Civilekonomprogrammet med företagsekonomisk inriktning vid Internationella Handelshögskolan i Jönköping Titel                                   Koll på SOX – En fallstudie av implementeringen av SAP GRC Version 10 inom delar av ABB-koncernen. Författare                           Lars Björmsjö, Jacob Öberg Handledare                       Gunnar Rimmel Ämnesord                         GRC, intern kontroll, SAP, Sarbanes-Oxley Act Sammanfattning Bakgrund (och problem): Med de redovisningsskandalerna som skakat den finansiella världen i början av 2000-talet, har lagstiftningen stramats åt för företag för att förhindra att detta inträffar igen. Lagar som SOX ger tydliga direktiv på hur företagen ska stärka sina interna kontroller. Att efterleva SOX är en kostsam historia då, de ställer hårda krav på intern kontroll samt system för att hantera de ökade kontrollerna. Problembakgrunden till denna uppsats bygger på kraven att efterleva SOX och hur ett internationellt företag kan använda sig av ett IT-verktyg som SAP GRC för att klara av de hårdare kraven. Syfte: Syftet med detta examensarbete är att utföra en fallstudie på hur processen bakom implementeringen av SAP GRC version 10 ser ut i ett multinationellt företag som ABB och vilken roll SOX har i sammanhanget Avgränsningar: Författarna har valt att avgränsa sig till att enbart titta på implementeringen av SAP GRC, och tittar då inget på andra aktörers liknande produkter. Vidare har författarna valt att bara titta på implementeringen inom det brittiska ABB.  Metod: Studien har ett kvalitativ angreppssätt. Studien är en fallstudie vilket innebär att personlig kontakt i form av telefonintervjuer har varit enda metoden för att samla in data till empirin. Resultat/Slutsats: Författarnas slutsats av undersökningen fastställs i att SOX har en väldigt viktig roll i implementeringen av SAP GRC, det är anledningen till implementeringen. Vidare har det framkommit att implementeringen är ett väldigt omfattande arbete, som är mycket kostsamt i både monetära mått samt tid. Dock är detta, det mest effektiva och kostnadseffektiva sättet att efterfölja SOX från ett ABB perspektiv Diskussion: Författarna ser ett par områden för förbättring inom användningen av GRC på ABB för att få ut det mesta av verktyget, samt att effektivera hanteringen av risker. Vidare ser författarna förslag till vidare forskning. I dag finns det ingen direkt forskning på konceptet eller verktyget GRC, författarna finner det intressant om en vetenskapligt grundad definition skulle undersökas. / Master Thesis in Business Administration within the Civilekonomprogram at Jönköping International Business School Title                                   Keeping track of SOX – A case study of the implementation of SAP GRC Version 10 in parts of the ABB Group Authors                              Lars Björmsjö, Jacob Öberg Tutor                                                        Gunnar Rimmel Subject terms            GRC, internal control, SAP, Sarbanes-Oxley Act Abstract Background (and problem): In the reflections of the accountings scandals that occurred in the beginning of this millennium, legislations have tightened to prevent this kind of event to reoccur. Legislations like SOX provide clear directives on how companies should strengthen their internal controls. Compliance with SOX is a costly affair when, they place heavy demands on internal controls and systems to manage the increased controls. Problem discussion to this thesis is based on the requirements to comply with SOX and how an international company can use a tool like SAP GRC to meet the stricter requirements  Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to conduct a case study on how the process behind the implementation of SAP GRC version 10 looks in a multi-national company such as ABB and the role played by SOX in the implementation process. Delimitations: The authors have chosen to delimitate thesis merely to look at the implementation of SAP GRC, and do not look at other players at the market, nor their GRC solutions. Furthermore, the authors have chosen to only look at the implementation of SAP GRC at ABB in the United Kingdom. Method: The study has only a qualitative approach. The study is a case study which means that personal contact in the form of telephone interviews has been the only method to gather data for empirical choose of the authors. Results and Conclusions: The authors' conclusion of the study acknowledges that SOX has a very important role in the implementation of SAP GRC, and is the main reason for the implementation. Furthermore, it has emerged that the implementation is a very comprehensive work, which is very costly in both monetary and time measures. However the authors have concluded that implementing SAP GRC is the most efficient and cost effective way to comply with SOX from an ABB perspective. Discussion: According to the authors opinion there are a few areas for improvement in the use of GRC at ABB, in order to get the most out of the tool and to streamline the management of risks. Due to the lack of current research within the field, the authors would find it very interesting if a scientifically based definition of GRC would be investigated.

Au cours de la dernière année, la régie d'entreprise a subi des bouleversements majeurs. Autrefois reléguée au second plan comme relevant des affaires internes de la compagnie, les récents scandales financiers aux États-Unis ont poussé à l'avant plan la problématique de la régie d'entreprise et le rôle que doivent assumer les divers intervenants du marché. Le congrès américain a réagi très rapidement aux scandales par l'adoption d'une loi. Les autorités canadiennes durent se questionner sur le type de réforme qui devrait conduire le Canada vers une meilleure régie d'entreprise tout en conservant sa compétitivité dans un contexte de mondialisation. Le présent mémoire se veut une approche pratique à la problématique de la régie d'entreprise. Au-delà des théories élaborées, le contexte actuel requiert une action concrète adaptée au milieu et au contexte économique canadien. En ce sens, la réaction des autorités canadiennes aux changements en place aux États-Unis nous renseignera non seulement sur la philosophie des autorités canadiennes, mais également sur l'approche qui sera privilégiée par celles-ci dans l'évolution de la régie d'entreprise qui doit mener à la reprise de confiance des investisseurs dans le marché, confiance durement ébranlée par les récents scandales financiers. / Over the past year, corporate governance has suffered many hits. Traditionnally pushed aside as management's problem, the recent wave of financial scandais in the United-States has put corporate governance at the front end. In that context, the role of market participants must be redefined. The United-States Congress reacted very rapidly to the scandais by adopting a new by-Iaw, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Canadian authorities had to question themselves as to what kind of reform Canada would need to put it on the path of better Corporate Governance without compromising its competitiveness in a global market. The present paper follows a practical approach to the recent Corporate Governance problems. Beyond the theories elaborated on Corporate Governance, today's context requires concrete action adapted to the Canadian economic environment. In this sense, the reaction of the Canadian authorities to the new rules in the United-States will give insight as to what is the Canadian authorities' philosophy on the subject and what lies ahead for regulatory changes in Canada in the market's search to regain investor confidence after a wave of financial scandais. / "Mémoire présenté à la faculté des études supérieures en vue de l'obtention du grade de Maître en droit (LL.M.)"

This paper discusses the history of auditor independence in the United States and the regulation of the public accounting profession over time. Special emphasis is put on the increasing importance that regulators have placed on the perception of auditor independence and on its effectiveness. Next, I analyze the efficacy of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and provide several reasons for its shortcomings. Finally, I provide two distinct suggestions aimed at improving the current audit landscape.

Bachelor-Arbeit Univ. St. Gallen, 2006.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Allen M. Featherstone / PS International (PSI) is an international trading company that specializes in the trading of bulk agricultural commodities. It has global strength to both export and import a variety of agricultural products using affiliated offices positioned throughout the world. To adapt to competitive pressures, advancements in technology, and economic conditions, privately-held companies are re-structuring their business by acquiring or partnering/merging with other companies. This results in a redefinition of the assets, operations, and relationships with the stockholders. The acquisition of a private company by a publicly held company creates unique issues because the newly acquired private company must meet SEC accounting standards. One example of this is the acquisition of PSI by Seaboard Corporation, a publicly traded company. In 2010, the owners of PSI sold fifty percent share of the company to Seaboard Corporation. Today Seaboard Corporation owns 80% of PSI. This research problem is based on the challenges that the acquisition of a private company by a public company faces. The focus of the analysis was on the accounting changes in the area of accounts receivable, in particular when revenue is recognized. PSI used cash basis accounting and Seaboard is required to use an accrual method that required a modification in PSI’s accounting system. This research investigates the impact of those changes on PSI’s accounts. The main factors used for comparison of revenue recognition under the cash and accrual method were departure date, transit time and payment terms. The comparisons were based on a data from 196 deliveries made in 2012. In the cash method, revenue was recognized for all the transactions during the month of shipment departure. This revenue was included whether or not the transactions were paid in full and whether or not the cargo arrived at its destination in the same month. In the accrual method, only 20.92% of the transactions were recognized in the current month of shipment, because revenue must be earned and realizable to be consistent with the SEC criteria, otherwise revenue must be deferred until the payment is collected. Therefore, as the result of applying either the cash or accrual method in the income statement, transaction will be recorded as accounts receivables and/or deferred transactions. With the application of the accrual method, the working capital calculation and the annualized margin must take more into consideration by managers, the trading staff and logistic staff.

Submitted by Aline Martins (1146629@mackenzie.br) on 2016-06-06T23:45:24Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) MARCELO DE CARVALHO CARVALHAES.pdf: 1132724 bytes, checksum: f27800b62a7ca4732ab5e674c64c145c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Paola Damato (repositorio@mackenzie.br) on 2016-06-07T12:04:27Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) MARCELO DE CARVALHO CARVALHAES.pdf: 1132724 bytes, checksum: f27800b62a7ca4732ab5e674c64c145c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-07T12:04:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) MARCELO DE CARVALHO CARVALHAES.pdf: 1132724 bytes, checksum: f27800b62a7ca4732ab5e674c64c145c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-03 / As result of providing false finance and accounting information required by external users, there was a pressure for issuing legislation which could bring back the confidence in the financial statements issued by North American public companies. In this context, it was promulgated the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which had created a new dynamic in the relationship involving auditors, executives and regulators. However, since the issuance of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act., the cost benefit resulting from the fulfillment of the compliance activities has been questioned, since maintenance costs are immediate and count of easing perception, nevertheless impacts and eventual improvements are intangible, difficult to measure and occur over a long period of time. This study researched about perception of those involved in the Sarbanes-Oxley fulfillment law on companies operating in Brazil and it was analyzed the perception regarding internal control elements, incurred costs and impacts observed up to this date and the will of performing it came from the observation performed by the author during years of professional development acting as auditor and later, as executive of controllership in multinational American company. As complement of the research, it was inquired about future expectations on a five-year period (2016-2020) and as result of this research, it was observed synergies in many aspects but also, significant difference related to incurred costs and impacts observed up to this date. Future expectations also count with significant differences related to Controls Environment, Risk Analysis and Activities of controls. / Como resultado de informações falsas prestadas através de Demonstrações Financeiras, houve pressão para a emissão de legislação que trouxesse novamente a confiança em informações divulgadas por empresas públicas Norte Americanas. Neste contexto, foi promulgada a lei Sarbanes-Oxley, pela qual nova dinâmica na relação auditores, executivos e órgãos reguladores foi estabelecida. No entanto, desde a promulgação da lei, a relação custo benefício resultante do cumprimento da mesma tem sido questionada, principalmente pela dificuldade de tal medição, sendo os custos de manutenção imediatos e de fácil percepção, mas impactos e eventuais melhorias, quando percebidas, são intangíveis, de difícil mensuração e tendem a ocorrer em período de longo prazo. Esta pesquisa tratou da percepção dos agentes envolvidos no cumprimento desta lei em empresas que atuam no Brasil, no que diz respeito aos elementos de controles internos, aos custos incorridos e aos impactos observados até o presente momento. Tal inquietude decorre de anos de experiência do autor, atuando nos papeis de auditor e executivo em controladoria de empresa multinacional americana, sendo assim responsável pela certificação do cumprimento da lei e posteriormente, pelo cumprimento da mesma. Foi tratada também, expectativa futura em um horizonte de cinco anos (2016-2020), no que diz respeito à expectativa de custos bem como, impactos e benefícios futuros. Observou-se diferença significativa para itens de custos e impactos já incorridos. Notou-se ainda diferença significativa para expectativas futuras decorrentes da aplicação da lei, em relação à análise de riscos, ambientes de controles e atividades de controles.

Práce pojednává o systému řídicí dokumentace na pozadí procesní orientace podniku. Zabývá se i vlivem zákona Sarbanes-Oxley a normy ISO 9001 na řídicí dokumentaci podniku. Obsahem je i úvod do procesního modelování.

This paper is about Sarbanes-Oxley Act that was passed in response to the financial scandals such as Enron and WorldCom. SOX created organization PCAOB that has 6 auditing standards in its portfolio. My thesis is aim at Auditing standard no. 5. IBM was also affected by this law and so the thesis is focused on internal controls, testing and quarterly certification. At the end, there is a part about the relationship between IBM and its customers who are under this law as well.

<p dir="ltr">This paper examines the informational content of insider trades and the impact of the Sarbanes Oxley Act on the ability of outside investors to use this information. I find that while the new reporting requirement speeds up the incorporation of insiders’ information into the market, there still exists an opportunity for attentive outsiders. The studies also address how the increased market efficiency has affected the differences between insiders, such as top-level executives and the rest of insiders. I find that the Sarbanes Oxley Act has greatly leveled the playing field in terms of how outsiders perceive these groups. Further, I extend the analysis of identifying opportunistic insiders. I find that using 8K corporate events in addition to quarterly earnings announcements, we are able to more efficiently label insiders as opportunistic compared to previous studies. Finally, I extend the literature on institutional investors by analyzing the link between this group and insider activity. I show that the previous findings of institutional investors following insiders is being driven by a subset of institutions, and I find evidence to support important distinguishing characteristics of institutional investors indicating institutions should not be studied as a whole, but in groups.</p>

An increase in the prevalence of earnings restatements and cases of financial statement fraud in the early 21st century led to a significant loss of market capitalization and investor confidence in the attestation process. In an effort to restore such confidence, Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) in July of 2002. The Act significantly increased the penalties for engaging in accrual activities aimed at either misleading users of the financial statements concerning the underlying economic condition of the firm or influencing contractual outcomes. Recent literature separates earnings management into accrual and real activities. Accrual activities include the management of accounts that have not yet been realized in cash, such as receivables and payables. Real activities include the management of actions that deviate from normal business practices, such as price discounts aimed at temporarily increasing sales, excessive inventory production aimed at lowering the cost of goods sold, and aggressively reducing discretionary expenditures such as R&D to improve profit margins. As a result of the increased penalties for engaging in accrual activities, one would expect a relative shift from accrual activities to real activities to facilitate earnings management in the post-SOX period. As with most academic social disciplines, the test employed in my dissertation is a joint test of the sensitivity of the tools available to detect management activities, the research design, and the presence and strength of the effect for which I am searching. This dissertation is the first to test for changes in both accrual quality and real activity-based earnings management in the post-SOX period. In order to test for a change in accrual quality in the post-SOX period, I utilize a model developed by Dechow and Dichev in 2002. The Dechow and Dichev (2002) model of accrual quality is an appropriate measure of accrual information risk, and may therefore be superior to the use of discretionary accrual models to test for an economic effect (Francis et al. 2004). I also utilize three empirical measures of real activity-based earnings management developed by Roychowdhury (2006) to document a change in real earnings management in the post-SOX period. The findings of the study empirically support a change in earnings management techniques in the post-SOX period compared to the pre-SOX period. Specifically, the quality of accruals incorporated into the accounting earnings figure have significantly increased in the post-SOX period. However, instances of earnings management using real activities have also significantly increased in the post-Sox period. These findings inform academics about the power of the tools used in academic accounting research and the overall quality of the argument. They inform users of financial statements about where to direct their attention in reading and evaluating the financials. Finally, they inform regulators, practitioners and policy makers of the effectiveness of the law at improving the quality of accruals, and bring to their attention a potential substitution in the techniques used to manage earnings.