CFO Series: Internal Controls That Matter: Smart Practices

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Overview

Internal controls don’t have to be complicated, but they must be effective and intentional. In many organizations, especially small to mid-sized ones, internal controls are informal or incomplete, exposing teams to unnecessary risk. This discussion helps finance and accounting professionals understand what internal controls really are, why they matter, and how to build systems that actually work without overwhelming your people or processes. We’ll discuss how to design, implement, and monitor core controls across financial reporting, operations, and compliance, using real-world examples that scale to fit your organization. Whether you’re starting from scratch or tightening what’s already there, this seminar will help you put the right checks and balances in place to protect your resources, your people, and your reputation.

Highlights

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:

What internal controls are and what they are not
Why even small organizations need controls
COSO and the five core components of a sound internal control system
Common control failures and real-world consequences
Examples of scalable financial, operational, and compliance controls
How to tailor controls to your organization’s size and risk profile
Embedding internal controls into daily operations
How to monitor, evaluate, and adapt controls over time

Prerequisites

None, preferably at least six (6) months of professional financial statement analysis experience and/or at least six (6) months of professional experience in preparing or reviewing accounting processes and reports; experience working with internal clients or external clients and business leaders.

Designed For

Financial leaders, financial managers, CEOs, CFOs, controllers, accountants, board members, advisors, and consultants; CPAs in public practice and CPAs in industry; business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals who are interested in realizing more value from the organization.

Objectives

After attending this presentation, you will be able to...

Assess internal controls in financial and operational settings.
Identify five core components of a strong control framework.
Evaluate risks in smaller organizations and design right-sized controls
Implement internal controls using practical, scalable steps.
Monitor internal control effectiveness and adjust them.