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Seminar in Accounting & Society SOX – Section 404 April 20, 2009. Seminar in Accounting & Society SOX Section 404 – April 20, 2009. Rick Andrews Partner KPMG Dana Plonka Director, Internal Audit Sigma-Aldrich Corp. Agenda. Introductions/Background Overview – What is Sarbanes-Oxley?
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Seminar in Accounting & SocietySOX – Section 404April 20, 2009
Seminar in Accounting & SocietySOX Section 404 – April 20, 2009 • Rick Andrews Partner KPMG • Dana Plonka Director, Internal Audit Sigma-Aldrich Corp.
Agenda • Introductions/Background • Overview – What is Sarbanes-Oxley? • Impact of SOX – An Internal Perspective • Costs & Benefits of SOX • Impact of AS5 • The Economy & Risk - What Happened? • What’s Next? • Questions
About Sigma-Aldrich • $2.2Bglobal Life Science Company • Publicly traded on NASDAQ as SIAL • Develops, purchases, produces & sells biochemical and organic chemical products for use in scientific research,biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease, and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing • 7,900 employees in 38 countries • Over 130,000 products • 65% of Sales outside the US
About KPMG • KPMG LLP is a provider of audit, tax and advisory services • KPMG LLP is #1 in the St. Louis market auditing 42% of St. Louis’ Top 50 Public Companies • KPMG LLP is the U.S. member firm of the KPMG international network with a presence in ~ 150 countries • KPMG has been recognized as a great place to work by Fortune, Working Mother, the Human Rights Campaign, Business Week, The Women’s Alliance, the Black Collegian, Diversity Inc and others • KPMG LLP consists of 22,000 partners and staff across the U.S. The St. Louis office is supported by approximately 250 employees serving in the capacity of client support delivery or client service support functions
What is Sarbanes-Oxley? What is SOX 302? What is SOX 404? What is AS5?
Management’s Certifications The CEO and CFO must personally certify to the: • Accuracy of financial statements • Adequacy & effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures (SOX 302) • Adequacy & effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting (SOX 404) • Completeness of all disclosures that materially impact the financial statements or relate to frauds involving management with a significant role in internal controls over financial reporting
SOX 302 at Sigma-Aldrich • Quarterly disclosure controls and procedures implemented in 2002 • Robust certification process includes 138 managers worldwide • Extensive questionnaire addresses multiple areas and implies personal responsibility • Disclosure Committee reviews all responses to determine actions • Certifying Officers (CEO & CFO) and external auditors receive unedited, complete reports
SOX 404 at Sigma-Aldrich • Implemented web-based software to manage internal control documentation, assessments and testing in 2003 • Control documentation required for all Sigma-Aldrich sites; updated annually by Business Process Owners at sites • SOX 404 testing performed by Internal Audit on behalf of management • Deficiencies reported to sites, management, KPMG, Audit Committee
Impact of SOX on Stakeholders SOX 404 & 302 had a significant impact on: • Board of Directors’ responsibilities • Management’s responsibilities • Internal Audit Department resources and responsibilities • Costs of compliance
Impact on Board of Directors • Increased liability & responsibility for Audit Committee members • Qualifications for Audit Committee members more stringent (“financial expert” requirement) • Director, Internal Audit reports directly to the Chairman of the Audit Committee • Whistleblower Policy implemented with reports to the Audit Committee Chair
Impact on Board of Directors As a result, the Audit Committee has: • Increased focus on internal controls & audit results • Demanded swift remediation of internal control weaknesses • Supported the addition of Internal Audit resources to support compliance efforts • Initiated discussion over business riskmanagement strategies across the organization
Impact on Management • Certifying officers (CEO & CFO) are personally liable for undisclosed issues and significant financial misstatements • Potential for large $$ penalties and prison sentences • Increased accountability to Board with respect to maintaining internal controls and SOX compliance processes
Impact on Management As a result, Management has: • Increased focus on internal controls & audit results • Demanded swift remediation of internal control weaknesses • Placed reliance on transparency of quarterly disclosure certification process • Continued to set a strong “Tone at the Top” with respect to establishment and adherence to policies & controls
Impact on the Audit Profession “The Good” • Stature of audit profession raised • Bubble of demand for auditors • Increased salaries “The Bad” • Balance of work shifted to routine detail tests • More challenging to find ways to provide value due to independence rules (external audit) & resource limitations (internal audit)
Cost of SOX 404 for SIAL Dollars: • Costs of compliance $1M - $1.2M annually for Years 1 & 2 • 60% of cost related to internal resources • After reengineering and AS5, reduced annual cost to $650K Other Costs: • Internal resources diverted from more value-added activities
Benefits of SOX 404 & 302 • Increased knowledge of internal controls throughout the organization • Ownership of internal controls embedded within the organization • More rapid remediation of significant control deficiencies • Increased transparency over events that may impact the financial statements and disclosures (SOX 302)
Impact of AS5 • External audit no longer opines on management’s approach to forming their opinion on internal controls over financial reporting • Scales are balancing with more focus on a risk-based approach • Management has increased flexibility in developing its compliance plan
Sigma-Aldrich SOX Timeline • 2006 • Re-engineered our approach • Reduced # of controls tested • by 45% • 40% of IA time • 2004 • 1st year of compliance • Addition of 2 Sr. Auditors • 90% of IA time 2002 SOX 302 Certification Process • 2008 • 5 year of compliance • 25% of IA time • 2009 • 6th year of compliance • IA time remains at 25% 2003 SOX 404 Compliance Startup • 2005 • 2nd year of compliance • 70% of IA time • 2007 • 4th year of compliance • AS5 released • 25% of IA time
What Happened??? Lehman Bankruptcy Global disruption of economy Massive stock market decline AIG bailout Bank foreclosures Bernie Madoff Mortgage backed Securities Wall St VS. Main St
What’s Next? The Economy, Risk & SOX 404 • Companies are dealing with issues that are still evolving! • As a result of the global economic disruption and the turmoil in the financial markets, companies are dealing with certain accounting and reporting issues for the first time in decades, and for some, the first time EVER.
What’s Next? The Economy, Risk & SOX 404 • Anticipate increased focus on Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and integration of related control structure into organizations • Boards and management are being asked why they did not forsee the potential impact of major risks • Debt ratings agencies (Standard & Poor’s) are starting to ask about ERM
What’s Next?Will IFRS be the Next SOX? • In 2011, the SEC will determine whether US filers must comply with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in lieu of US GAAP by 2014 • SOX 404 controls will be significantly impacted • IFRS is “judgment” versus “principle” based • New key controls will rely on judgment • Skills and competency of persons performing controls will receive increased scrutiny
Agenda • Introductions/Background • Overview – What is Sarbanes-Oxley? • Impact of SOX – An Internal Perspective • Costs & Benefits of SOX • Impact of AS5 • The Economy & Risk - What Happened? • What’s Next? • Questions