With the breadth of the charter of internal auditing reaching into all facets of an organization's activities, it is essential that control mechanisms be in place for the consideration of risk resulting from business combinations. This research will examine current practices employed by internal audit departments in support of mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances. The research will target the challenges to the control processes which emerge as different business cultures are blended into one entity. Similarly, this research will examine the participation of internal audit departments in organizing, staffing, reporting, and monitoring the business combination activities. This research should codify the activities of leading-edge companies and evolve consensus regarding elements of effective internal audit practice.

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Divestitures: Control and Audit Best Practices

Business & Money

Sudarsanam, Sudi

Selim, Georges M.

Lavine, Michael K.

Finance

The Institute of Internal Auditors Research Foundation

During the decade since Ethics and the Internal Auditor, much has transpired, especially during the last four years. The widespread evidence of chicanery and fraud on the part of corporate officers and the instances of a lack of ethics and professional conduct on the part of external auditors bring the subject of ethics to immediate attention and interest. The conclusion of the second survey (1994) of the field of internal auditing was that there was, "...considerable change in the attitudes of internal auditors," and that, "Generally it appears that the change is pointed toward a more strict approach and a tendency on the part of more auditors to believe that more drastic actions should be taken." Also, there continued to be a "modest variance" between the auditors' positions and the positions they perceived their organizations would take. 
We believed there would be a further change in the attitude of internal auditors toward the ethics concepts as a result of the tumultuous conditions of recent years and the implied attitude changes that pervaded the field in the mid-1990s. We were hopeful on the part of internal auditors that the change would be for the better. Thus, the reiteration of the study. 
This third survey uses the same vignettes of the prior two studies, the same scaling of reactions, the same instructions, and the same analytical approach. The only difference was that electronic contact was used in place of mail.

Ethics and the Internal Auditor: 20 Years Later

Dittenhofer, Mortimer A.

Ziegenfuss, Douglas E.

Business Culture

This how-to handbook includes: A summary of the field including the training, equipment, and principles behind the science. Information you need to discover potential evidence of forgery or fraud and the tools auditors and investigators use in an examination. An in-depth look at forgery and fraud including handwriting, disguises, charred documents, counterfeiting, and anonymous messages. Details on how examiners conduct their duties and the assistance auditors can provide. An examination of problems that arise in investigations and how to effectively reach scientific conclusions. An exploration of how to prepare a court case including collection and preservation of evidence as well as testimony and legal issues.

Forensic Document Examination Techniques

Vastrick, Thomas W.

Criminal Law

While it is possible to examine 100 percent of an audit customer's data, the time and cost associated with such a study are often prohibitive. 
To obtain sufficient, reliable, and relevant information with a limited data set, sampling is an efficient and effective tool. It can help you evaluate the customer's assertions, as well as reach audit conclusions and provide reasonable assurance to your organization. 
This handbook will help you understand sampling. It also serves as a guide for auditors and students preparing for certification. Topics include: 
An overview of sampling. Statistical and nonstatistical sampling issues. Sampling selection methods and risks. The pros and cons of popular sampling plans.

Sampling: A Guide for Internal Auditors

Apostolou, Barbara

Accounting

The Professional Practices Framework (the Red Book) contains the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing (including Consulting Standards). It also contains a glossary, the Definition of Internal Auditing, the Code of Ethics, and Practice Advisories updated with the latest guidance available

The Professional Practices Framework

Institute of Internal Auditors

Client computers are the source of more attacks and vulnerabilities than any other computer in the enterprise. However, clients are often left out of the standard audit due to lack of time, money, and resources. If clients are used for attacks or are attacked more than servers and they make up a substantially higher percentage of overall computers on the network, then why are they being neglected in the audits? The answer is simple: Clients don’t house the data and applications, and therefore, they are ignored in lieu of servers being the target of the audit. Auditing Security and Controls of Windows® 2000 and Windows® XP Professional will: - Change your mind on how you perceive clients so you can incorporate them into the audit, making the overall security and stability of the network dramatically increased. - Solve issues regarding security control points, scope of clients, and target goals. - Discuss terminology that can help you perform better interviews to gather information. - Pinpoint where each control point resides for a client. - Illustrate some different tactics for the sampling procedure, which might allow you to streamline the selection and evaluation process. - Lay out a detailed audit plan that will allow you to take the knowledge you learned and put it into action.

Auditing Security and Controls of Windows® 2000 and Windows® XP Professional

Derek Melber

In the wake of the late-2000s global financial crisis, there is an increased focus on the role of the audit committee and information disclosed in a company s financial statements. Clearly, the audit committee s role in ensuring accurate and transparent disclosure is more difficult and challenging than ever given increased expectations by shareholders, regulators, and other stakeholders; heightened scrutiny when things go wrong; more responsibility for risk management, and more focus on the need for fraud prevention.  Audit Committee Effectiveness: What Works Best, 4th Edition, is intended to be a practical guide, providing information and best practices on topics that are most relevant to the audit committee to enhance performance and effectiveness. This publication:

Audit Committee Effectiveness: What Works Best, 4th Edition

Catherine L. Bromilow

Barbara L. Berlin

Whether building a new office, improving real estate portfolios, or refurbishing and modernizing existing property, construction projects can present significant risks for an organization. Construction projects offer fertile ground for fraud and mismanagement. Auditors are best qualified and placed in the organization to assist in establishing construction controls and in appraising progress to mitigate project risks. Ongoing audits can provide senior executives with relevant and timely governance issues as they occur. This handbook provides a framework to make sure you address the risks for your projects. It includes the ABC's of a successful construction project, coverage of construction basics, understanding the world of contractors, and when and how to audit the project.

Construction Audit Guide: Overview, Monitoring, and Auditing

Denise Cicchella

XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) is a global standard for sharing business information. XBRL provides major benefits in the preparation, analysis and communication of business information, all at a reduced cost. XBRL provides standardized controls that can result in improved efficiency and effectiveness of the audits. As such, it is important that internal auditors be proactive and stay ahead of the curve on XBRL. This report, prepared by a member of the XBRL International Consortium: introduces XBRL; discusses its benefits and uses; includes hands-on XML/XBRL tutorials; summarizes what it all means for Internal Audit.

XBRL: Potential Opportunities and Issues for Internal Auditors

PHD.

Glen L. Gray

CPA with XML/XBRL Tutorial by Clinton E. White

An organization should periodically audit intellectual property in order to help ensure that its rights are captured, preserved, safeguarded, and properly valued. When performing an audit of the intellectual property process the audit department must ensure that the staff performing the audit is qualified to do so. Additionally, the purpose of the audit should be well articulated prior to embarking on the effort. The purpose of this book is to provide a guide for auditors to perform an audit of intellectual property. The book is broken down into ten parts, as follows: Introduction Types of Intellectual Property The Audit Staff The Purpose of the Audit The Scope of the Audit The Preliminary Review Flowcharting the Process Control Testing Substantive Testing Reporting Auditing intellectual property is a worthwhile endeavor. The audit can be performed within a reasonable time and provide potential cost savings to the organization.

Intellectual Property: Auditing the Process

James Scott Fargason

Intellectual Property

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Books by The Institute of Internal Auditors Research Foundation