The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, also known as SARBOX or simply as SOX, requires that management has to establish protocols for reporting on internal controls, with the aim of protecting investors, stakeholders, and the general public against fraudulent reporting and accounting errors.
Specifically, Section 4 of SOX, or SOX 404, requires management to maintain accurate, consistent reporting for internal controls. Consequently, maintaining SOX 404 compliance is of the utmost importance for accounting and finance professionals.
The issues of maintaining SOX 404 compliance, and of recent developments with respect to ESG regulations, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and more, make staying up to date a matter of great significance for those affected, and for corporations in a wide range of industries.
These are just some of the issues that our two-day SOX 404 virtual conference for finance professionals addresses. If there’s one virtual CPE conference you attend this year, make it this one. Here’s what it covers.
What You’ll Gain from This Conference for Finance Professionals
This virtual conference for finance professionals will cover a wide range of topics related to SOX 404 compliance over a span of two days.
The first day of this finance conference will update you on recent regulations that will impact SOX programs with the goal of helping you develop your organization’s programs to deliver value.
Of particular interest will be a dedicated focus on ESG regulatory updates. The ESG framework, which helps measure a company’s practices with a focus on ethics, sustainability and corporate responsibility, has broader implications with respect to SOX 404 compliance.
ESG reporting is undergoing what some have termed “SOXification.” As investors and shareholders put corporations under increasing pressure to consider not only profitability but also their ESG response, the importance of remaining compliant with SOX 404 increases in proportion.
Efforts taken to improve corporate responsibility, or in any way to comply with ESG initiatives, can make reporting, and the accuracy thereof, more complicated. As companies adopt new environmental standards or efforts, cybersecurity protocols, and other ESG-related initiatives, they will have to adapt by adjusting their reporting, not only to remain compliant with SOX but with any new SEC regulations, as well as for the benefit of transparency with stakeholders.
Another area in which this virtual conference for finance professionals will focus has to do with geopolitical risk and what internal protocols are in place to assess it. Businesses in (or affected by) areas of the world at high risk, such as China, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe (among others) may require unique financial risk reporting and controls, to best serve the interests of stakeholders.
Moreover, what a company does to address or prepare for other geopolitical risks, such as deglobalization efforts, cybersecurity, and climate risks, also affect, and may be affected by SOX regulation and compliance.
The first day of this conference will also address concerns related to the requirement for management to allow third-party auditors to assess established internal controls for consistency and effectiveness.
The second day of the conference will cover SEC rules regarding cybersecurity as well as PCAOB guidance on compliance. Regulations regarding cybersecurity are in a constant state of flux; for instance, the SEC recently made a new disclosure pursuant to which registrants are required to report a cybersecurity incident to the SEC within 4 business days if it is deemed “material to a reasonable investor.”
This is just one example, but the conference is focused on keeping you up to date with the most recent SEC regulations so that you’re better equipped to offer guidance and value to your organization.
Another area of focus in this virtual conference for finance professionals has to do with AI in reporting and other internal procedures. While the rise of AI has created efficiencies that were never before thought possible, the use of AI, and reliance on it, produces equally unique concerns with respect to security, the accuracy of reporting, and much more. Though potentially valuable, these tools are new and their use has not been vetted over the long term.
As a result, this conference will take a more scrutinous approach towards the use of AI in financial reporting, as well as what its most significant impacts are with respect to SOX 404 compliance.
The second day of this conference will also investigate integrated risk management, SEC enforcement, and interactive panel discussions.
Are There Any Prerequisites?
Interested financial professionals and accountants are not required to complete any prerequisites or have anything prepared in advance.
Secure Your Spot in This Conference for Finance Professionals
The value delivered by this two-day virtual conference for finance professionals cannot be oversold; by investigating changes in SEC regulations as well as the risks and concerns of ESG reporting, third-party risk management, geopolitical risks, and more, it will better equip you to establish more accurate, more effective internal controls in order to help your organization remain SOX 404 compliant.
It is a rare opportunity to glean insights from industry leaders - secure your spot today!