- Column
- Smart Stops on the Web
Smart Stops on the Web
BY VINCE NOLAN
SOX/B&I SITES
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Brush Up on Compliance
http://cpcaf.aicpa.org/Resources/Sarbanes+Oxley/
The+Changing+Regulatory+Landscape.htm
CPAs and compliance officers can
find background documentation, guidance and tools
for implementing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
here. Looking for related CPE credit? Follow the
link to the CPA2Biz.com store for a CD-ROM webcast.
Or read the full text of the act and get a brief
history of the regulations.
Voice Your Opinion
www.sarbanes-oxley-forum.com
This e-portal offers visitors who
register for free the opportunity to share their
experiences of complying with Sarbanes-Oxley in
its discussion forum; topics include audit and IT
issues, conferences and training and control
methodologies. Look up the portal’s latest poll
results—or vote yourself—on which stage your
organization has reached with respect to
Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.
Time to Take Control
www.fei.org/advocacy/internal_controls.cfm
CPAs and internal audit
controllers will find a full menu of links to
discussions, surveys, trends and white papers on
Sarbanes-Oxley at this Financial Executives
International Web spot. In addition to the full
text of the act, you can find SEC and PCAOB
guidance and summaries of section-404-related
laws. Check out the results of Pricewaterhouse-
Coopers’ Barometer Surveys on the impact of
Sarbanes-Oxley on private companies and
not-for-profits.
For (Internal) Control Freaks
www.cfoc.gov
Managers, come to the Chief
Financial Officer’s Council Web site to get the
implementation guide for the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) Circular A-123 on your
responsibilities for internal control over
financial reporting. The guide comes with a
detailed flowchart outlining a five-step
assessment process and numerous exhibits,
including one for the money spent on financial
reporting activities.
In IT We Trust
www.itrb.gov
The Information Technology
Resources Board (ITRB) e-stop may be meant for
employees using computer systems in federal
government agencies, but all IT professionals can
benefit from some of the content in the Published
Reports section. Titles of note include “A
Balanced Approach to Managing Risk in an
Unfriendly World: An Executive’s Guide.”
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GENERAL
INTEREST SITES
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Human Resources Resources
www.managementhelp.org
Office managers and HR consultants
can bookmark this Web-based library whose e-shelves
are stocked with resources on benefits and
compensation, business planning, e-commerce and
ethics. There are comprehensive overviews and links
to discussion groups, free e-training programs and
newsletters.
Tired of Commuting?
www.homebasedwork.com
Whether you’re interested in
starting a home office or just want to telecommute
more frequently, you can find tips here.
Work-at-homers can access a jobs database and
sections on getting started, money matters and
doing business online. Read Home Business Myths
for pitfalls to avoid, a start-up checklist and
information about the tax benefits of a home
business. The section on working for an employer
includes advice on writing an effective rsum and
preparing for an interview.
Write it Right
www.getinterviews.com
Need help punching up your rsum?
Come here for a free critique, advice on marketing
yourself to prospective employers and sample
rsums. Learn the five mistakes that will kill your
candidacy, six factors of career success and seven
tips for a better rsum. Or brush up on effective
interview strategies, how to project an
eye-catching presence on employment Web sites or
write effective cover letters.
Words on the Web
www.thefreedictionary.com
This Smart Stop works overtime
not only to define a word, but also to give users
antonyms, synonyms and two online encyclopedia
results. A query of accounting returned five
listings for the word itself plus links to other
definitions associated with it, such as
accrual basis and internal control,
references in classic literature and links to
related Web sites. This site’s home page also
gives users a quotation and word of the day, as
well as a word game to enhance vocabulary.
Roll Call Revisited
www.nationalpayrollweek.com
Human resources and payroll
managers can get a jump on National Payroll Week
for 2006 at this Web site (first listed as a Smart
Stop in September 2004) to learn how to lobby for
a city or state payroll week, request a
proclamation or even learn the lyrics to the song,
“America Works Because We’re Working for America.”
Users still can find information on creating a new
tax bracket, health savings accounts and qualified
stock option plans, or access a paycheck
calculator and W-4 assistant in the Educational
Resources section. | |