Companies are getting the message that their employees want benefits information online—62% reported they prefer this delivery method. But there’s a right and wrong way to educate and encourage responsible behavior among employees via the Internet, according to Michael Rudnick, national eCommunications and portal leader at Watson Wyatt. Rudnick offers
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TOPICS
Information management and technology assurance
Make Your Own Turn-Off Button—and More
If all you want is a turn-off button, that’s easy. I can give you more. Not only will I give you a turn-off switch, I’ll raise you two: I’ll show you how to create three buttons—a one-step turn off, a one-step quick restart and an emergency button to abort those
Smart Stops on the Web
WEALTH MANAGEMENT SECURING A REPUTABLE BROKER www.nasd.com/brokercheck The NASD has answered the calls of investors looking for background information on potential financial service providers. The organization’s BrokerCheck Program lets users research current or formerly registered securities firms, individual brokers and regulated Investment Adviser firms. It also provides a comprehensive 10-year
Delivering Difficult Messages
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY No one relishes an uncomfortable conversation. When the best interests of a company, firm, individual or the public are threatened, it’s important to “be a leader” and take on the task. A three-stage process can be relied on to broach any uncomfortable conversation: (1)
A Risk-Based Approach to Journal Entry Testing
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The top-side journal entry is most susceptible to fraud by management override. It’s possible to make adjustments in subledgers, but this requires collusion with other organizational departments, which is much harder to accomplish. The most frequent types of management fraud involve fictitious or premature
ROI on XBRL
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The reality of XBRL has grown exponentially over the past two years, in large part due to the SEC’s focus and encouragement. With the time, money and effort that Chairman Cox and the SEC have dedicated to this initiative, it appears highly likely that
Remote Assistance
You are visiting an office in Texas and need immediate help with a computer application. Because of the problem’s complexity, you figure a phone call won’t resolve the issue. You need a live visit from an expert. The only problem is he or she is in New
Uncover Hidden Worksheet Tabs
Right-click on any of the navigation arrow buttons and a menu of all your worksheets will appear (see screenshot). Then just click on your target tab and the worksheet will appear.
Place a Bet on Gaming
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Gaming has come of age and become a real discipline and a serious nationwide business. It involves a lot of different industries under one roof: gaming, lodging, entertainment, food and beverage, golf and other recreational activities. CPAs with auditing skills are in high demand
E-Filing Surges
Electronic income-tax return filing rose in 2007 over the year before, the IRS said, surging as the April filing deadline approached. Late filers often owe the government money and tend to favor slower paper forms, the IRS said. But by early April, e-filed returns were up 6.2% over the same
Financial Services
The privacy notices must describe an institution’s information-sharing practices and the consumer’s right to opt out of certain types of information sharing. The notices must be provided when a consumer first becomes a customer of a financial institution and annually for as long as the customer relationship lasts. The NPR
Useful Goods
A mouse for the CPA who has (nearly) everything… First there was the mouse—a simple one-button device that guided your cursor. Then a second button was added, creating right- and left-button commands. After that the design incorporated a scroll wheel, which maneuvered the cursor down or up the page. Now,
Banks Push Tech Initiatives
According to Grant Thornton’s 14th Annual Survey of Bank Executives, more than seven in 10 bankers (73%) plan to increase technology spending in 2007. Respondents cited several technology issues as important to their banks’ success, including: Protecting customers’ information (96%). Assuring the security of Internet services (94%). Verifying systems operations
Technology Boosts Counterfeit Circulation
The U.S. Secret Service seized $62 million of counterfeit currency in the 2006 fiscal year, up 69% from 2003. About 54% of the fake currency collected was produced digitally, most likely using home computers and printers; in 1996, only 1% was made using digital technology. Source: USA Today.
Collaborate on the Web
Here’s the problem: Your three-partner CPA firm based in Boston is on a tight deadline to prepare an audit report for a client. One partner is at the client’s Philadelphia headquarters; another is traveling in Houston; and you’re in Boston. The three of you must collaborate on
Put Your Computer On Hibernation
It’s not called a lullaby switch, but you need to take some steps to make hibernation possible. Hibernation is a useful function; its purpose is to save electricity without actually turning the computer off and spare you the start-up delay. When a computer is in hibernation, all functions appear
Help Prevent Identity Theft
Most companies keep sensitive personal information in their files and in their computers—names, Social Security numbers, account data—that identifies customers or employees. Companies need information like that to fill orders, meet payroll or perform other necessary business functions. But if sensitive data falls into the wrong hands,
Identifying Files Graphically
When you upgrade to Vista, you’ll discover many graphically oriented features that not only will make them easier to find, but will give you visual information about what they contain. Although XP is quite limited, here are a few graphic tricks for icons: Although you can’t convert the icons
Collaborative Fraud Networks on the Rise
Cyber criminals must adapt their collection methods to remain undetected, and it seems they’re linking together to make this happen. The latest Symantec Internet Security Threat Report found the underground networks and servers used to sell stolen data are becoming increasingly collaborative. During the last half of 2006, the number
XBRL
Three federal banking agencies have launched an improved Web site that allows faster access to banks’ quarterly Reports of Condition and Income (Call Report) data. The Central Data Repository (CDR) at https://cdr.ffiec.gov/public , established by the Federal Reserve, the FDIC and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, now
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