In their recent study, Yueqi Li, Sanjay Goel, and Kevin Williams delve into the profound impact of remote auditing on the audit profession. First published in February 2023, their research provides a comprehensive analysis of how the shift from traditional on-site audits to remote audits has affected audit quality, efficiency, and auditors‘ job satisfaction. Key […]
In their recent research article, Stefan Simic, Le Luo, and Rina Datt provide intriguing insights into how compensation strategies within companies influence their decision to engage in carbon assurance. Published in September 2023, their study, titled „Compensation and carbon assurance: Evidence from the United Kingdom,“ explores a significant and timely topic given the growing urgency […]
Tracie Frost, Liwei Shan, Albert Tsang, and Miao Yu’s research, published in July 2022, examines the relationship between media coverage of corporate social irresponsibility (CSI) and audit fees on a global scale. Their study, using data from 35 countries, found a significant positive correlation between media exposure of CSI and increased audit fees. This relationship, […]
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has emerged as a popular tool among auditors and corporate accountants, aiding in various accounting tasks. While the benefits of RPA are often highlighted, its potential risks and challenges are less frequently discussed. In a revealing article by Marc Eulerich, Nathan Waddoups, Martin Wagener, and David A. Wood, titled „The Dark […]
In the realm of corporate finance and accounting, the impact of internal control weaknesses (MWs) on shareholder trust and perceptions is a topic of ongoing interest and importance. A recent article by Hambisa Belina, K. Raghunandan, and Dasaratha V. Rama, titled „Do Shareholders Care about ‚Surprise‘ Internal Control Weakness Disclosures?“ published in Current Issues in […]
The article „Attracting the Next Generation of Accountants“ delves into the intersection of career choice and personal values in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a spotlight on Gen Z’s entry into the workforce and their affinity for sustainability, the study presents an intriguing exploration of how the accounting profession could evolve to meet […]
In their recent study published in „AUDITING: A Journal of Practice & Theory,“ Ghio, Moulang, and Gendron delve into the experiences of women auditors during the COVID-19 pandemic. They identify that the pandemic, far from leveling the playing field, instead further highlighted and intensified existing gender norms and disparities in the audit profession. Women auditors […]
In the rapidly evolving landscape of finance and accounting, the potential of Audit Analytics (AA) stands out, promising to transform the Internal Audit Function (IAF). However, despite its potential, its adoption remains limited. A recent study in the „Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting“ delved deep, identifying both driving and inhibiting factors affecting AA’s integration. […]
The world of financial reporting has seen significant transformations in the past few decades, with evolving regulatory standards and changing business environments. Amid these changes, one area that has continually held significance is the internal audit function (IAF). Despite its importance, the IAF has remained an area with limited data availability, constraining further research and […]
Recent developments in the accounting industry have led to increased collaboration between professionals from different accounting firms. This collaboration involves firms providing various services, such as audit and tax, to client organizations. While this trend offers many benefits, it also raises questions about how information is shared among these professionals and its potential impact on […]
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has made two significant announcements recently, indicating its ongoing commitment to a transparent and accountable financial market. Registration Fee Rate Hike for Fiscal Year 2024 The SEC unveiled the fee rates for fiscal year 2024. Effective from October 1, public companies and other issuers will experience an increase in […]
Earnings management has long been a concern in the corporate world, with companies striving to meet or beat analysts‘ earnings forecasts through various accounting tactics. External auditors play a critical role in curbing opportunistic earnings management behavior and providing financial statement reliability. However, recent research by Eric Lohwasser and Yaou Zhou explores how companies that […]
Generative AI, a technology with the capability to drive vast economic transformation, is on the brink of reshaping our future. McKinsey’s recent research underlines the sheer magnitude of this shift, suggesting generative AI could add a staggering $2.6 to $4.4 trillion annually across numerous use cases. To put this in perspective, this is akin to […]
In the era of remote work, public accounting firms grapple with a vital concern: how to effectively socialize new employees. This process, known as Organizational Socialization (OS), is pivotal for new professionals to assimilate the attitudes, values, social skills, and technical expertise vital to their success in the firm. Historically, newcomers were inducted into a […]
Whistleblower programs have undoubtedly made their mark in the corporate sector, acting as a formidable tool in the fight against unethical behavior. Yet, when we pivot our attention to the academic realm, especially where student policies for reporting peer misconduct are concerned, a glaring gap emerges. F. Todd DeZoort’s enlightening research, published in the esteemed […]
Artificial intelligence and algorithmic decision-making systems have become an integral part of our daily lives, impacting various aspects, from e-commerce and entertainment to medical diagnosis and financial domains. While these algorithms offer efficiency and scalability, users often struggle to trust these systems due to the „black box paradox.“ Users increasingly demand transparency in algorithmic decision-making […]
There is a rapid shift in auditing practice with the integration of audit data analytics (ADA) tools. As the audit landscape changes, the question arises: How can educators effectively integrate ADA into the existing auditing curriculum to better equip students for the future of auditing? An illuminating study by Booker, Pelzer, and Richardson, published in […]
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) has introduced critical audit matters (CAMs) to expand audit reports to provide external users with more information regarding potential risks of material misstatements. While the intention of CAM disclosures is to highlight the risk of material misstatement and the corresponding audit procedures, early studies suggest that investors may […]
A newly published paper in Accounting Horizons highlights the implications of frequent auditor switching for the audit quality. The paper is particularly significant for regulators, practitioners, and academics to inform policy discussions, audit committee disclosure requirements, risk models, investment decisions, and future research on auditor switching. Existing accounting research primarily focuses on single-instance auditor changes […]
In 2022, several risk areas put organizations in a state of permanent crisis: the ongoing pandemic, supply chain issues, climate change along with natural disasters, persistent inflation and rising energy prices driven by the war in Ukraine. For this reason, 14 Institutes of Internal Auditors across 15 European countries have conducted a study on key […]
A newly released paper emphasizes the significance of risk governance in organizations and its susceptibility to internal and external influences. It underscores the importance of executives and boards in setting a strong tone at the top regarding risk governance in their organizations. This tone should prioritize and highlight the value and role of risk governance […]
The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has recently issued its first Request for Information (RFI) on May 4, 2023. The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gather input and shape the ISSB’s work plan for the next two years. The ISSB is currently seeking feedback on its priorities during this period. You […]
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued thelargest-ever whistleblower award of nearly $279 million. The award was granted to a whistleblower whose information and assistance led to successful enforcement actions by the SEC. This award surpasses the previous record of $114 million given in October 2020. The SEC’s whistleblower program has been highly successful […]
As of December 15th, 2022, the IDW has introduced ISA [DE] 315 (Revised 2019), an auditing standard that has been fundamentally revised by the IAASB to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement. Due to the changing audit scope resulting from ongoing digitization, the increasing use of new automated tools and techniques, and other […]
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires all firms to include a risk factor section in their periodic filings, but doubts remain about the informativeness of these disclosures. Cybersecurity risk disclosures are particularly important due to the increasing number of data breaches, and firms have a responsibility to inform investors about changes in their […]
COSO has released additional guidance „Achieving Effective Internal Control of Sustainability Reporting“ using the globally recognized COSO Internal Control-Integrated Framework as its basis. The guidance includes references to the role of internal audit function in sustainability reporting and key themes to consider while establishing and maintaining an effective system of internal control over sustainable business […]
The Public Sector differs significantly from profit organizations in terms of its objectives and purpose. Thus, the work and structure of internal audit functions (IAFs) differ fundamentally between these types of organizations as well. To address the special needs of IAFs within the public sector a practice guide by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) […]
In the last report “Redefining the Resilient Organization” of a three-part series on “Internal Audit in a Post-COVID World” by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), the authors give internal auditors guidance on how to prepare organizations for potentially arising business transformations and disruptions. Part of this guidance is putting the internal auditor’s focus, especially […]
The collection on „Global Perspectives & Insights: Cybersecurity in 2022, Parts 1-3”, published by the Institute of Internal Auditors, discusses different issues within the contemporary evolving cybersecurity landscape. While part 1 focuses on the implications of regulatory changes on cyber reporting by the SEC, part 2 deals with the benefits of symbiotic relationships between Heads […]
The report „Embedding ESG and sustainability considerations into the Three Lines Model“, co-written by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), provides suggestions and guidance, on how environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-related matter can be integrated into the key roles of the revised Three Lines Model – […]
In its second report on “Internal Audit in a Post-COVID World”, the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) deals with global supply chains, which were severely hit by pandemic challenges and uncertainties, being only 2% of global supply chains prepared for such an event according to surveys of the US branch of the consulting firm Ernst […]
In its first report on “Internal Audit in a Post-COVID World”, the Institute of Internal Auditors investigates talent management within a post-pandemic setting. In the light of the pandemic-driven demand for flexibility and human-centricity of employees, the findings suggest difficulties of employers to offer the required individual employee’s flexibility while retaining internal audit functions with […]
In its reaction to the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) consultation on the Draft of European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), the European Confederation of Institutes of Internal Auditing (ECIIA) is strongly advocating that the EFRAG provides necessary clarity on the role of Internal Audit has in light of ESG matters. To be precise, since […]
In their joint global survey „Internal Audit: A Global View“ by the Internal Audit Foundation and the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), in which more than 3,600 internal audit professionals from a range of different entities, industries and regions in 159 locations were asked, trends within the development of internal audit functions (IAFs) were examined. […]
In its report, Accountancy Europe, a professional membership organization uniting 50 professional organizations representing qualified accountants, auditors and advisors across Europe, provides clarity on the structure of public audit oversight following changes within European Union (EU) audit legislation in 2014. In light of one key objective within the changes in EU regulation: harmonization of public […]
In their joint survey „Internal Control and the Transformation of Entities“ by the Institute of Management Accountants, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and the Internal Audit Foundation, in which more than 1,950 professionals from the areas of finance, accounting and internal audit from a range of different entities worldwide were asked, it was examined […]
In its guidelines, the European Banking Authority (EBA) provides further clarity regarding Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing (AML/CFT efforts). Specifying the mandatory introduction of an AML/CFT […]
In their joint report „Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) 101: Internal Audit’s Invaluable Role in Creating a Sense of Belonging at Work,“ the Institute of Internal Auditors, Deloitte and the Internal Audit Foundation discuss how internal audit functions (IAFs), based on their role as an assurance providers, trusted advisors and agents of change, could have […]
The European Confederation of Directors Associations (ecoDa), which represents the interests of approximately 55,000 board members within the EU, has published a position paper on the European Commission’s proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence. The aim of this new Directive would be to foster sustainable and responsible corporate behavior along the entire […]
Increasingly common risks in the cybersecurity perimeter are considered particularly dangerous for businesses. Therefore, this report by the Institute of Internal Auditors of Spain is aimed at audit committee members to raise awareness for such risks, and to point out ways to monitor these. For this purpose, key questions are introduced to help explain the […]
One of the biggest challenges CAEs face is having enough personell obtaining the right abilities to complete their audit plans. To meet this challenge, many CAEs engage third parties for some of their internal audit activities. This report will help internal audit practitioners, managers and audit committees to more effectively manage these chalenges.
The European Commission has introduced a proposal for a directive on corporate due diligence in the field of sustainability. First, it has completed an impact assessment. The proposed directive will require companies to integrate due diligence into their policies and decision-making identify, prevent, mitigate and minimise actual or potential adverse impacts on human rights and […]
Der Bericht „Interne Revision und Compliance: Klarheit und Zusammenarbeit für eine bessere Governance“ in der Reihe Global Perspectives & Insights des IIA erläutert, wieso ein einheitliches Rollenverständnis für eine wirksame Compliance und eine unabhängige Prüfung bedeutend sind. Die Publikation enthält Analysen zur Anwendung der sechs Grundsätze des Drei-Linien-Modells und Beispiele aus der Praxis. Hier können […]
The IIA Netherlands presented the Internal Audit Ambition Model in October 2018. The approach has convinced the representatives of internal audit. With the help of the model, they can define the audit functions, check whether they comply with the standards of the IPPF. In addition, the model supports communication with the audit committee by providing […]
The 25th PwC Global CEO Survey surveyed 4446 CEOs from 89 countries.It shows that CEOs remain confident. Around 77 percent of CEOs believe that global economic growth will improve in the coming twelve months (previous year: 76 percent). Nevertheless, there are many threats, uncertainties and tensions. CEOs are most concerned about cyber risks, followed by health risks […]
The 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released this week by Transparency International, shows that corruption around the world is treading water. 86 percent of countries have made little or no progress over the past decade. The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories on perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale of zero (very […]
Anyone following discussions about the growing importance of compliance as a rule-based management tool may get the impression that integrity and trust have become fundamentally dispensable and that the principles of the honorable businessman are no longer in keeping with the times. But on closer inspection, the opposite is true. In practice, compliance is mainly […]
The current crisis has shown that we live in a digital environment, and this trend will intensify in the future. Working in a digital environment will be a normal state in the future. IIA Netherlands, in cooperation with EY, conducted a study on how Internal Audit (IAF) is using digitalization technologies such as Robotic Process […]
The concern of executives about the state of the world’s climate has increased in recent months. But optimism that immediate action can make a difference has also increased. This is shown by Deloitte’s new CxO Sustainability Survey 2022. The survey polled a total of more than 2,000 C-level executives in 21 countries. The focus of the […]
To remain relevant in the current business environment, internal audit must maintain an innovative mindset, challenge and update existing audit methodologies, and leverage emerging technologies such as governance, risk, and control (GRC) to improve business collaboration. The report „Using Evolving Technologies to Improve Collaboration: How GRC Software Can Support Risk Management and Internal Audit“ by […]
The European Banking Authority (EBA) published its revised Guidelines on internal governance for investment firms under the Investment Firms Directive (IFD). The guidelines provide details on how the IFD governance provisions should be applied by Class 2 investment firms by setting out the roles, responsibilities, and organization of the management body, as well as the organization […]
With societal expectations increasingly permeating corporate governance, companies‘ business models must evolve to deliver sustainable value creation that benefits not only shareholders but also internal and external stakeholders and society at large. In this context, ecoDa and Mazars have jointly published a practical guide to help board members and leadership teams navigate their company’s sustainability […]
Whereas a decade ago boardrooms were concerned with the question „should we invest in digital transformation?“ today the focus is on „how much should we invest and, more importantly, how quickly should we invest if we are accountable to our shareholders?“ Although the question may not seem that complex at first glance, many other questions […]
The Covid 19 pandemic is not over yet, and broads and management teams need to address key issues to prepare for the next normality. A new article from McKinsey addresses the issues that managers should be aware of. For example, the first point is, „Boards must strike the right balance between hope for the future […]
The corporate world faced a number of complex challenges last year, including the COVID-19 crisis, new workplace paradigms, extreme climate change, political and economic economic volatility, and urgent calls for racial justice. Despite the expected continued challenges in the current year, the focus of companies must go beyond risk avoidance and compliance. These will, of […]
Companies around the world are adapting environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and shifting them to the center of strategic concerns. They recognize ESG as a driver of value creation and urgently develop a proactive ESG mindset. PwC’s most recent Global Responsible Investment Survey shows that mutual funds are on this path and, with decades […]
Companies face the challenge of positioning and aligning various governance functions. In this context, redundancies should be avoided and coordinated management should take place. In an article by Prof. Dr. Marc Eulerich, Joel Behrend and Benjamin Fligge titled „The New Three Lines Model: Positioning Risk Management“, the Three Lines Model is discussed as well as […]
While much uncertainty was the only certainty in the CEO Outlook 2020 due to the COVID 19 crisis, optimism is now back in the boardroom one year later. According to KPMG’s „CEO Outlook 2021 – Plugged-in, people-first, purpose-led“, CEOs are confident about the growth prospects of their company and the general global economy. In particular, […]
Deloitte interviews in her Legal Podcast Series experts on legal innovations and current topics in the field of German and international business law. In the different episodes the economic relations between Germany and the countries Japan, China, Israel and the Netherlands are discussed. You can listen to the podcast here. Please note: The introduction texts […]
Boards often focus on known risks that management has already identified. In this context, in an online survey of directors by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), nearly half of respondents said this tendency is a major impediment to the board’s ability to oversee disruptive risks. Disruptive risks include „risks that, whether internally- or […]
Looking at any list of large company’s chief compliance officers, several can be found who also hold the titles of chief audit executive, head of risk management, and other roles. Is it possible to combine the roles of Chief Audit Executive and Head of Corporate Compliance or other jobs without sacrificing the independence that is […]
Supervisory bodies also have to face new questions and challenges in the context of the Corona pandemic. A whitepaper from Deloitte takes a closer look at the role of the supervisory board in times of Covid-19. It shows that the main work currently is on the executive. The supervisory board should take a supporting internal […]
According to a global IT risk and compliance survey 2021 conducted by IT provider MetricStream among global security and risk experts, IT security and compliance are the top technology investment priorities this year. When asked about their plans, 38 percent of respondents said they would increase their IT risk management spending this year. However, the […]
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are becoming increasingly important in organizations. Companies are more and more under pressure to publicly commit to sustainability and to report on their activities. To date, however, there are not many defined rules for ESG reporting or what ESG reporting should retain. As part of effective governance, Internal Audit […]
Governance has never been more important as organizations face the turbulence of a global pandemic, technological change, increasing economic disparities, geopolitics, globalization, climate change and much more. The governing bodies and management grapple with questions about disrupted work environments, changing markets and lost revenue. The three-line model of the IIA provides timely answers for organizations […]
The expectations and assessments of CFOs are taken up in the new study by Deloitte. In a survey, CFOs were asked about macroeconomic, corporate strategy and financial topics. A total of 140 CFOs of large German companies were surveyed in the study It becomes clear, for example, that 43% of the companies surveyed have already […]
The #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements have drawn attention to grievances and injustices. Related to this, issues such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are essential for companies. To promote DEI, companies have to start at the top. A key question is, for example, how diverse are boards? The topic of diversity is addressed […]
The importance of compliance in companies has been growing for years. This is because companies have a responsibility to ensure compliance with the increasing national and international regulations and to meet compliance requirements. This can be demonstrated, for example, with the implementation of an effective compliance management system (CMS). As a guideline and support for […]
Deloitte’s new „Chief Strategy Officer Survey 2021“ provides insights into the assessments and perspectives of CSOs worldwide on the future shape of the strategy function as well as their own role in times of the pandemic. It identifies a total of four core topics that are on the CSO agenda. These are: – Strategy Evolved: […]
CEO confidence is up significantly – worldwide. With the Covid-19 pandemic already occupying us for a year, CEOs‘ Optimus is at a record high. Overall, 76% of CEOS surveyed believe global economic growth will improve over the next 12 months, up from 22% last year. That’s according to PWC’s Global CEO Survey, which polled more […]
Companies have to deal with various challenges. These include the ubiquitous Corona pandemic, growing social unrest, new technologies, digitalization innovations, and new strategies and business models. The multitude of issues and the complexity associated with them does not make it any easier for companies. Protiviti’s new report presents the top risks currently facing boards and […]
This current change in the wake of the covid pandemic demands bold steps and new skills from corporate leadership. Traditional topics in boardrooms and supervisory boards such as growth, profit and cost structure are being supplemented by topics related to new risks, safety issues and increased stakeholder interest in governance. Stakeholders increasingly expect companies to […]
More agile, faster, further. Companies are surrounded by forces such as digitalization, automation, globalization and analytics. This is not mitigated by the COVID crisis, but additionally amplified. Every function in the enterprise is affected. McKinsey’s article looks at business agility in times of COVID and shows that agile companies fared better. Agile companies have examined […]
In addition to the various challenges in the covid crisis, there is a huch opportunity for digitization. To exploit this opportunity, CIOs and technology-savvy executives play a key role in implementing new approaches strategically. The present shows that companies are already investing in new technologies and business models. The new Deloitte Tech Trends Report shows, […]
The efficient and effective organization and coordination of corporate governance activities is still one of the major challenges of modern corporate management. For many years, it was precisely the so-called Three Lines of Defense model that was used to structure governance functions. However, as more and more open points of discussion regarding practical implementation have […]
Companies are surrounded by disruptive challenges. The Audit Committee is a key contributor to ensuring business agility and resilience in the year ahead, and to meeting the coming challenges. Provitivi’s new bulletin addresses these house demands and identifies the most important topics for the audit committee’s agenda in 2021. Financial reporting is addressed as well […]
To better deal with the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, companies are using technology. For example, companies are using AI both within a company and to interact with consumers. A key determinant of the successful use of AI is trust in the technology. According to KPMG, trust is based on a total of four pillars: Integrity, […]
Die Digitalisierung ist omnipräsent und von enormer Bedeutung für alle Branchen. Digitale und analytische Transformationen dienen mitunter dazu, Dienstleistungen und Prozesse zu digitalisieren und gleichzeitig Effizienzsteigerungen durch Agilität und Automatisierung sowie den Einsatz neuer Analysetools zu ermöglichen. Die Herausforderung, die damit einhergeht, ist jedoch der Umgang mit den entstehenden Risiken. Der Artikel von McKinsey geht darauf […]
Oft wird künstliche Intelligenz als der nächste gewaltige Schritt in der Technologie-Entwicklung angesehen, vergleichbar mit einst der Industrialisierung. Zugleich macht der Gedanke an KI vielen Menschen auch Angst: Sie schlägt uns heute schon im Online-Shop Produkte vor, die unseren Wünschen entsprechen. Künftig soll sie zudem Autos steuern oder bei der ärztlichen Diagnose unterstützen. Doch, wie […]
Aktuell steht die gesamte Arbeitswelt aufgrund der Krise im Rahmen der COVID-19-Pandemie vor großen Herausforderungen. Um den Veränderungen bestmöglich gerecht werden zu können, müssen Unternehmen ihre Arbeitsweisen verändern und anpassen. Denn gerade in den Zeiten der Krise sollten Unternehmen vom Überlebens-Modus in den Chancen-Modus wechseln. Wie dieser Wandel in den Unternehmen gestaltet wird, untersucht der […]
Die fünfte jährliche Umfrage der SOX Professionals Group in Zusammenarbeit mit Workiva befasst sich mit dem aktuellen Stand der SOX- und internen Kontrollprozesse in den Unternehmen im Jahr 2020. Dabei wird ebenso auf die wichtigsten Herausforderungen für das kommende Jahr eingegangen. Der Marktbericht stellt fest, dass sich die fortschrittliche Technologie in Bezug auf Compliance schnell […]
Dir vier größten Herausforderungen von CEOs im Jahr 2020 bestanden darin das Wohlbefinden der Mitarbeiter und Innovationen aufrechtzuerhalten, rückläufige Umsätze zu bewältigen und Kunden anzusprechen. Vor dem Hintergrund des immer schnellen Tempos an Veränderungen, die die Unternehmen umgeben, geht im Kern nicht darum eine bessere „Landkarte“ zu haben. Maßgebend sind ein flexibles Team, Ressourcen und Systeme, die […]
In Organisationen sind einige der häufigsten Arten von Betrug die unbefugte Verwendung von Vermögenswerten, ebenso wie die falsche Darstellung von Abschlüssen. Dies dient häufig der verbesserten Darstellung der Organisationen um wirtschaftlich erfolgreicher zu erscheinen. Laut dem „Report to the Nations 2020“ der Association of Certified Fraud Examiners kann Betrug in jeder Organisation auftreten, unabhängig von […]
Eine Vielzahl von Funktionen in Unternehmen, wie z. B. das Risikomanagement, die Compliance-Abteilung oder die interne Revision, beschäftigen sich mit Risiken. Es zeigt sich, dass einerseits die einzelnen Funktionen zumeist methodisch und personell gut aufgestellt sind, jedoch andererseits eine mangelnde Abstimmung zwischen den Funktionen besteht. Aufgrund von z. B. Überschneidungen oder häufigen Wiederholungen stellt sich […]
„Cyberbedrohungen schnell zu erkennen und auf Vorfälle effektiv zu reagieren, hat bei vielen Unternehmen inzwischen oberste Priorität.“ Jedoch ist es heutzutage kaum möglich, sich vollständig vor solchen zu schützen. Die Angriffe nehmen, auch bedingt durch die COVID-19-Pandemie, weltweit zu und treffen vor allem kleine und mittelständige Unternehmen. 60 Prozent aller Unternehmen waren im vergangenen Jahr, […]
Die Compliance-Funktion ist nicht nur im alltäglichen Geschäft eine bedeutende Stütze, sondern stellt auch in Krisenzeiten eine wichtige Säule der Organisationsführung dar. Um dieser Rolle im Unternehmen gerecht zu werden, ist eine kontinuierliche Anpassung der Compliance-Strukturen an die aktuellen Entwicklungen vonnöten. Die derzeitige Ausnahmesituation zieht Chancen und Risiken für die Compliance-Funktion mit sich. Doch wie genau sehen diese aus? […]
Führungskräfte und Vorstände müssen sich in Zeiten der Corona-Pandemie bestehenden aber auch neuen Herausforderungen stellen. Sie müssen schnell handeln, um Bedrohungen anzugehen und Chancen zu ergreifen, und gleichzeitig den Schutz der Gesundheit und Sicherheit von Mitarbeitern und Kunden aufrechterhalten und weiterentwickeln. Es reicht nicht mehr aus, sich auf bestehende Strukturen und Mechanismen zu verlassen. Wesentlich für die institutionelle […]
In der aktuellen COVID-19-Krise ist für viele Unsicherheit die einzige Gewissheit. Somit stehen auch CEOs vor neuen und unerwarteten Anforderungen und Herausforderungen. Um die Perspektive der Geschäftsführer zu beleuchten, befragte KPMG zu Beginn des Jahres 2020 hunderte CEOs weltweit zu ihren Markteinschätzungen. Aufgrund der allgegenwärtigen COVID-19-Krise wurde dieses Jahr eine Vergleichsbefragung im Juli ergänzt. Die […]
Auf der Jahrestagung 2020 des World Economic Forums entschieden sich 120 der weltweit größten Unternehmen dazu, sich um die Entwicklung eines gemeinsamen Kernsatz von Kennzahlen und Angaben zu nichtfinanziellen Faktoren für ihre Investoren und andere Interessengruppen zu bemühen. Gut ein halbes Jahr später wurde nun ein Bericht veröffentlicht, der die gemeinsamen Metriken für eine nachhaltige […]
Im Rahmen dieser empirischen Studie von KPMG wurden Interviews mit Aufsichtsratsvorsitzenden, Hauptgesellschaftern, CEOs und CFOs von erfolgreichen Familienunternehmen geführt, um einen Einblick in die Governance von familiengeführten Weltmarktführern zu ermöglichen. Hintergrund ist, dass sich familiengeführte Unternehmen in ihrem Leitungs- und Aufsichtsrahmen von den nicht familiengeführten börsennotierten Aktiengesellschaften differenzieren. Zu berücksichtigen ist beispielsweise, dass Familienunternehmen keinem gesetzlichen […]
„Die aktuelle Corona-Pandemie kostet nicht nur viele Menschenleben, sie deckt auch gnadenlos unzählige Missstände in Unternehmen auf. So waren nur wenige Risikomanagementsysteme in der Lage, auch im Pandemiefall operative Risiken für die Lieferkette oder die Aufrechterhaltung des Geschäftsbetriebs als Ganzes effektiv zu steuern.“ (Jens C. LaueHead of Governance & Assurance Services KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft) Die […]
Neben den kurzfristigen Auswirkungen von COVID-19, die akut die Wirtschaft betreffen, hat KPMG sich nun auch den langfristigen Änderungen im Bezug auf spezifische Themengebiete gewidmet. Dabei im Blickfeld: Board Oversight, die Geschäftstätigkeit, Strategien und das Setzen bestimmter Prioritäten. Um einen möglichst großen Überblick zu erhalten befragte KPMG dazu mehr als 300 Directors. Im Ergebnis stechen […]
Blockchain – eine Technologie, die immer alltäglicher zu werden scheint, hat etliche Überschneidungspunkte mit dem System der Internen Kontrollen von Unternehmen. Zumeist können Integration und Implementierung von Blockchain-Technologien dabei helfen, sowohl Risiken besser zu managen als auch wirksamere Kontrollen zu errichten und bieten daher etliche Vorteile im alltäglichen Gebrauch. Um diese Zusammenhänge und auch sich […]
Nach unterschiedlichen Arten des Lockdowns, ausgelöst durch COVID-19, öffnen sich die Volkswirtschaften weltweit wieder vorsichtig. Hierzu sind die Unternehmen sehr wohl auf den momentanen Zustand bedacht, schauen aber auch bereits in die Zukunft und das, was sich nach COVID-19 entwickeln könnte. Um auch innerhalb der Krise und über diese hinaus in wirtschaftlich schlechteren Zeiten erfolgreich […]
Vertrauen ist die Grundlage, auf der unsere Erwartungen und Handlungen vielfach beruhen und ist somit unabdingbar. Mit COVID-19 brach jedoch eine Pandemie über die Welt, die sowohl ein Schock für kollektive Systeme als auch ein Katalysator für den Wiederaufbau von Vertrauen ist. In Zeiten wie diesen ist Vertrauen wichtiger denn je, da eine Erholung ohne […]
Die neuste Ausgabe „Risk and Compliance“ berichtet, auch im Zusammenhang mit COVID-19, u.a. über Vorbereitungen und Rekationen der Unternehmen auf eine weltweite Rezession, das Zeitalter der ständigen Krise, Argumente für die Einhaltung der Vorschriften in Krisenzeiten, den wachsenden Einfluss der RegTech, Koordination und praktische Herausforderungen bei Untersuchungen mit mehreren Rechtsprechungen, betriebliche Belastbarkeit, die Stellung kritischer […]
Während die einen in künstlicher Intelligenz unmäßiges Potenzial sehen, das viele der bestehenden Probleme der Geschäftswelt aus dem Weg räumen könnte, betrachten andere die ihnen nicht geläufige Unterstützung nach wie vor als nicht vertrauenswürdig und versuchen daher, die flächendeckende Einführung Künstlicher Intelligenz zu verhindern. Wie kann dies Vertrauen nun aber aufgebaut werden?! : Bei der […]
„Transparency International Nederland“ hat ihren neusten Forschungsbericht „Whistleblowing Frameworks 2019“ veröffentlicht. Untersucht wurden 68 Unternehmen bzgl. ihrer Whistleblowing-Programme, wobei sich die Forschung auf die Bereiche des Schutzes vor Beeinträchtigung, Berichts- und Untersuchungsverfahren sowie die Unternehmenskultur konzentriert. Gerade im letzteren Bereich scheint es dabei noch viel Verbesserungspotenzial zu geben. Neben einem Ranking, welches Einblicke in die […]
Welche Auswirkungen hat Fraud am Arbeitsplatz? Innerhalb der bislang 11. Studie bzgl. Kosten und Auswirkungen von Fraud untersucht die Association of Certified Fraud Examiners 2504 Fälle in 23 verschiedenen Branchenkategorien in insgesamt 125 Ländern. Die Association selbst gibt als Motivation ihrer Bemühungen dabei die folgenden zwei Begebenheiten an: Betrug am Arbeitsplatz verursacht enorme Kosten, stellt […]