The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 will have a long lasting impact on the governance and financial accountability of publicly held companies. This series will provide the learner with an overview of the Act. Learners will master guidelines for making company policies, procedures, systems, and controls Sarbanes-Oxley compliant. Learners will also examine management certification responsibilities and noncompliance penalties under the Act.

Overview, Disclosures, and Reporting
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act has been called the single most important piece of legislation affecting corporate governance, financial disclosure, and the practice of public accounting since the U.S. securities laws of the early 1930s. This course will provide the learner with an overview of the Act, including changes in disclosure and reporting requirements that have resulted from it.
Objectives:
* Describe the enhanced disclosure requirements.
* Describe the documentation needed for disclosure procedures.
* Describe the process of designing, maintaining, and evaluating disclosure controls and procedures.
* Describe the objectives and requirements of internal control over financial reporting.
* Describe the requirements for disclosing off-balance sheet transactions.
* Describe the proposed disclosure requirements for critical accounting estimates and changes to existing accounting policies.
Topics:
* Overview
* Management certification
* Disclosure controls and procedures
* Internal controls
* Management''s discussion and analysis
* Critical policies disclosure
* Non-GAAP financial measures
* Real-time disclosures

Standards, Regulations, and Penalties
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act has been called the single most important piece of legislation affecting corporate governance, financial disclosure, and the practice of public accounting since the U.S. securities laws of the early 1930s. This course will provide the learner with an overview of the Act, including changes in listing requirements and penalties for noncompliance that have resulted from it.
Objectives:
* Identify the makeup of committees defined by the Act.
* Understand penalties for violations of the Act.
* Define codes of ethics.
* Explain what requirements must be fulfilled to ensure independence.
Topics:
* Board of directors
* Other board committees
* Audit committee requirements
* NYSE and Nasdaq requirements
* Codes of conduct and ethics
* Standards for directors or officers
* Auditor independence
* Oversight of auditors
* Oversight board and regulation
* Attorney professional responsibility
* Protection, misconduct, and penalties