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Risk Management and Internal Control Reviewer
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Process of measuring or assessing risk and developing strategies to manage it Is a systematic approach in identifying, analyzing, and controlling areas or events with a potential for causing unwanted change Is the act or practice of controlling risk Is the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated an economical application of resources Risks to any specific program are assessed and systematically managed to reduce risk to an acceptable level. It includes risk planning, assessing risk areas, developing risk handling options, monitoring risks to determine how risks have changed and documenting overall risk management program Technique for measuring, monitoring, and controlling the financial or operational risk on a firm’s balance sheet BASIC PRINCIPLES OF RISK MANAGEMENT
committee. At least one member of the committee must have relevant thorough knowledge and experience on risk and risk management Subject to its size, risk profile, and complexity of operations, the company should have a separate risk management function to identify, assess, and monitor key risk exposures STEPS IN THE RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS
1. Set up a separate risk management committee chaired by a board member – demonstrates the firm’s commitment to adopt an integrated company-wide risk management system 2. Ensure that a formal comprehensive risk management is in place – this will provide a clear vision of the board’s desire for an effective company-wide risk management 3. Assess whether the formal system possesses goal and objectives, risk language identification, organization structure, and the risk management **process documentation
The willingness and readiness to take personal and financial risks is a defining characteristic of the entrepreneurial decision-maker Europe strategies focus on avoiding and hedging risk Anglo-American companies view risk as an opportunity and accept risk management Successful businessmen and decision-makers make sure that the risks resulting from their decisions are measured, understood, and possibly eliminated Accepting that risks exist is a starting point for the other actions needed Most important is to create the right climate for risk management Control Systems – requires communication and leadership skills so that standards and expectation are set and clearly understood IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE RISKS Identification of significant risks is crucial and allows to make informed decisions. When identifying risks, it helps to define the categories into which they fall Typical Areas of Organizational Risk o Financial Accounting decisions and practices Treasury risks Fraud Robustness of information management systems Inefficient cash management Inadequate insurance o Commercial Loss of key personnel and tacit knowledge Failure to comply with legal regulations or codes of practice Contract conditions Poor brand management or handling of a crisis Market changes o Strategic Marketing, pricing, and market entry decisions Market changes affecting commercial decisions Political or regulatory developments Resource-building and resource allocation decisions o Technical Failure of plant or equipment Accidental or negligent actions o Operational Product or design failure Client failure Breakdown in labour relations Corporate malpractice Political change CONSIDER THE ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF RISK
Risk management relies on accurate, timely information Create a Positive Climate for Managing Risk Recognizing the need to manage risk is not enough, organization should recognize and reward behavior that manages risk Overcoming the Fear of Risk Taking risks is needed to keep ahead of the competition Risk is both desirable and necessary It provides opportunities to learn and develop and compels people to improve and effectively meet the challenge of change
3. Controlling and Monitoring Enterprise-Wide Risk PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN MANAGING AND REDUCING FINANCIAL RISK Finance – is the lifeblood of a business Guidance about Financial Decisions o Improving Profitability – entrepreneurial flair and financial rigour Variance Analysis – used to monitor and manage the results of past decisions, assess the current situation, and highlight solutions Assessment of Market Entry and Exit Barriers – how easy or difficult it is to either entry or leave a market is crucial in strategic decision-making Break even Analysis – is used to decide whether to continue developing a product, alter the price, provide or adjust a discount, or change suppliers to reduce cos. It also helps in managing the sales mix, cost structure, and production capacity, forecasting, and budgeting Controlling cost – by focus on the big items of expenditure, be cost aware, maintain a balance between costs and quality, use budgets for dynamic financial management, develop a positive attitude to budgeting, and eliminate waste o Practical Techniques to Improve Profitability Focus decision-making on the most profitable areas Decide how to treat the least profitable products Make sure new products enhance overall profitability Manage development and production decisions Set the buying policy Consider how to create greater value from existing customers and products to enhance profitability Consider how to increase profitability by managing people o Avoiding Pitfalls Financial expertise must be widely available Consider the impact of financial decisions Avoid weak budgetary control Understand the impact of cash flow Know where the risk lies
governance, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance about the achievement of the entity’s objectives with regard to reliability of financial reporting, effectiveness, and efficiency of operations and compliance with applicable laws and regulations Internal Control – is designed and implemented to address identified business risks that threaten the achievement of any of these objectives Whether an entity achieves its objectives relating to financial reporting and compliance is determined by activities within the entity’s control Achieving its objectives relating to operations will depend not only on management’s decision but also on competitor’s actions and other factors outside the entity INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM IDENTIFIED Internal Control System – all the policies and procedures adopted by the management of an entity to assist in achieving management’s objective of ensuring the orderly and efficient conduct of its business, including adherence to management policies, the safeguarding of assets, the prevention and detection of fraud and error, the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, and the timely preparation of reliable financial information ELEMENTS OF INTERNAL CONTROL Internal control structures vary significantly from one company to the next Factors affect the specific control features of an organization Internal control system extends beyond these matters which relate directly to the functions of the accounting system and consists of the following components: o Control Environment Control Environment – means overall attitude, awareness and actions of directors and management regarding the internal control system and its importance in the entity Control Environment – has an effect on the effectiveness of the specific control procedures A strong control environment can significantly complement specific control procedures. A strong environment does not ensure the effectiveness of the internal control system Factors related in the control environment: The function of the board of directors and its committees Management philosophy and operating style The entity’s organizational structure and methods of assigning authority and responsibility Management control system The environment in which internal control operates has an impact on the effectiveness of the specific control procedures Factors comprise the control environment: Communication and Enforcement of Integrity and Ethical Values