Category: Featured News

These are brief news articles written by Internal Audit 360 editors. They may contain links to source material, but they are self contained and do not link to a longer version of the news item.

Equifax to Pay up to $700 Million to Settle Charges over Massive Data Breach

Equifax has agreed to pay at least $575 million, and potentially up to $700 million, as part of a global settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and 50 U.S. states and territories, which alleged that the credit reporting company’s failure to take reasonable steps Read More

Chartered Institute of internal auditors issues draft practice code

New U.K. Internal Audit Draft Code Calls for ‘Unrestricted’ Access

The professional association for internal auditors in the United Kingdom and Ireland has issued a draft version today of a new “Code of Practice” that is says will promote more extensive access for internal auditors. The draft, issued by the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors, is intended to strengthen corporate Read More

SEC to change compliance definitions for SOX 404

SEC Charges Health Care Company Accountant with Insider Trading

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed insider trading charges against Martha Patricia Bustos, a former accountant at Illumina Inc. and a certified public accountant, and her close friend, Donald Blakstad, whom Bustos allegedly illegally tipped with confidential information in advance of her company’s quarterly performance announcements. The alleged insider trading Read More

Study Suggests Companies with Female CFOs Less Likely to Cook the Books

A new academic research study indicates that companies with women serving as chief financial officers are significantly less likely to misreport financial results. The study, by three professors from the University of Alabama, a professor from the University of Missouri, and one from St. Louis University used a “financial statement Read More

kpmg cheating scandal

KPMG to Pay $50 Million to Settle Inspection Cheating Charges by SEC

Big Four audit firm KPMG LLP will pay $50 million to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges in the KPMG cheating scandal. The SEC had alleged that the firm altered past audit work after receiving stolen information about inspections of the firm that would be conducted by the Public Company Read More

SIB releases internal audit guide

U.K. Insurance Group Releases Internal Audit Guide

The Society of Insurance Broking (SIB), a U.K.-based professional association, has issued a new guide for internal auditors to reinforce the hallmarks of a well-structured internal audit function in the industry. While the practice guide is aimed at insurance brokerage firms, it highlights some best practices that are valid for Read More

Compliance Staffing Trouble a Key Risk for Banks

Like companies in many industries, banks are having a difficult time finding and retaining qualified compliance staffers. In fact, recruiting good compliance professionals has gotten so hard that the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC) says that it has become a top risk for financial firms, especially regional Read More