Sarbanes-Oxley: Corporate Governance with an Introduction to Sarbanes Oxley

Course Overview

This one day course has been specially tailored to ensure participants leave the course with a clear understanding of the current corporate governance framework in the UK and the crucial importance of governance best practice for both reputation and shareholder value in the post-Enron era.

Audience

This course will cover the latest developments in corporate governance in the UK and is therefore particularly relevant to public limited companies. Ideal for chief executives, company secretaries, executive directors and individuals responsible for implementing best practice corporate governance in their organisation.

• Key causes of headline corporate scandals and what can be learned from them
• Implementing the revised Combined Code
• Comparisons with the US approach as revealed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002
• Incorporating an effective risk management process into their corporate strategy
• Maximising Board effectiveness
• Assessing the business value of solid corporate governance
• Evaluating the responsibilities and performance of both executive and non-executive directors.

Skills Gained

• Key causes of headline corporate scandals and what can be learned from them
• Implementation the revised Combined Code
• Comparisons with the US approach as revealed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002
• Incorporating an effective risk management process into their corporate strategy
• How to maximise Board effectiveness
• How to assesse the business value of solid corporate governance
• How to evaluate the responsibilities and performance of both executive and non-executive directors.

Course Outline

An Introduction to UK Corporate Governance Framework

• The 20th century governance background
• The development of the Combined Code
• Establishing the benefits of improved governance

Introduction to Corporate Fraud, Corruption, Negligence

• Examination of headline cases in the UK and US (from BCCI and Barings to Enron and WorldCom)
• Evaluation of the fallout from scandals (effect on investors, directors, bankers and professionals)
• Fraud risk management: how to take a practical and strategic approach
• Assessment of key governance issues: personal integrity and corporate culture

Sarbanes Oxley Act 2002 and Lessons to be Learned for UK plcs

• Understanding how and why SOX changes corporate governance for UK companies
• Awareness of management responsibilities under SOX
• Operational management support for enhanced controls
• Increased awareness of the concept of risk management and financial control

Implementing an Effective Risk Management Strategy

• What is risk?
• Analysing important risks facing businesses in the 21st century
• Examining the essentials for an effective risk management process, including strategy, risk mapping, transparency and accountability, and how to embed risk awareness into corporate culture
• Understanding the key area of Operational Risk - from Turnbull to Basel II

Sarbanes-Oxley: Corporate Governance with an Introduction to Sarbanes Oxley / SOX