5 Strong Controls

Checks and balances

The Constitution of the United States explicitly states a Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances. That’s really just a fancy way to phrase internal controls. Reading through the Apply 5 Strong Controls infographic above, did you think of the government when “Absolute power corrupts absolutely” popped out on your screen? I’m sure you’re not alone. This is one of the reasons why our profession exists!

Auditors and managers have their own set of checks and balances: The Green Book. Using this model, managers create internal controls and auditors evaluate them. If you are like most people, the internal controls described in the Green Book are more than a little overwhelming.

To help my auditor colleagues, I created this graphic of 5 strong controls to apply to help avoid risk. Download a PDF version and share with your own network.

Want to learn more?

Join me for the two-day Internal Controls Workshop scheduled for November 2-3. In this interactive 8-hour live webinar, you will learn how to define risks and apply controls to mitigate them – without creating a burdensome bureaucracy.

Can’t make it to the live webinar or prefer to take your CPE self-study? The Internal Controls Bundle is just for you! In this helpful bundle of courses, I explain how the Green Book is simply the COSO model written for application in government since it spells out an ideal internal control structure. I use easy-to-understand terms and lots of practical examples so you master the model once and for all!