Date

Chapter

Chapter 1 - An overview of accounting information systems

Core Competencies

• Understanding how an accounting information system is related to various business processes
• Identifying the purposes of internal control
• Describing why accounting information needs to possess certain descriptive qualities

Date

Chapter

Chapter 2 - Internal control: the essentials

Core Competencies

• Explaining the goals and objectives of internal control systems
• Describing the importance of the COSO report, Sarbanes-Oxley, and AU Section 314 to internal control systems
• Using the ASSRAV toolkit to evaluate an entity's internal controls

Outside Resources

• "Businesses Are Prey to Embezzlement", Russell Grantham, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 22, 2010
• City of Hagerstown, Code Administrative Division
• Characteristics and Skills of the Forensic Accountant; AICPA, 2010
• The Fraud Triangle

• Assessing the Control Environment Questionnaire (The CPA Journal, March 2007)
• Internal Control Over Financial Reporting - Guidance for Smaller Public Companies (Executive Summary); COSO, 2006
• Boise State University - Internal Audit and Advisory Services

Date

Chapter

Chapter 3 - Documentation: basic flowcharting skills

Tech Talks

Core Competencies

• Designing, creating, and using physical data flow diagrams
• Designing, creating, and using document flowcharts

Date

Chapter

Chapter 4 - Business processes

Tech Talk

Core Competencies

• Identifying activities in the finance business process
• Identifying activities in the human resources business process
• Identifying activities in the marketing business process
• Identifying activities in the manufacturing and operations business process
• Identifying activities in the product and business development business process
• Identifying activities in the supply chain business process
• Identifying activities in the sales business process
• Describing business processes particular to not-for-profit entities

Date

Chapter

Chapter 5 - Sales business process: sales and order fulfillment; accounts receivable and cash receipts

Tech Talk

Core Competencies

• Explaining the typical data flows and internal control "hot spots" in the sales and order fulfillment subprocess
• Identifying activities in the human resources business process

• Analyzing the TJ Maxx Data Security Fiasco, The CPA Journal, August 2008
• Internal Controls for Cash Receipt and Revenue, Syracuse University's Audit and Management Advisory Services

Date

Chapter

Chapter 6 - Supply chain business process: purchasing; accounts payable and cash disbursements

Tech Talk

Core Competencies

• Describing how data moves through the purchasing subprocess and explaining the internal control weaknesses associated with purchasing
• Describing the common data flows and explaining the internal control vulnerabilities in the accounts payable and cash disbursements subprocess

• Arizona State University Financial Services Standards of Internal Control (p. 17-26)
• Report of the Vermont State Auditor. Improper Payments: Internal Control Weaknesses Expose the State to Improper Payments (p. 8-21)

Date

Chapter

Chapter 7 - Fixed assets business process: acquisition, maintenance, depreciation, and disposal

Tech Talk

Core Competencies

• Describing the common data flows and internal control vulnerabilities in the fixed assets acquisition subprocess
• Explaining how data moves through the depreciation and maintenance subprocesses and the internal control weaknesses connected to fixed asset maintenance and depreciation
• Understanding the potential internal control problem areas for fixed asset disposals and how the related accounting data moves through this subprocess

• State of Wisconsin Dept. of Health and Family Services: Safeguarding Assets - Custodianship Responsibilities
• Office of the State Controller, State of Maine: Self Assessment of Internal Control Fixed Asset Cycle

Date

Chapter

Chapter 8 - Production & manufacturing business process: scheduling and production control

Tech Talk

Core Competencies

• Describing how data flows through the scheduling subprocess
• Explaining the internal control weaknesses associated with the scheduling subprocess
• Describing the typical data flows in the production control subprocess
• Understanding the potential trouble points in internal control for the production control subprocess

• Manufacturing Planning and Control Checklist from BPIC, Hove, England

Date

Chapter

Chapter 9 - Operations business process: admissions and records & registration

Tech Talk

Core Competencies

• Describing how data flows though the admissions subprocess
• Explaining at what points the admissions subprocess is susceptible to internal control weaknesses
• Describing the typical data flows in the records & registration subprocess
• Understanding the internal control "hot spots" in the records & registration subprocess

• Technology Help Desk Checklist
• Hotel Operations Internal Control Questionnaire

Date

Chapter

Chapter 10 - Human resources business process: staffing, benefits administration, and payroll

Core Competencies

• Identifying the common data flows in the staffing subprocess
• Describing the internal control weaknesses that need to be addressed in the staffing subprocess
• Explaining the benefits administration subprocess data flows and its significant internal control "hot spots"
• Understanding how data moves through the payroll subprocess
• Describing the possible internal control trouble points in the payroll subprocess

• University of Florida Internal Control Checklist (p. 19-20)
• The Johns Hopkins University Guide to Internal Controls - Payroll Administration