May 2007

Governor Perry declares the week of May 21, 2007 as Internal Audit Week!

Next Meeting - Thursday, May 3, 2007
Brookhaven Country Club, Farmers Branch

Lunch Meeting 12:00pm - 1:20pm
Registration begins at 11:30pm

Internal Auditors on the Audit Committee

Lisa Choate, UTD Audit Committee member and former CAE of Southwest Airlines

Have you ever considered serving on an audit committee? Think about it! Internal Auditors have the right skills, knowledge and abilities to be great audit committee members. Our speaker has been a successful auditor for over 24 years as well as serving as an audit committee member. Considering the landscape of increasing regulation over controls, who better to assist with rational decision making and really making a difference at an oversight level!

Pre-Meeting 10:30am

The Three Ws of Branding Yourself: Who, What and Where
Maurice Gilbert, Conselium

Do you know how to sell yourself to a potential employer? Can you succinctly and confidently tell an employer how you can add value to the Company? Accountants/internal auditors tend to be great with numbers and not so great at the softer skills, such as marketing ourselves. If you want to climb the corporate ladder, you need a brand and you need to market that brand. Let our speaker show you how.

Maurice Gilbert, CPA is the founder and managing director of Conselium, which provides personalized search solutions in the functional areas of: audit, finance, accounting, IT Audit and IT security. He began his career at the CPA firm BDO Seidman before moving to GE Capital’s internal audit department. As a former ranked tennis player in Michigan and professional tennis instructor, Maurice’s passion lies in the field of teaching and counseling. After a board position at the nonprofit organization Restart, which helped disadvantaged people develop interview skills and find a job, Maurice realized he could successfully apply his teaching and counseling skills in the field of career development. He founded Conselium in 2003; clients include Fortune 500 companies throughout the country. Maurice is a member of the American Society of CPA’s, Institute of Internal Auditors and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association. Maurice is also author and presenter of dynamic and interactive seminars such as “Building Your Career – 5 Secrets of Success”.

Post-Meeting 1:30pm

Don’t be stressed out–deal with it! Healthy ways for auditors to deal with stress
Lisa Choate, UTD Audit Committee member and former CAE of Southwest Airlines

Stress is not all bad! However, how we deal with it can go a long way towards properly managing our health. Our speaker will share positive ways to deal with stress. She will discuss promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors and give us pointers on managing stress – both good and bad!

Lisa G. Choate is the former Chief Audit Executive of Southwest Airlines, Teleglobe, Inc and Excel Communications. She spent over half of her 24 year internal audit career in the role of CAE, including a start-up where she was an integral part of establishing the internal audit function and the Audit Committee. Lisa was responsible for all risk assessment and audit activities and provided consultative services on key business projects, including mergers, acquisitions, IT projects, new product development, etc. Lisa currently is the owner and founder of Ultimate Health Matters, a wellness company promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors through physical activity, nutrition, and stress management focusing on prevention. While maintaining her CIA designation, she has also received several health and fitness industry certifications including Wellness Coach and Nutrition Specialty.

Lisa is on the Audit Committee of the University of Texas at Dallas and was formerly on the Advisory Council of the Endorsed Internal Audit Program at the University of Texas at Dallas. She has previously served on a variety of other Audit Committees in the private and not-for-profit sector. Lisa is also a member of the National Association of Women’s Business Owners. Lisa received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of North Texas.

Lisa is available at lisa.choate@ultimatehealthmatters.com or 214-850-4944.

May Social Events following the Post-meeting

Join us for fun at Brookhaven Country Club! There’s an activity for everyone, immediately following our regular monthly meeting.  Prizes awarded in everything except massages. Guests welcome!

Sign up on the Dallas Chapter IIA website - http://dallasiia.org/Reserve_Social.htm

SOCIAL

• 2:30 pm to 7:30 pm – Social at Brookhaven Country Club, Complimentary Appetizers, Beer & Drinks included (two drink coupons to all, coupons available for purchase also)
• Cards, Dominoes, Board Games – While others swelter out on the course or courts, enjoy the Game Room! Featuring: Texas Hold’em, Bones, and Board Games, plus a keg of beer!

GOLF*

• 9 hole Golf Scramble (cart included)
• 'Catch the Bug' Clinic – Learn the game with other beginners: practice on the driving range and putting green, then play 4 holes of golf; a golf pro from the Country Club will teach you (clubs and cart included)

TENNIS*

• Tennis doubles mini-tournament
• Tennis Beginners’ Clinic - Learn the game with other beginners, a tennis pro from the Country Club will teach you (equipment included)

MASSAGE*

• Chair massage (20 minutes) – relax and pamper yourself with the gentle caresses of a licensed masseuse

* There is a nominal fee for these activities. The Social is free of charge. Non-member fees also apply. See website for more details.

Reservations and cancellations must be received by 5:00 pm on Friday, April 27, 2007.

We reserve the right to bill for "no-shows."

We Now Accept Credit Cards - Online Only

The IIA Dallas Chapter, in conjunction with PayPal, will now accept payment online for the monthly luncheons. There is no change in the cost to you for the lunch. We accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or eCheck. Note that some corporate-issued cards are not accepted by PayPal. This service is only available online at the time the reservation is made. This can be used to pay for individual or group reservations. Follow the instructions on our website. If you properly cancel a reservation before the meeting, the Chapter will either return the funds to you or reserve you for the next meeting. Any questions, contact Tom Keils at 214-880-3560 or tom.keils@bldr.com.

After you place your reservation online, you will see the link to pay via PayPal if desired.

Sound Off!

Now is your chance to tell us what you think and enter into a drawing to win a free 2.5 day IIA Seminar in 2007 or a $50 American Express gift card!

The Annual Member Survey is now available and your participation is important to us as it helps as we begin planning for the 2007 - 2008 year.  It only takes a few minutes to complete:   http://dallasiia.org/Member_Survey_07.htm

IIA Research Foundation

The Research Foundation has issued a report entitled Four Approaches to Enterprise Risk Management... and Opportunities in Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance. The book began with research into how organizations can expand compliance with the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 into an ERM program, but the result will be useful for anyone interested in ERM. Readers who want to transition from Sarbanes-Oxley compliance to ERM will see that many of the commonly held beliefs about how to do this do not hold up under investigation. The author explains why this is so and clarifies the real opportunities in Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. The book also describes the way in which conceptual frameworks like COSO’s are – and are not – useful.

The book includes:

• “Myths and Realities” based on the author’s assumptions and the realities he found.
• The “Real ERM Opportunities in Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance” and the right way to use an ERM framework.
• Most importantly, four “Case Studies” which include techniques, insights, and lessons learned that will help any reader interested in moving toward ERM. They were selected specifically to illustrate the variety of approaches that can be used for ERM.

Readers will gain valuable perspectives and a number of specific ideas to apply, whether they are transitioning from the Sarbanes-Oxley compliance project or just want to make enterprise-wide risk management a way of life in their organizations.

The book (285 pages) and can be ordered online at – www.theiia.org/index.cfm?act=form.bookstore, or calling toll free 1-877-867-4957. (Order number 5006, IIA member price - $75, non member price - $90.)

Certification News - CIA Review Course!

Congratulations to the Newest CIAs, CCSAs, CFSAs, and CGAPs!

Proctors Needed for May Exams!

If you’re interested in being a proctor for the May 2007 exams, held at UTD on May 16-17, 2007, please contact Toni Messer at tmesser@utdallas.edu or 972-883-2693. Due to the overwhelming growth of the CIA and other specialty exams, we need many volunteers to help proctor the exam. To thank you for your service, the IIA will provide you with lunch and CPE credit for your CIA exam. You need not be certified to proctor the exam.

You can volunteer for one, two, three, or four parts! Volunteers are needed as follows:

• Wednesday May 16: 7:45 a.m. – Noon (Part I)
• Wednesday May 16: 12:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Part II)
• Thursday May 17: 7:45 a.m. – Noon (Part III)
• Thursday, May 17: 12:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Part IV and specialty exams)

Upcoming CIA Review Courses!

The next Dallas Chapter review courses, featuring live training by Dr. Glen Sumners of LSU, will be offered as follows at UTD:

September 5-8, 2007
March 28-31, 2008
September 5-8, 2008

Registration will begin in June for the September course. Please watch www.dallasiia.org for more information.

CIA and Other Specialty Exams – May 16-17, 2007

CIA and other specialty exams will be held in the UTD School of Management (SOM) Building, Room 1.502. For information on how to get to UTD and nearby hotels, please see http://www.utdallas.edu/visitors-index.html. Please plan to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the exam to allow time for parking and room assignment. If you enter via the University Parkway entrance, a guard will give you a parking pass and direct you to the SOM building.

Reminder…New Computer-based Testing Begins February 2008

Visit the IIA’s Web site for more information: www.theiia.org. 

The IIA Announces New CIA Exam Preparation Materials

The IIA Announces New CIA Learning System™
In response to market demand for a premier-quality Certified Internal Auditor© (CIA©) exam preparation tool, The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) is proud to announce its development of The IIA CIA Learning System. The CIA Learning System was developed by CIA-certified subject matter experts and includes:

• An interactive print and Web-based self-study program based on the CIA exam outline.
• Comprehensive and flexible training to CIA candidates worldwide.
• A self-assessment tool to tailor studies.

Framework for Successful CIA Exam Preparation
The printed modules teach the CIA content corresponding to the four parts of the CIA exam. The interactive software, also broken into the four exam parts, offers review and testing features along with additional resources and progress reports. Customers can order The IIA CIA Learning System as a full program or as individual parts.

Build Exam-day Confidence
With IIA CIA Intensive Review Seminars To supplement learning and build exam day confidence, The IIA will be offering CIA Learning System intensive review seminars in seven U.S. cities in Fall 2007. These courses will provide a customized, intensive review of the key components of the CIA exam and will be offered over four days — one day per part of the exam.

If you would like to receive periodic updates about The IIA CIA Learning System, visit www.learncia.com and select the Update News menu option.

Order Now to Prepare for the May CIA Exam!
If you are planning to take the CIA exam this year, now is the time to begin preparing and there’s no better way than through The IIA CIA Learning System. Orders began shipping April 1st, so place your order today. Visit www.learncia.com or call 1-877-442-2425.

Moving Forward with Progress!

We are completing our fourth year of the Internal Audit program at UTD. By the time of the May Dallas Chapter meeting, we will already be finished with the final exams and grades. The individuals who have completed the comprehensive internal audit program at UTD will also be recognized at that meeting.

We are planning changes in the program which should all be positive including a new Advanced Auditing course that is meant to train auditors to be more successful senior auditors and managers. The format for the course will be much different than most college courses and feature a number of Chief Audit Executives. This course will compliment our unique offerings in Audit Software and Forensic Accounting Investigations.

IIA International expanded its Academic Relations area this past summer by rolling out a new Internal Auditing Education Partnership program with the new logo shown above. You will be hearing and seeing a lot more about this program in the future. If you haven’t visited the IIA International Academic Relations website lately it has been significantly updated and is at www.theiia.org/academic. You can find a wealth of information about promoting internal audit along with the status of the various programs around the globe. If you do go to the IIA International Conference in Amsterdam this year there is an entire track of Education and Practitioners working together which is new and will be an annual track at the International Conference.

If you are interested in recruiting on campus or assisting the program in any way contact Mark Salamasick at 972-883-4729 or mark.salamasick@utdallas.edu. We are always looking for additional interesting site tours and always welcome sponsors for our Wednesday receptions. There are a number of students still available for full time and internship opportunities and a website is available with student resumes at www.utdallas.edu/orgs/iia. Contact Mark Salamasick for password access to the resumes.

Report Your Speaking and Writing

It's time again for the survey to determine which IIA Dallas Chapter members have submitted articles or spoken since March 1. Each speaking engagement on internal auditing that a Dallas Chapter member completes will earn the Chapter 1 credit per CPD hour. Each full article, Roundtable article, Fraud Finding, etc. submitted that meets basic editorial guidelines will earn 5 credits. For each full article published 20 credits are earned. Each internal audit related article published in any other trade or professional journal that is authored by a chapter member is 5 credits.

To report your writing and speaking go to http://dallasiia.org/Speaking.htm and complete the provided form by May 15, 2007. Contact Gwen Land gwen_land@jeffersonwells.com if you have any questions.

Seminars

Registration is now open for the 2007 Almost Free Seminar to be held on June 7th at Cityplace Conference Center. Member cost is only $35 and includes morning break, lunch, afternoon break, and a social hour! This reduced cost seminar is the Chapter's way of saying "Thank You" for your support. Don't delay - registration closes on May 31st.

The Almost Free Seminar is for Dallas Chapter members only.  Non-member attendance will be considered after the registration deadline.

Registration begins at 8am
Seminar begins at 8:30am 

Negotiation and Conflict Management Skills and
The Psychology of Fraud, White-Collar Crime and Unethical Behavior

featuring Dr. Joan Pastor!

1) Negotiation and Conflict Management Skills

Audits often result in recommendations for improvements in efficiency, requesting changes in procedures and corrections of errors. When all do not agree with the auditor's findings, negotiation skills and conflict management strategies are critical to the success of the audit. Sharing methodologies from her upcoming IIA book, Joan Pastor covers negotiation styles and proven strategies created just for audit professionals. She will relate conflict management to negotiation skills and people will have a chance to find out their own negotiation and conflict management style as well as the styles of others.

2) The Psychology of Fraud, White-Collar Crime and Unethical Behavior

Though CPAs and CEO’s have figured prominently in recent years in relationship to fraud, the fact is that people of all backgrounds and all professions are capable of committing fraud. Understanding the psychological forces behind fraudulent behavior is critical to detecting, preventing and dealing with it.

There are obviously many reasons why people may act unethically, but one of the least discussed is related to a small group of people who, with the right combination of inner traits and smarts, can cause the most damage to an organization. It is this small (estimated 5-7%) group who can be the deadliest killers of all to your company, and no amount of SOX rigor or financial analysis is going to smoke them out. They are behind most of the larger (and costliest) fraudulent crimes.

Register online at http://dallasiia.org/Semimar_Reserve2.htm

Career Opportunities

Are you currently in the job market either voluntarily or involuntarily? Let the Employment Committee help you. Send us your resume and we will include you in our resume database. We receive calls from recruiters and hiring managers for open positions and will forward your resume if there is a match. We get calls for staff to director levels, IT to finance, local to out of town. All inquiries will be handled confidentially. If you have any questions, give us a call or e-mail us. We look forward to helping you.

Fred Herman, Employment Committee Chairman, 972-801-1208, fsjnherman@aol.com.

• Sirius Solutions, L.L.L.P
• AT&T
• Capital One

Sirius Solutions, L.L.L.P.  (4/16/07)

INTERNAL AUDIT and SARBANES OXLEY (Financial)

Sirius Solutions, L.L.L.P. is a consulting firm based in Houston, Texas. We began our operations in 1998 and maintain a client list that includes leading global corporations. Sirius Solutions, L.L.L.P. has over 250 experienced professionals having significant management experience with Fortune 500 corporations and “Big Four” accounting firms. We were recently named to the INC 500 as the 33rd Fastest Growing Privately Owned Companies in America.

Sirius Solutions, L.L.L.P. professionals average more than 15 years experience in their respective fields: accounting and finance, information technology, risk management, internal audit, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate taxation.

Sirius Solutions, L.L.L.P. has been recognized as one of the top 100 small businesses in Houston. Its services include: Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance, Internal Audit Support, Financial Reporting Advisory, Mergers and Acquisitions, Technology Solutions, and Risk Management Consulting.

Sirius Solutions has an immediate need for Internal Audit and Financial
Sarbanes Oxley consultants in Dallas, TX

Responsibilities:

• Plan and perform financial, operational, and compliance audits.
• Organize the testing process and test key processes and controls as deemed appropriate.
• Draft audit reports to communicate findings to area and corporate management.
• Assess risks and determine the effectiveness of internal controls and the potential internal control deficiencies.
• Examine records to determine if transactions are properly recorded and authorized.
• Ensure that corporate policies and procedures are followed.
• Assist in the development of risk based audit plan.
• Review Company documentation and note gaps in controls.
• Performs due diligence on potential acquisitions.
• Perform other special projects as assigned.
• Sarbanes Oxley financial testing and remediation

Requirements:

• 4 year Degree in Accounting or similar field from a regionally accredited U.S. institution
• Financial Audit experience
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• 20% domestic travel
• Energy experience, preferably Exploration and Production experience Preferred:
• CIA or CPA certification
• Public Audit experience

For immediate consideration, please email Resume as an MSWord attachment to Rhonda Croegaert at rcroegaert@sirsol.com or contact her at 713-888-7123.

AT&T  (4/3/07)

Corporate Auditor
Dallas, TX

An exciting opportunity to advance your career with the World’s Most Admired Telecommunications Company, AT&T. As a Corporate Auditor you will be responsible for planning and performing reviews of business operations and evaluating internal controls that result in cost-effective, value-added audits. Additional challenges include developing innovative audit plans based on risk analysis, testing and evaluating key business controls and communicating audit results to various levels of management. This position allows exposure and potential transition to other business units within AT&T across a wide range of operations and locations. There is 10-20% travel associated with this position.

Qualified candidates have a minimum of 2 years experience in Public or Industry audit along with a functional business understanding in some of the areas of sales, finance, procurement, billing, inventory management, risk analysis, information systems, network, marketing, customer service and operations. The selected candidate will have strong critical thinking and analytical skills coupled with strong interpersonal, oral and written communication expertise. Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel along with the ability to adjust to a constantly changing environment are necessary in this role. The final candidate will also possess a Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance or Business; however, a CPA, CIA, or CFE is most desirable.

At the AT&T family of companies, our success depends on the determination and dedication of our employees, and it's important that our employees know we value them. We recognize that work is just one of many important things in your life and your needs may change over time. So we've designed a benefits package that allows our employees to plan for their future, offering protection and value today and tomorrow.

Not only does the AT&T family of companies offer excellent compensation packages, but we also have outstanding benefits (medical/dental/vision insurance, education assistance, family care benefits, pension, savings plan), and an environment conducive to personal and professional growth.

If interested, please submit your resume to zc2716@att.com. Please reference Dallas, TX Corporate Auditor position.

AT&T Communications Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
All qualified candidates will receive full and fair consideration for employment.

Capital One  (4/2/07)

Audit Associate

Imagine a Fortune 500 company with a real innovative streak. A financial powerhouse poised to redefine its industry. Capital One Financial Corporation is a holding company offering an unmatched range of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients. With over 700 branches, our footprint includes: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas and Louisiana – and our ambitions are truly national.

So what does this mean for you? How about the chance to excel in our supportive, team-oriented environment. To be challenged to advance your skills alongside the brightest talent in the business. And to take on important responsibility from day one while building a rewarding career – all with a fast-growing industry leader.

Capital One Bank has an immediate opening for an Audit Associate in the North Dallas area. Under general direction, this role will be responsible for participating in the identification and prioritization of business unit risks and process improvement opportunities. In addition, the design of test procedures necessary to ensure such risks and process improvements are adequately addressed with respect to control and compliance systems as well as company objectives.

Basic Qualifications:

• 4 Year College Degree with an overall Grade Point average of 3.0.

Preferred experience:

• Bachelors degree in Accounting or Finance.
• Experience in auditing, accounting, or consulting OR experience in the financial services industry.
• Working toward or have obtained a professional certification relating to accounting, auditing or compliance.

Capital One Bank offers competitive salaries and an excellent benefits package including: medical, dental, disability, cancer, vision, 401(k), paid vacation and holidays, EAP, MBA educational assistance and many opportunities for advancement. EOE/AA.

We are eager to meet you!

visit our website to submit
a resume at www.capitalonebank.com/careers
EOE/AA

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P. O. Box 261747, Plano, TX 75026-1747

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