November 2007

Next Meeting - Thursday, November 1, 2007
Cityplace Conference Center

Improving Department Quality
Joint Meeting with the
Dallas Chapter of the Association of Government Auditors

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

Value Added Audits

Steve Goepfert, VP Internal Audit, Continental Airlines

The challenge for Internal Audit to be “value-added” is integral to the success of the function in the post Sarbanes-Oxley era.  In this session you will learn some of the innovative approaches Continental Airlines has implemented to create and add value to its organization’s bottom-line.  Mr. Goepfert will take you on a guided tour of the best practices used by their IA Department to add value and provide top-notch assurance services.  This address will highlight specific audit tools and techniques to add value including:

• Employee benefits exams
• Third-party vendor audits
• Construction audits
• Officer compensation and expense reviews
• Recruiting and retaining the best staff
• Using QARs to assess value-added practices

Steve Goepfert, CIA, CPA is the Staff Vice President - Internal Audit (Chief Audit Executive) for Continental Airlines in Houston, Texas.  He has been the Chief Auditor since June 1989. 

He is the immediate past Chairman of the Board for the Institute of Internal Auditors, Inc. (IIA) for 2006-2007. He previously served as Senior Vice Chairman and Vice Chairman – Professional Services and is a past President of the Houston Chapter (1999-2000), and served on its Board since 1994. Steve has held industry audit posts including Chairman of the International Association of Airline Internal Auditors (IAAIA) in 1996 and Chairman of the Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Audit Panel in 2003.

Steve also serves on the Texas A&M and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Accounting Advisory Councils, and previously served on a similar Council at the University of Texas at Austin.

A CIA and CPA, Steve graduated with highest honors from Southern Illinois University. He started his career with the Big 8 firm of Coopers & Lybrand, where he worked for over 5 years.  

Pre-Meeting 10:30am

The SOFT Approach to Auditing - How Internal Audit Can Make the Most of AS No. 5
Danny M. Goldberg, Director of Internal Audit, Tyler Technologies, Inc.

In today’s current business environment, many internal audit departments have been afforded the task of Sarbanes-Oxley testing.  At first, SOX was a welcome addition, putting the spotlight, in many respects, on internal auditing.  Over the past year, the stigma behind this compliance testing has become somewhat negative and thought to be very redundant.  AS5 was passed in 2007 and can rebalance the effort and time internal auditors have allotted to pure Sarbanes Compliance.

In order to take full advantage of this changing landscape, audit departments must become very proactive in grasping these new initiatives.  By decreasing Sarbanes auditing, IA departments can refocus their energies on more value-added services, including operational/financial auditing.  Additionally, how can we integrate audit approaches and gain efficiencies from the inherent synergies in these audits?  How can we combine the numerous audit approaches into one integrated approach and can efficiencies from the synergies between these audit approaches?   An integrated S.O.F.T. (“SOFT”) audit is an efficient vehicle where financial, compliance, and operational objectives intersect and the most relevant and material tests are completed based on a comprehensive risk and cost/benefit analysis. 

Danny M. Goldberg, CPA, CCSA is the Director of Internal Audit at Tyler Technologies in Dallas. Mr. Goldberg started the internal audit department at Tyler and also assisted in the establishment of the SOX compliance department at Tenet Healthcare. Danny began his career at Arthur Andersen and is a graduate (BS – Accounting, 1997, MS – Finance, 1998) of Texas A&M University.

Mr. Goldberg serves on the board of directors of a non-profit organization and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the IIA, Information Systems Audit and Control Association and the Texas Society of CPA's. Mr. Goldberg's article, "The SOFT Approach to Auditing," appears in the August 2007 issue of the Internal Auditor and discusses the positive affects AS5 can have on internal auditors.

Mr. Goldberg is currently scheduled to speak at seven IIA chapters around the United States on this subject in 2007-2008.  He has also been invited to speak at the IIA’s General Audit Management (“GAM”) Conference in Las Vegas from March 17-19, 2008.

Mr. Goldberg is accredited as the professional commentator on the forthcoming publication, BNA Tax and Accounting Portfolio, Internal Auditing: Fundamental Principles (Accounting Policy and Practice Series).  Mr. Goldberg is also commissioned to author the anticipated portfolio, BNA Tax and Accounting Portfolio, Auditing Internal Controls (Accounting Policy and Practice Series).

WWW.THESOFTAUDIT.COM

Post-Meeting 1:30pm

Risks Assessments - Internal Audit's Role
Steve Goepfert, VP Internal Audit, Continental Airlines

In this session, you will hear the steps IA at Continental Airlines is taking to evaluate risk in its auditing environment. You will cover points of vulnerability and how to effectively identify and assess risk. You will learn the approach that Continental Airlines uses in assessing risk in its corporate, field and systems areas and how these are incorporated into its overall audit plan.

The session agenda:

• Details the 8 risk factors identified for field exams
• Highlights the corporate risk factors’ “matrix” used by the IA function to display corporate functional risks
• Identifies the approach used to ascertain where in systems development and applications review the department should concentrate
• Demonstrates the results of the risk assessment approach and the “confirmation” of its success in highlighting exposures in the organization
• Displays how the assessment is communicated to senior management and the Audit Committee

The $25 member price is for current Dallas IIA members only.  The only exception is when we have joint meetings with other organizations. We welcome members of other chapters and organizations.  However, if you are not a member of the Dallas Chapter, we request that you register as a non-member and pay the applicable fee.  The non-member and walk-in fee is close to our actual cost for the meetings, except for special meetings like our first time at Eddie Dean’s in September where we took a planned loss on all attendees in order to try the facility. Your chapter affiliation record is maintained by The IIA and is separate from your individual or department membership status.  If you are unsure of your chapter affiliation, please confirm The IIA’s records are current by logging into www.theiia.org or calling The IIA’s customer service line at 1-407-937-1111.   Thank you for your understanding and support of our programs.

This meeting is being held at Cityplace Conference Center,
2711 North Haskell Street, Dallas, Texas 75204

The DART light rail station at Cityplace serves both the RED and BLUE lines. Check for schedules, routes and fare information at  http://www.dart.org/default.asp

Preferred Method:

Place and confirm your reservation via the web site at http://www.dallasiia.org/Reserve.htm.

Reservations and cancellations must be received by 5:00 pm on Friday, October 26, 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 web site. 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 Marc Winandy at marc.winandy@mckesson.com.

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

Help Yourself. Volunteer.

The following committees currently have openings:

Assistant Treasurer - help at the registration tables at the meetings

Awards - assist the officers in the selection and procurement of awards for chapter volunteers

Elections - hold election of officers and board of governors at chapter meetings

Social - help plan and organize the annual member social

If you are interested in one or more of these committees or just looking to get more involved in the Dallas Chapter, please contact the Dallas Chapter Volunteer Coordinator Pamela Krakosky at  pkrakosky@verizon.net.

Dallas Chapter Leadership Roles

The Nominating Committee is in the process of identifying candidates to serve as Officers and Board of Governors for the Dallas Chapter for the year beginning June 1, 2008.  Most Officers have previous volunteer experience serving as Officers and/or Committee Chairs/Members.  And members of the Board of Governors are made up of past Chapter Presidents and CAE’s/Audit Directors/ Senior Managers.  Some of the attributes that make a successful leader are:

• Passion for the profession
• Enthusiastic
• Team builder with determination, vision, and strategic thinking
• Available, willing, and committed to serve
• Competent and professional experience in internal auditing
• Committed to The IIA and Dallas Chapter’s objectives
• Have integrity and lack of conflicts of interest
• Have support of the employee
• Reliable
• Proven record of attendance and volunteering in The IIA or Dallas Chapter

If you are interested in serving in a Dallas Chapter leadership role, simply complete the online Candidate Information Form at http://dallasiia.org/Candidate_Information_07.htm.  The deadline to complete the online form is December 31, 2007.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss serving as an Officer or member of the Board of Governors, please contact Pamela Krakosky, Nominating Committee Chair, at pkrakosky@verizon.net or 972-849-3440.

Call for IIA Volunteers

The Institute of Internal Auditors is currently seeking qualified members to serve in leadership positions for 2008-2009.

Volunteers provide essential leadership to and direction for The Institute through strategic planning, presentation of new ideas, development of programs, and accomplishment of specific tasks. The IIA Call for Volunteers seeks eligible and willing candidates for the following positions:

• Members to serve on the Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, or as District Representative
• Members to serve on 18 International Committees

Go to the Call for Volunteers by clicking here: http://www.theiia.org/membership/get-involved/volunteers---the-heart-of-the-iia/call-for-volunteers/. All nominations must be received by The IIA by November 10, 2007.  However, if you would like the Dallas Chapter Board of Governors to endorse your nomination, please submit your form to Pamela Krakosky at pkrakosky@verizon.net by October 31, 2007.

IIA Research Foundation

The Research Foundation has two reports that are scheduled to be released prior to year end.  A brief summary of these include:

A Global Summary of the Common Body of Knowledge 2006 – This is the largest and most comprehensive global study ever conducted about the internal auditing profession.  It will provide an all-encompassing look at the study's findings which provide a basis for understanding, guiding, and shaping:

• Compliance to and adequacy of The International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing.
• The current status of the internal audit activity within organizations.
• The actual activities and types of audits that are being performed.
• Tools and techniques used by internal auditors.
• Skills and knowledge possessed by internal auditors

Auditing Human Resources - This handbook is an essential tool for internal auditors to examine the technical and practical dimensions of the HR function and to create a comprehensive system that adds value to the organization.

Certification News - New Certifications

New CIA’s, CGAP’s, CFSA’s, and CCSA’s that passed the May 2007 exams will receive their certificates and be honored at the November 1 meeting at Cityplace.  If you are a new CIA/CGAP/CFSA/CCSA, you will get a free lunch for you and your guest!  If you are unable to attend the luncheon, please contact Toni Messer, at tmesser@utdallas.edu or 972-883-2693, to make arrangements to obtain your certificate.   Details on how to register for the November 1 luncheon were e-mailed to everyone passing the exam.  If you did not receive an e-mail, please contact Toni Messer.

Mark your Calendars

The next Dallas Chapter review courses, featuring live training by Dr. Glen Sumners of Louisiana State University, will be offered as follows at UT Dallas:

• February 15-18, 2008
• September 5-8, 2008

*** Please make special note of the Spring 2008 dates as they were mis-communicated in a previous eNews. ***

CIA and Other Specialty Exams – November 14-15 , 2007

The exams will be held at the UTD School of Management Building, Room 1.502.  For directions, see http://www.utdallas.edu/directions/.

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

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 will begin shipping April 1, so place your order today. Visit www.learncia.com or call +1-877-442-2425.

Member Directory

The 2007-2008 Member Directory is now available on the chapter web site for download. Members, you should have received an email from the chapter on September 27 with the password to the file.  Contact Abe Paul at secretary@dallasiia.org for password help.

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 October 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 November 15, 2007.

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, please contact Greg Dubis at 972-431-5946 or send him an e-mail at gdubis@jcpenney.com.  We look forward to helping you.

Associa  (10/15/07)

Internal Auditor needed for $200mm+ private Real Estate Services Company. Bachelor’s degree required. Prefer 2-4 years internal audit experience and professional certification or parts passed. Opportunity to travel 50-75% to subsidiary companies throughout United States. Salary $40-$50k, depending on experience. Email cover letter and resume to LWaynes@associaonline.com.

Global Inc.  (10/15/07)

Enjoy extraordinary growth with a 70-year-old company in San Antonio.  Their value- based operating philosophy, teaching and use of positive reinforcement create a workplace for employees, customers and community that are respected as vital shareholders in their success. This is an exceptional growth opportunity for the individual ready to make a difference, utilize his/her leadership abilities and exceptional accounting/audit skills to lead this team of professionals!!

Job Responsibilities:

Responsible for leading the internal audit function for the Company.  Special emphasis on the design and implementation of audit processes and procedures, as well as monitoring audit initiatives. Will also be responsible for assisting in the prevention of losses through ongoing development and improvement of auditing techniques. Must keep up with emerging trends and best practices in the internal audit field and assist in identifying areas of potential profit enhancement and increased cost efficiency within the organization.

Job Requirements:

This position requires a self-motivated, well-organized, energetic, detailed individual with excellent analytical and people skills, who works effectively with staff and internal customers.
Education:  Degree in Accounting with a minimum of 10 years auditing experience.
Experience:   Both public and industry auditing.   Minimum - 3 years experience in an audit management position required.  Experience with fully integrated ERP systems (such as SAP, J.D. Edwards, PeopleSoft and/or Oracle) required.  Experience with high volume, multiple cost centers and multiple locations a plus.
Certifications:  CPA required & CIA a plus.

Contact Information:

Global, Inc.
Judy Rawley, CPC
11010 Coachlight St., Suite 202
San Antonio, TX  78216
(210) 349-5200
(210) 340-2092 fax
Resumes may be emailed to:  saresume@teamglobal.com

SolomonEdwardsGroup  (10/12/07)

SolomonEdwardsGroup (SEG) is a leading business consulting and accounting services provider, delivering proven solutions to complex business issues in areas such as corporate performance management, enterprise risk management, internal audit, regulatory compliance, transaction services, system integration support, SEC advisory services and business process improvement.

SEG is a high-growth, private company that has expanded into the Dallas / Fort Worth market and continues to build our local team.  We are seeking to hire a Manager / Senior Manager for our Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) practice.

Our ERM practice focuses in the following areas:

• Internal Audit Outsourcing and Co-sourcing
• Compliance, Financial, Operational and Information Technology audits
• Sarbanes-Oxley Advisory and Compliance
• External Assessments of Internal Audit Departments

Ideal candidates are currently or have served as audit managers with banking/financial services experience.  Big 4 experience is a plus but not a requirement.  The candidate's audit experience must include both financial and operational audits. Our strategy is to target high-caliber candidates and offer them the ability to continue developing their career as a key member of our high performing team with competitive salary and benefits while offering increased work / life balance and the ability to have an impact on our clients and our organization.  These positions qualify for a stock option grant and annual bonuses.

Requirements:

• Bachelors Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business; advanced degrees are highly desirable
• CIA certification
• CPA experience a strong plus
• Financial services, especially banking or lending experience
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, oral and written communication skills

Send resume to Marcie Podesta
mpodesta@solomonedwards.com
(972) 505-2021

SolomonEdwardsGroup, LLC (SEG) is a national CFO services firm built to support all of the non-attest finance, accounting, audit and consulting needs that typically fall within the scope of the CFO and their organization.  We recognize in today’s finance and accounting environment that resources are limited and risk and responsibilities are never ending.  Our model and expertise uniquely bring talent, perspective, and action to address your most pressing challenges related to talent management, accounting and finance operations, risk and regulatory compliance, and strategic performance.  SEG Business consulting and advisory (BCA) services include SEC advisory, complex transaction research, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, corporate governance, regulatory risk and control, internal audit co-sourcing, IT audit, fraud and forensic services, financial process optimization, business decision support, close acceleration, planning, budgeting, consolidations and management reporting design enhancements, and system implementation support and data validation services.

Founded in 1999, SEG has nine offices across the country including its corporate headquarters in suburban Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Kansas City, North New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.

City of Denton  (9/24/07)

City of DENTON INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT IS SEEKING THE FOLLOWING: SENIOR AUDITOR

The City of Denton is a full service government with a $300million budget, including a fully integrated electric utility.  The City Auditor seeks a highly motivated professional with at least 10 years audit experience, in either government, the electric industry, or both.  The successful candidate will be challenged with a wide variety of assignments, including financial, operational, compliance and technical.  Duties include assisting the City Auditor in assigning tasks, reviewing work and reports for completeness and accuracy, and supervising or leading the more complex assignments.  The Audit shop’s philosophy is to add value to the organization.

Certification required – CIA or CPA.  Master’s degree preferred.   This position requires a self-motivated professional with good communication skills and a creative approach to problem solving.

CONTACT:
Steve Shepherd
215 E. McKinney
Denton, TX  76201

Phone: (940) 349-8996
Fax: (940) 382-7923
Email: steve.shepherd@cityofdenton.com

Closing Date: October 8, 2007

Salary: To $75,000

BENEFITS:
TRAVEL is going to the north side of town.
Defined benefit retirement package.
NO SOX!!!

AT&T  (8/17/07)

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.

Ericsson  (8/17/07)

Ericsson is shaping the future of Mobile and Broadband Internet communications through its continuous technology leadership. Providing innovative solutions in more than 140 countries, Ericsson is helping to create the most powerful communication companies in the world.

We are currently seeking an Internal Auditor to be based in our North American Headquarters location in Plano, TX.

Principle Duties/Responsibilities:

• Help define scope of assigned audits and prepare audit program,
• Prepare engagement letters, information requests and other planning documentation,
• Conduct audits in accordance with the approved audit program and in accordance with auditing standards,
• Add value to the organization by identifying improvement opportunities and providing clear recommendations,
• Make oral and written presentations to auditee during and at the conclusion of the audit,
• Prepare formal written audit reports utilizing standard reporting format,
• Reviews audit work papers and oversees preparation of audit findings.

Skills Required:

• Strong experience in the use of PC software as audit tools,
• Experience with ERP systems such as SAP/R3 and audit tools (e.g.: ACL),
• Proficient user of Microsoft Office Applications; strong analytical abilities,
• Excellent written and oral communication skills,
• High level of SOX knowledge,
• Works well individually and with others;
• Ability to travel international/domestic (20-50%),
• High integrity and ethics.

We Desire:

Bachelor degree in Business Administration or equivalent with a minimum of 3 years audit experience (including some combination of internal/external financial, operational and information system audit experience) or 3 years experience in Ericsson's operations. Professional certification preferred.

Read more at www.ericsson.com and apply at www.ericssonusjobs.com. Reference job #11420.We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.

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