Let's Talk Audits

Auditing Life (Photo credit: buck82)

Auditing is a procedure which has evolved greatly since the earliest days. Auditing IT operations is a very important components of the modern corporation operations. Auditing clerks verify transactions and documents within a company to make sure that proper procedures are followed, figures are mathematically accurate, and all errors have been corrected. Auditing clerks may also take on additional responsibilities within the company, such as payroll or customer relations. Auditing spreadsheets is usually part of a data governance project.

Compliance officers must have a thorough understanding of the laws and regulations governing their fields, a skill that often requires formal training through compliance officer schools and experience in the field. A bachelor's degree in compliance or a related field is usually sufficient, but an advanced degree or additional training in a related field -- like business -- may provide you with a valuable edge over career competition, not to mention higher earnings. Compliance officers' earnings can vary tremendously by employer, experience and location. Compliance officers are regulatory experts who ensure their organizations conform to all rules and laws that pertain to them. Compliance officers will be well aware of the sheer sweep of regulatory changes proposed worldwide.

Audits are the cornerstone to financial reporting – and although fewer businesses now legally require an audit, many small and medium-sized enterprises may still benefit from them. It is also a legal requirement in most countries to have the financial statements reviewed by an independent auditor once a year. Audits are performed to ascertain the validity and reliability of information; also to provide an assessment of a system's internal control . Audits provide companies with an external review of their accounting functions and policies.

Internal Audit schedules an entrance conference with the head of the department to discuss the purpose and scope of the audit. Internal auditors will find a new root cause analysis helpful, in addition to reports that indicate if audit evidence has been attached to findings and on auditor work progress. Internal Audit makes every effort to minimize the disruption of your everyday activities and cooperate with you to ensure a smooth process. Internal audit is an independent process carried out to assess the competence and efficiency of risk identification and management in the spheres of business operations, accuracy of financial statements, protection of assets and compliance to the legal obligations.

Externalaudit is aimed at providing reasonable assurance that the company’s financial statements are prepared in conformity with accepted accounting standards. External audit guidelines provide instructions to auditors for using standard tools and templates, such as spreadsheets, to conduct an audit consistently and efficiently.

Audit software helps centralize audit information so businesses can make coordinated decisions with a generalized idea of the company's financial statistics. Audit software can highlight those individual transactions that contain characteristics often associated with fraudulent activity. Audit software also provides auditors with the ability to extract information from several files, with different database management systems, in order to search for underlying patterns or relationships among data. Audit software is often designed to automate many aspects of the auditing process so that time and company resources can be saved. Many kinds of auditing software allow auditors to focus on specific areas in the business so that the business can prioritize, according to Audit Software.

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The Difference Between Commercial and Residential Carpet Drying

(Photo credit: Shana Lee)

It's easy to forget that commercial property can be affected by water damage just the same as residential properties, but there are some differences that do need to be considered when dealing with flooding in a commercial properties.

One major difference is the carpeting that is usually used in the buildings. Residential properties generally have carpet that is laid over padding. This means that not only does the carpet get damaged, but also the padding. The restoration process in a residential property usually involves removing the carpet and then removing the underlying padding and finally the tack strip. The carpet can then be dried, and possibly the padding to although in many cases it might be unsalvageable depending on how long it has been underwater. In a commercial property, this process is somewhat different. The carpet is often glued directly to the floor with no padding. This is good, because the carpet padding is usually the worst affected part, but on the other hand it makes it difficult to get to the underside of the carpet and ensure proper drying.

It is common for commercial properties to make use of air movers to dry carpets, but this only deals with the surface of the carpet and meanwhile the underside could become the perfect breeding ground for mold. That is why it is best to call in a professional waterdamage restoration company who will be trained to deal with these situations rather than rely on your usually janitorial or cleaning service. Professionals will ensure that air movers are used for extended periods of time – often an additional 24 hours or more after the surface area is dry so that the underlying moisture is also sucked out and dried. They will make use of moisture meters to ensure it is dry. The last thing you want is mold forming and making your employees or customers sick.

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• Why You Need Commercial Flood Protection

Why You Need Commercial Flood Protection

It often surprises me that virtually everyone has insurance cover for their homes in the event of flooding, but when it comes to businesses many business owners seem to be pretty lax about what insurance cover they purchase for their commercial properties. While most of them do have business insurance, the number of people who just assume flooding is covered by their policy is phenomenal. They seem to be unaware that a separate policy is often required to cover not only equipment lost during a flood, but also the repair work that is required.

If you get a commercial flood protection policy then the coverage will help you to cover the cost of sandbagging the property prior to a flood; replacement or repair of anything damaged by the flood waters; and will cover all or part of your clean up costs after the fact. This has the potential to save your business a substantial sum of money so it is definitely worth looking into flood insurance, especially if you are in an area prone to flooding on a semi-regular basis. It could even be the difference between being able to reopen your business after the disaster. Many small businesses are forced into bankruptcy following a flood, but over half of small businesses who have flood protection cover are able to reopen while the remainder are at least able to recoup their losses and break even.

The cost of this type of insurance cover will vary greatly depending on your location. If you are situated on a flood plain then you will have to pay more than someone in an area where flooding is not likely. The industry you operate within and the credit rating of your business is also going to play a part in how much your policy will cost you. Talking in ball park terms a policy can be anything from $100 to $1000 per month. That may seem like a massive expense, but consider that you are personally liable for replacing anything lost in a flood, this could potentially bankrupt not just the business but also you. Is it worth the risk when you could be covered by insurance? To me the answer is no. I'm all about the risks – but not when it comes to my money! I won't put my ability to feed my family on the line for the sake of trimming a couple of hundred bucks from the budget.

The Business of Being A Bachelor

It has been said that married men are healthier and more successful in life, and as a married man I do feel like I have been pretty successful in my career. However, some of the guys in my office were discussing whether or not it was easier the get promotions if you were a bachelor as opposed to a married man. The general feeling was that every day life is a balancing act where you have got to keep your numerous aspects aloft, paying the same particular attention to all of them. However, if you permit just one drop, it is possible to route your energies towards the remaining elements. Without a romantic relationship, you would theoretically have longer to dedicate to your job. You can decide to put in all those additional working hours for a project to impress your employer, and in some cases undertake something more important. And you don't have to concern yourself with compromising your love life, as you'll be single and energetic. That actually does make a great deal of sense. There are times when I have felt really bad having to call my wife and tell her I won't make it home for dinner because I have to finish up something urgent for a client. I am lucky that she understands so long as I do not make a habit of it. However, if I was on my own maybe I would be more inclined to stay late more often. I don't necessarily see that as a good thing though. Do I want to spend all of my time in the office? Wouldn't it be really easy to fall into the trap of forgoing a social life for the sake of my career? I think I'd rather bust my ass during the day and pull a late night one or twice a month and be able to go how to a warm meal and a companion. I don't really believe that your marital status has any bearing on how well you do in your career, I think it has more to do with work ethic and attitude. So Mrs Huey – your position as my chief caretaker is secure for some time yet! I'm not cut out for a lonely bachelor life!

Employee Safety

One of the things that you have to consider when you run your own business is the health and the safety of your employees. This covers everything from appropriate breaks during the day -especially when they are using computers – all the way through to ensuring they have an appropriate and safe working environment. One of the things which might be a concern is what your office or workshop building is made of. The chances are fair that if you are in a modern building you will find it is up to the latest safety standards, but those buildings which were built or heavily refurbished between 1950 and 1980 may contain asbestos, especially if the building has a steel frame or boilers which have thermal insulation. Asbestos can present a serious health risk to your employees, especially when it is disturbed. As the owner or manager of your workplace you have a responsibility and a duty of care to your employees to manage that risk.

In the past, tonnes of asbestos was used in building and a great deal of it remains in place in those buildings. It is only going to become a health risk if the fibers are disturbed and released into the air. This could occur during remodeling or if any sort of structural damage occurs. Asbestos exposure is believed to be the cause of death for between 3000 and 10000 individuals every year, a clear indication of why such a risk must be properly managed. If your workplace was built during the period of time when asbestos was a popular material then the best course of action is to call in a professional to perform an asbestos assessment. They will be able to tell you if it is safe to leave it alone or if abatement is necessary.

Why I Love South Africa!

I've had the opportunity to travel to South Africa on a couple of occasions for business trips and I love it there, so asked my girlfriend to come with me for a holiday next time I go. I plan on taking the 2 weeks after the trip as vacation time, so we can stay on. However, when we told her father he said,”why would you want to go there? There is nothing to do!” I was pretty much speechless, and I ended up telling him about all of the places to go! I think I converted him, they said they might take a trip out sometime!

The fact is, tourist destinations in South Africa are amazing and impressive. Johannesburg is one of the most favoured tourist destinations in South Africa. Johannesburg is undoubtedly South Africa's crown jewel, and has also the reputation for being the gateway to Africa. The Johannesburg travel tips provide ample information on the above mentioned tourist destinations and also on other places such as The Soweto, Gold Reef city, The Museum Africa, the Apartheid Museum, The South African National Museum of Military History etc. Additional information regarding climate, means of communication, people and language are also provided for the convenience of the tourists. South Africa's currency is the 'Rand,' and each Rand is further divided into 100 cents.

Cape Town is separated by a mountain range into the eastern and western side of the peninsula so on any given day you can expect very different sea and weather conditions on either side. Cape Town is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities of the world with many beautiful architectural sites. Being one of the major tourist destinations and biggest cities of South Africa, Durban offers a wide variety of accommodation both in the city and surrounding beach and holiday towns. Durban attractions also include great venues that relate the history of apartheid, like the Kwa Muhle museum. Durban is South Africas 3rd largest city and the host the busiest harbour port.

What Can Audit Management Software Do For Me?

When it comes to managing your workforce, things have never been easier thanks to audit management software which is now increasingly used to help monitor performance. Audit management software has made it possible for upper management and indeed the authorities to audit companies with ease.

One of the best things about audit management software is that it is now possible to automate much of the auditing process. This includes surveying employees are clients on a regular basis. These surveys can form a key part of the audit system because they provide valuable information about employee performance and client expectations and satisfaction levels. Planning an audit is easy with the help of auditmanagement software because it can be fully customized to fit the company. Once the audit has been set up the software can initiate the required tasks automatically making it less time consuming and much more efficient all around.

Perhaps the most common reason why companies are increasingly turning to audit management software is that it helps to ensure they are in compliance with standards and that they are maintaining the desired level of performance in all areas of the company. It is possible to use auditing packages to create a checklist of internal and regulatory standards which much be met. For example, a checklist for compliance with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) measures. If you achieve this compliance you will expand your client base because they will be attracted to the fact that you are accredited by such organizations.

Overall, audit management software has the capability to increase your work flow and improve the day to day operation of your business. It is something that many business owners seem to overlook, but once you start you will wonder how you ever managed to operate before without it.

Commercial Mold Removal

Mold growth can occur anywhere inside or outside the buildings or walls. The invisible spores present in the air require a favourable condition to increase in number. The most favourable environment for their reproduction is wet or damp surface. When mold lands on any wet substance they begin to multiplying manifold. Any normal human being can face extreme health problems if any cautionary measure isn’t taken. These include difficulty in breathing, eye problems, cough, respiratory irritation and many allergic reactions of skin. Mold presence should never be taken lightly and it must be fixed as soon as possible. Commercial mold removal is a necessity for any building’s people who’ve been reporting any of these symptoms.

Some people don’t bother much about mold problem. This is an extremely wrong approach because a specific kind of mold namely ‘toxic mold’ is able to cause serious health hazards. If you have mold growth in your house, building or workplace than it’s very unsafe to stay in this environment without proper precautions. Pregnant women, infants and old people should never be directly exposed to any place like this. Precautionary measures should be taken in order to avoid any severe health issues. For example, wear a mask, avoid being in the room or place that is most affected, get immediate commercial help. Many companies provide instant services of commercial mold removal. ADET is one of the best among all others for reaching instantly when they receive your call. They claim to be at your place within sixty minutes. Another wonderful quality of ADET is that they provide 24/7 service.

Mold can grow as a result of flood, sewage leak, pipe leaks or any similar problem that has anything to do with water. ADET investigates the basic issue and try to resolve it as quick as they can. The team understands the sensitivity of health threats that a toxic mold can create and so it investigates thoroughly about the specie of mold. It follows a certain procedure to ensure the health safety of your family, workers or tenants. It’s your legal responsibility not to put them at risk to save a few bucks of your own. The process of commercial mold removal must be completed so that it doesn’t grow back. It’s an essential necessity of any structure to be totally mold free. Cleaning and discarding mold by yourself may not be the best idea, you would need professional help. Once you choose a company like ADET you can leave rest of the job to them. Mold growth must be taken seriously to eradicate its dangerous effects as soon as possible.  

Body Modification and Business

One of the things that my father always told us growing up was that if we ever wanted to get ahead in the world of business we would have to make sure we had the right appearance. He taught us to be tidy and clean. To always be clean shaven and to dress smartly. Then when it became the fashion

Would You Employ This Man?

to get tattoos, or even piercings, he warned us that we should never mark up our bodies that way or we would never get a job.

I have never really been interested in getting a tattoo or piercing my ears – or any other body part for that matter so it was never an issue for me. My brother on the other hand got a couple of tattoos, but thankfully he was clever enough to only get them where they would be easily covered by his shirt so they have never really presented a problem. However, I see a lot of yung people who are covered in tattoos and various piercings and implants. I see them and I wonder how will they ever get a job outside of a bar or a record store!

I am all for freedom of expression and individuality, but how can you put that ahead of a successful career. I urge any young person who is interested in body modification to make sure they think things through. Ask yourself if it is going to affect an employers' impression of you and if the answer is yes then it probably isn't the best of ideas.