Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

6-2009

Abstract

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) was passed in 2002 in response to a series ofaccounting improprieties at well-known companies such as Enron and WorldCom.One important aspect of SOX is the internal control requirements. SOX section302 requires that management evaluate the effectiveness of disclosure and controlprocedures, report results of the evaluation, and indicate any “significant changes”in internal controls since the last 10-K or 10-Q report (Securities and ExchangeCommission [SEC] 2002). In addition, SOX section 404 requires that manage-ment’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reportingand auditors’ attestation on management’s assessment be included in firms’ 10-Kreports (SEC 2003a). The heightened attention to internal control can enhance thereliability of financial statements by helping companies to identify internal controldeficiencies and remediate these deficiencies in a timely manner (Charles RiverAssociates 2005).

Keywords

Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), Accounting improprieties, Enron, Financial reporting

Discipline

Accounting | Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics | Corporate Finance

Research Areas

Corporate Governance, Auditing and Risk Management

Publication

Contemporary Accounting Research

Volume

26

Issue

2

First Page

549

Last Page

579

ISSN

0823-9150

Identifier

10.1506/car.26.2.9

Publisher

Wiley

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