SOX Audit & ITGC: Sarbanes-Oxley 404 Compliance
Discover the essentials of SOX auditing, ITGC testing, IT audit controls, risk and control matrices, audit evidence, and SOX 404 compliance.
What you'll learn
- Clarify how SOX Sections 302 and 404, along with the COSO 2013 framework, outline IT's role in internal control over financial reporting (ICFR)
- Identify which systems, critical reports, and service providers fall within scope using a top-down, risk-focused methodology, which includes SOC 1 reports
- Gain mastery over the four ITGC domains: logical access, program change management, system implementation (SDLC), and computer operations
- Craft clear, testable IT general controls and create a risk and control matrix (RCM) that withstands a SOX audit
- Coach control owners through audit walkthroughs and effectively manage PBC requests to meet external auditor standards
- Comprehend how auditors assess ITGCs, covering populations, sample sizes, and evidence quality in accordance with PCAOB AS 2201
- Analyze test exceptions and categorize control deficiencies, significant deficiencies, and material weaknesses
- Construct a SOX remediation plan that endures retesting and maintain an audit-ready status for IT controls throughout the year
Course outline
6 sections · 32 lessons · 2h 20m total
Module 1: Getting Started
- Welcome to the Course Free Preview On Udemy 04:42
- Meet Harborline Distribution 02:42
Module 2: The SOX Foundation for IT Professionals
- Why SOX Exists Free Preview On Udemy 03:46
- Sections 302 and 404 04:20
- Where IT Fits in ICFR 04:08
- COSO 2013 in Plain Terms 04:29
- Risk-Based Scoping 04:24
- Relying on Service Providers 04:16
Module 3: The Four ITGC Domains in Practice
- Logical Access in Practice Free Preview On Udemy 06:06
- Program Change Management 05:08
- System Implementation and the SDLC 04:27
- Computer Operations 04:15
- How ITGCs Support Reliance 04:46
Module 4: Building and Maintaining the Risk and Control Matrix
- Anatomy of an RCM Free Preview On Udemy 05:01
- Writing Testable Controls 04:50
- Classifying Controls 03:54
- Mapping Controls to Risks 04:26
- Workshop: Drafting ITGCs for Harborline 04:30
Module 5: Running the Audit Cycle
- The Annual SOX Calendar Free Preview On Udemy 04:31
- Who Does What in the Audit 04:24
- Managing PBC Requests 04:17
- Evidence That Holds Up 04:14
- Preparing for Walkthroughs 04:39
- Walkthrough Role-Play 04:15
- How Auditors Test 04:39
Module 6: Deficiencies, Remediation and Continuous Readiness
- When a Test Fails Free Preview On Udemy 04:29
- Classifying Deficiencies 05:03
- Building a Remediation Plan 04:21
- Remediation Testing 03:45
- Staying Audit-Ready Year-Round 03:59
- Capstone: Closing a Deficiency 04:57
- Course Wrap-Up 01:56
About this course
This course utilizes artificial intelligence.
SOX Audit Training: ITGC, Internal Controls & SOX 404 Compliance
Get ready for SOX audits and IT general controls (ITGC) testing through practical, scenario-driven training focused on Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 compliance.
Understand how IT auditors, internal auditors, and compliance specialists assess IT controls, carry out audit walkthroughs, gather testing evidence, pinpoint control weaknesses, and ensure ongoing SOX audit readiness.
What You Will Learn Through SOX Auditing You will accompany a fictional company during its annual SOX audit, grasping how to:
- Comprehend SOX Sections 302 and 404 along with the COSO internal control framework.
- Recognize systems, applications, and IT processes that fall within the SOX audit scope.
- Create and document IT general controls (ITGCs).
- Establish and uphold a risk and control matrix (RCM).
- Get ready for SOX audit walkthroughs and requests for auditor evidence.
- Grasp ITGC audit testing, including sampling and documentation.
- Assess audit results, control weaknesses, and material flaws.
- Formulate remediation strategies and maintain continuous SOX audit preparedness.
Instead of just explaining SOX regulations, this course illustrates how IT controls are recorded, assessed, tested, and enhanced during the audit process.
Experience the entire audit year alongside a company Rather than simply reviewing standards, you'll track Harborline Distribution, a fictional, newly public organization facing its inaugural SOX audit. You'll collaborate with its IT staff as they:
- Identify which systems, reports, and service providers are relevant, employing a top-down, risk-based strategy
- Develop formal IT practices into documented, testable controls covering logical access, change management, system deployment, and computer operations
- Create a risk and control matrix (RCM) that produces clean results
- Handle client-provided (PBC) evidence requests and prepare control owners for walkthroughs
- Discover how external auditors assess ITGCs, including populations, samples, and the quality of evidence
- Respond to unsuccessful tests, categorize deficiencies, and devise a remediation plan that passes retesting
Engage in authentic tasks, not just quizzes An interactive ITGC drafting workshop with immediate feedback A partial RCM activity with an answer guide A walkthrough simulation where you respond to the auditor's inquiries as the control owner A capstone project that progresses one SOX finding from the auditor's email to resolution Templates that you can utilize in your job immediately Each template includes instructions and a completed example:
- Risk and control matrix (RCM) template
- Control description checklist
- PBC request tracker
- Walkthrough preparation guide
- Deficiency evaluation worksheet
- Remediation plan template
All materials function in a web browser, Excel, or a PDF viewer, so there’s no need for installations or purchases.
Who this course is for
- IT managers and directors aiming to equip their team for an initial SOX 404 audit, especially post-IPO
- System administrators, ERP administrators, and control owners engaged in executing IT general controls and submitting evidence to auditors
- Novice IT auditors and SOX auditors seeking insights into ITGC operations from within the organization
- Compliance analysts, SOX program managers, and internal auditors responsible for conducting SOX testing and remediation efforts
- Finance and accounting experts needing an understanding of the IT aspects of internal control over financial reporting
- Individuals transitioning into IT audit, GRC, or SOX compliance seeking practical, job-relevant skills
- IT auditors, internal auditors, SOX compliance analysts, IT risk professionals, ITGC control owners, and those preparing for SOX audit roles