Risk Management Tops Audit Committee Concerns

NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 40 percent of audit committee members surveyed recently say their risk management programs and processes require "substantial work," and a similar percentage say that it is increasingly difficult to oversee major risks, according to a new report from KPMG's Audit Committee Institute (ACI).

While audit committees in general express confidence in financial reporting and audit quality, they rank legal and regulatory compliance, cyber security risk, company controls around risk, and tone at the top/organizational culture as among their top challenges in ACI's 2017 Global Audit Committee Pulse Survey kpmg.com/us/acpulsesurvey.

The audit committee's job isn't getting any easier, particularly given the uncertainty, volatility, and complexity of today's business environment," said Jose R. Rodriguez, partner in charge and executive director of KPMG's Audit Committee Institute. "These findings reinforce the practices and priorities that are essential for audit committees to keep pace – starting with having a solid understanding of the business and the critical risks it faces."

KPMG surveyed more than 800 audit committee members and chairs in 42 countries, providing insights that audit committees around the world can use to sharpen their focus, benchmark responsibilities and practices, and strengthen oversight.

Overall, audit committees are largely satisfied that their agendas are properly focused on legal and regulatory compliance issues, maintaining internal controls over financial reporting, and key assumptions underlying critical accounting estimates. However, they see room for improvement when it comes to focusing on CFO succession planning, talent and skills in the finance organization, tone at the top and culture, and aligning the company's short- and long-term priorities.

Nearly 4 in 10 said the committee's effectiveness would be most improved by having a "better understanding of the business and key risks," while nearly a third said additional expertise related to technology or cyber security would be helpful.

The report highlights six key takeaways:

• Risk management is a top concern for audit committees.

• Internal audit can maximize its value to the organization by focusing on key areas of risk and the adequacy of the company's risk management processes generally.

• Tone at the top, culture, and pressure for short-term results are key challenges – and may need more attention.

• CFO succession planning and bench strength in the finance organization continue to be weak spots.

• Two key financial reporting issues may need a more prominent place on audit committee agendas: Implementation of new accounting standards and non-GAAP financial measures.

• Audit committee effectiveness hinges on understanding the business.

Read the 2017 Global Audit Committee Pulse Survey.

About KPMG's Audit Committee Institutes
Sponsored by more than 35 member firms around the world, KPMG's Audit Committee Institutes provide audit committee and board members with practical insights, resources, and peer exchange opportunities focused on strengthening oversight of financial reporting and audit quality and the array of challenges facing boards and businesses today—from risk management and emerging technologies to strategy and global compliance.

About KPMG
KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm (www.kpmg.com/us), is the independent U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"). KPMG International's independent member firms have 189,000 professionals, including more than 9,000 partners, in 152 countries. 

SOURCE KPMG LLP

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