Are You Sabotaging Your Internal Controls? The Theory, Science and Practice for Designing Effective Internal Controls

Discover how you may inadvertently undermine your internal controls in this 60-minute Zoom. Beverly Ross, Vice President of Internal Audit at CFC, will examine the theory, science, and practical aspects of internal controls and how leadership styles and expectations support or sabotage the internal control process. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and practical exercises, participants will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to protect their internal control structure against self-sabotage. Participants will leave equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to assess their personal expectations and practices, empower employees to uphold internal controls, and promote a culture of accountability and transparency within their cooperatives.

This one-hour classroom-style session will cover:
• Recognize three habit loops that explain employee behavior and response to internal controls.
• Explore the four common behaviors that shape your influence as a leader.
• Take steps to educate yourself and your staff on effectively applying judgment when handling control exceptions.
• Delve into a real-life fraud case and analyze what went wrong and what you would have done to prevent fraud.

Presenter and Moderator Bios

Presenter: Beverly Ross, Vice President of Internal Audit, CFC

Beverly Ross is vice president of Internal Audit at CFC. She is responsible for the execution of the corporate internal audit plan and special projects in the pursuit of evaluating and monitoring critical business risk in addition to providing independent reporting to the Audit Committee and Board of Directors.

Prior to joining CFC, Ross spent 17 years working for a cybersecurity contractor serving various federal government agencies. She served in two key roles during her tenure, first as assistant controller followed by the director of quality and audit in 2008.
Ross is a Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Information Security Auditor and is an active member of the Institute of Internal Auditors. Ross graduated from Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration–accounting.

Moderator: Wayne Sine, CPA, Education Director, National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives

After retiring as Tax Director for Southern States Cooperative, Wayne Sine was asked to serve as Education Director for NSAC. He has been a long-time and active member of NSAC, having served as past President of the Atlantic Chapter and past Chair of the Tax Committee. In addition to his work with NSAC, Wayne has served on the Legal, Tax, and Accounting (LTA) Committee of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Chaired the Tax Committees for both the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Manufacturers Association, served on the Tax Policy Committee of the Virginia Society of CPAs, and served as past Region Vice President for the Tax Executives Institute.