Wherever You Go, There You Are…
It’s been a little busy at re: The Auditors HQ lately. For the last two weeks I have been working on-site at a client, doing IT Governance/SOx related work. Yes, I still do real work – to pay the freight for the privilege of writing and to stay close to the content. Nothing like seeing an environment with multiple Big 4 vendors, a few staffing firms, and several internal audit directors in the last few years to limber up your joints.
Question for the Audit Committee experts in the field: What’s your view on “confidential” meetings with Audit Director and external audit firm (separately) that are not detailed in Audit Committee minutes? Inquiring minds want to know…
Tomorrow, Monday May 4th, I will be speaking at the Houston IIA Chapter meeting at the request of one of their officers, Catherine Hasley, a Twitter friend. Noon at the Houston Club.
My presentation: “Lessons From Current Crisis – What’s An Internal Auditor To Do?”
The focus is on two case studies, AIG and Société Générale.
There’s a Tweet-Up/Meet-Up at the Flying Saucer that evening. Here’s the Twitvite with details. Hope to see all my Houston-area readers there.
This past weekend I attended a conference called SOBCon – Biz School For Bloggers. A good friend and mentor in the Chicago area, Liz Strauss, is the guiding light of this community. I was not able to attend all the sessions but what I saw was super-valuable for both the content and the context. It’s often difficult to remember, when you’re so immersed in it, that everyone doesn’t blog, everyone doesn’t Twitter, everyone doesn’t want to be on Facebook. (Count me in the last group but it’s a necessity in my chosen endeavor.)
Being in a group of experienced bloggers and experts in advertising, public relations, marketing communications, e-commerce, and the technology of “social media” – all that I am doing right now – was invaluable. I met many wonderful people, got to know some even better, and learned a lot about how the business of blogging is done. This learning included seeing how seasoned veterans like Liz get the message out and help others to achieve their goals. In addition to this great “inside world,” we enjoyed a beautiful Chicago “outside world.” It was an amazing weekend here, finally warm and sunny. At a few events we were able to sit outside, sip a cold beverage, and enjoy the amazing Windy City skyline.
Doesn’t get any better than that.
One of the conference sponsors is right up our alley, GOGO Inflight, WiFi for your airline flight. Darren Waxman, their Director of Brand Development and Interactivity, was the nicest guy.
Just for you, my readers:
Save 25% off Gogo Inflight Internet on select American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Virgin America flights. Promotional code expires 06/30/09. Visit: www.aircell.com/gogo-offers for Terms & Conditions. Promo Code: 114dek88gogo
Thank you! Happy Travels! from Gogo Inflight Internet.
I also have some coupons for one free inflight internet session. To win one, send me a haiku about travel, to my Twitter account @retheauditors. The three best haikus by Wednesday, May 6 EOB, will get a coupon.
If you don’t know how to haiku, go here.
If you don’t have a Twitter account yet – what are you waiting for? The community of accountants and auditors is huge and growing bigger every day. And there are also tons of recruiters there. And so many other interesting folks.
Follow me and I will follow you back, lickety-split.
Just do it.
Here’s my haiku to get you started.
Wings up, free as bird.
Go-going to some places
never forgotten.
Image Source and here.
Your question
What’s your view on “confidential” meetings with Audit Director and external audit firm (separately) that are not detailed in Audit Committee minutes? Inquiring minds want to know
There may be good reasons for this – perhaps a going concern qualification that the AD is worried about ? I would not think the AD was the only one present. What about the CFO ? Not recorded, detailed or minuted, though ? That sounds unprofessional at least, deliberately “forgetful” and probably contravenes some audit protocol at least, without necessarily being fruad or corrupt. Worth digging…..
I drive and I fly
With red pen in hand, I test
On Friday I venture home
Lots of stuff out there is saying Deloitte is serious about being bought out by IBM? Do these rumors have any weight? Great, outsource our audits to IBM who will send a big chunk of the workforce to India. This is great!
Season of the bee
Utilization is high
The airport: my hive
— Tenacious T.
Journey into the ether
Between the night and the dawn
Gossamer wings fly
WOW! I love all the haiku! Keep it coming.
And thanks to everyone who came to the IIA meeting in Houston today. So many came up afterward to say hi and then came out to Tweetup. Thanks Cat, new Houston IIA Chapter President, for the invite. You’re the greatest!
Francine
Charge hours are down
Utilization is low
Man I’m in trouble
partners are scared
in panic mode it is clear
worse times than 0 – 1.
A haiku for my staff:
Another month ends
Pull thumb out of hindquarters
Collect my bills, please
Please get your own bills
we are not bill collectors
we are auditors
debits credits reign extreme
winters bite long gone
a soul sold again
Big 4 life is tough
If you don’t like it, get out
And stop your whining
Machiavelli
of Accounting, ClownCollege
hath drunk the kool-aid
whining and stating the facts
two different things
the big 4 life is overrated
I’ll go for a limerick…
There once was a poster named ClownCollege
who took contrarian opinions with full knowledge
that he would soon see
the Big Four turn to three
and a misplaced faith would he acknowledge
Seemed so good at first
The kool-aid has grown bitter
Time for office chat
Strategic mistake
top performers are leaving
to government jobs
Something from nothing
Always seemed so magical
Until it wasn’t.
New management fads
Fossilize, thus becoming
The Stoney Lonesome.
A second effort.
Cherry-blossoms waft
O’er unemployed CPAs.
“Not enough profit.”
I feel honored to have generated such response from a whimsical haiku I put 2 minutes of thought into.
Anon 5/7/09 @4:39: That’s not even close to a Haiku. And ironically, I was stating facts. Big 4 life is tough, and the people who don’t like it get out. The only part that annoys me is the whining after the fact. There’s a good chance I had it worse than most here during my 9 years in a Big 4, but I’ve never complained. Maybe it’s because I find it unseemly, maybe I find it unnecessary at this point.
Rezko: I liked your limerick. My thoughts are indeed very Machiavellian. Until you got to the oh-so-tired Kool-Aid cliche.
Anonymous limerick: Nice one. I like it. The last line is a bit awkward, but hey, it’s still pretty good. I do tend to be a contrarian, but on a blog with so many views slanted in one direction, there is benefit to the alternative view, yes?