Accounts Payable and Sarbanes-Oxley: Strengthening Your Internal Controls

I really liked this book. When I first picked it up I was curious how the author would deal with such a narrow topic. Wrong - not only didn't she struggle to 'fill up' the pages, but one gets the impression she could have easily stretched the discussion out for a few more chapters. If you're concerned about internal controls impacting Accounts Payable, or if you're concerned about strengthening internal controls due to SOX requirements, then you owe it to yourself to pick up this book. Mary often consulted with those 'on the ground' and shares what she learned with the readers. Examples include: SOX subcertifications, problems with SAS 70 reports, real world invoicing and purchase card issues, real world vendor 'master file' issues, T & E processing, escheatment, 1099 reporting and more. If you're stuck in the mud of SOX and can't get out, this book isn't a spiffied up BMW about as useful as a tuxedo at a bull roast. Rather it's the neighborly pickup truck with a handshake, a chain and a smile.

As a financial professional from NY I was pleased to find Schaeffer's book covered the issues from top to bottom for the AP Department. She covers all the aspects of Sarbanes - Oxley and it's impact on the AP Department. I no longer wonder if I missed something or there could be something uncovered by the auditors that I should have addressed.

To me, this book shows us how to strengthen our control in the account payable functions, like segregation of duties, setting of authorisation levels, etc......It helps me to focus the risk areas that I never have think of in terms of account payable function in my company.