Many Small to Mid-size Enterprise’s (SME’s) are privately held and have diverse expectations of good governance, management responsibilities, and appropriate internal control. Depending on the size of the organization, the title now used to describe this vital function has also become more varied: Controller, Director of Finance, Accounting Manager, VP Finance and even CFO. This is a hands-on course intended to give new, and experienced, financial leaders an opportunity to explore and discuss implementation of internal controls in the SME context, using the COSO Enterprise Risk Management Methodology.

• Finance leaders, controllers, and risk/governance professionals in SMEs who need a pragmatic playbook for implementing internal controls. 
• Practitioners seeking structured cycle-based methods (O2C, P2P) to design, document, and assess controls.  

By the end of this course, participants should be able to: 

• Explain how emerging trends (e.g., Enterprise 4.0, RPA, cloud, cybersecurity) affect internal controls in the SME context. 
• Define governance and leadership conditions for successful control implementation, including roles across the three lines of defense. 
• Use COSO/ERM and COBIT concepts to frame risks and select proportionate control activities for core finance processes. 
• Analyze O2C and P2P cycles to draft control objectives, design controls, and assess control effectiveness. 
• Build an implementation plan that simplifies processes, applies LEAN ideas, and aligns controls with risk tolerance and stakeholder responsibilities. 

Topics include: 

• Introduction: today’s control environment for SMEs; “trust but verify” principles and control objectives. 
• Emerging trends and issues: Enterprise 4.0, blockchain touches, RPA, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and automated controls; workshop on new control areas. 
• Frameworks overview: COSO (IC & ERM), COBIT for IT controls; linking frameworks to SME process realities (with workshop). 
• Case 1 – O2C: four-step control design approach; case set-up and application. 
• Governance & leadership: CFO governance challenges; ICFR structure; responsibilities across management and other key stakeholders; clarifying the three lines of defense. 
• Case 2 – P2P: identifying weaknesses (three methods), case set-up and application. 
• Implementation conditions: success factors for SMEs, applying LEAN to add value and simplify, keys to success for the CFO; wrap-up and action steps. 

Live webinars have varying levels of expected interaction, with some requiring microphone and camera capabilities to support a proper learning experience – please email pdreg@bccpa.ca if you have concerns. 

In general, we encourage participants to have their cameras turned on to enhance their virtual learning experience. This practice promotes a stronger connection with the instructor and fellow participants, and fosters improved communication and collaboration.

Live Webinar FAQs can be found here.  

Registration terms and conditions, including the cancellation policy can be found here. If you require further assistance, please contact the PD Department.