Purpose
Guidance on the preparation of management’s reports on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting is provided by the following. * Item 308(a) of Regulation S-B and S-K, 17 C.F.R 228.308(a) and 17 C.F.R. 229.308(a) * Questions 1, 2, 3, and 19 of Internal Control over Financial Reporting and Certification of Disclosure in Exchange Act Periodic Reports: Frequently Asked Questions, published by the staff of the SEC Office of the Chief Accountant and the Division of Corporation Finance
The following are examples of such reports.
Example 1: Management Report when internal control over financial reporting is effective
The management of [company name] is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. This internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to the company’s management and board of directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
[Company name] management assessed the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of [year-end]. In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on our assessment, we believe that, as of [year-end], the company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria. [Company name]’s independent auditors have issued an audit report on our assessment of the company’s internal control over financial reporting. This report appears on page XX.
Example 2: