Julie Fraser executive brief: Sarbanes-Oxley compliance

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) applies new standards for financial accountability, control, and disclosure for all companies publicly traded on U.S. stock markets. In the wake of recent corporate accounting scandals, the increased scrutiny seems warranted. While not at the center of those problems, public small and mid-sized industrial companies are sizing up what they need to do to comply.

Leaders are going farther, seeking to ensure that compliance with SOX mandates also results in business benefits. In light of how volatile many industrial markets have been over the past few years, increased control and early warnings about events that might change business results could pay off nicely. As these pioneers achieve greater visibility and reliability, they will raise the bar for all competitors. Even privately-held firms may want to assess their situation and improve their processes.

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Sarbanes-Oxley compliance: Benefiting from the mandate  (100KB)

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