The past couple of months have not been easy. Moreover, we’re having to operate a little differently, but I know UNC is capable of adapting to change and doing great things. Unfortunately, and during times like these, scams abound — … Continued

I’m aware that everyone is reading through a lot of information these days and that you’re having to adjust to doing business a new way, so I will be succinct.  I want to remind folks to not let your guard … Continued

This month, I want to share information on data analytics and business intelligence, two topics that are emerging as critical in the world of internal controls. Ironically, they’ve always been available to us, but with all the advances in technology, … Continued

I was invited to give a presentation and assist a group with strengthening their system and controls, specifically their reimbursement process.  So, I researched their organization and their policies, and while meeting with them, invited one of the team members … Continued

I attended a Certified Professional Education (CPE) conference out-of-state.  My group’s assigned topics evolved around data privacy and data security.  As we shared introductions, I recognized that some folks in our group spoke interchangeably of the two.  However, data security … Continued

This month, I would like to discuss preventing fraud versus detecting it.  Organizations often have an overreliance on detection versus prevention.  While the first method is good, it’s often very time consuming, costly, and sometimes, it’s a little too late.  … Continued

Rod Smith’s October column for Internal Controls

So, here’s a question for you: Can you quickly and accurately define intellectual property?  Do all of our students, faculty, staff and support services know the definition to this question?  Likewise, what is the definition of sensitive information?  What controls do you have in place to secure and protect sensitive information?

In the spirit of students returning to class, I encourage department leaders to take time out for a meaningful staff meeting that provides an opportunity for employees to learn. 

Rod Smith’s column for the June 2019 Internal Controls