CCA Internal Controls & Risk Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the main purpose of internal controls in a corporation?
- To increase executive bonuses
- To reduce staff numbers
- To ensure accurate and compliant operations (Correct answer)
- To outsource core functions
Correct answer: To ensure accurate and compliant operations
Internal controls safeguard assets, ensure reliable financial reporting, and promote compliance with laws and policies.
Question 2: Which is an example of a preventive control?
- Monthly reconciliation
- Approval requirements for purchases (Correct answer)
- Correcting journal entries
- Year-end audits
Correct answer: Approval requirements for purchases
Preventive controls are designed to stop errors or irregularities before they occur, like requiring approvals for transactions.
Question 3: What is risk assessment in financial management?
- Tracking department absences
- Forecasting marketing trends
- Analyzing threats to financial goals (Correct answer)
- Outsourcing compliance reviews
Correct answer: Analyzing threats to financial goals
Risk assessment involves identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing risks that could affect the achievement of objectives.
Question 4: Which of the following is a component of the COSO internal control framework?
- Risk avoidance
- Monitoring activities (Correct answer)
- System programming
- Workforce planning
Correct answer: Monitoring activities
Monitoring activities are part of the COSO framework, helping ensure controls continue to operate effectively over time.
Question 5: Why is segregation of duties important in accounting?
- It increases speed of approvals
- It limits staff workload
- It helps prevent fraud and error (Correct answer)
- It simplifies compliance forms
Correct answer: It helps prevent fraud and error
Segregation of duties reduces the risk of error or fraud by ensuring that no single individual has control over all parts of a transaction.
Question 6: What is inherent risk?
- Risk after controls are applied
- Risk ignored by auditors
- Natural risk before mitigation (Correct answer)
- Risk from employee absences
Correct answer: Natural risk before mitigation
Inherent risk refers to the susceptibility of an account or process to error or fraud without considering controls.
What is the main purpose of internal controls in a corporation?