With the increased volatility in the modern business environment and continuing effects of the financial and economic crises, effective management of risk in organizations—including good internal control—has taken on even greater importance. Effective management of risk helps organizations achieve their objectives, while complying with legal, regulatory, and societal expectations, and enables them to better respond and adapt to surprises and disruptions.
With these key issues in mind, the International Federation of Accountants® (IFAC®) today published a thought paper, From Bolt-on to Built-in, on managing risk as an integral part of managing an organization.
The paper positions the management of risk as an indispensable and integral part of decision making and subsequent execution in order for boards and management to ensure their organization makes the best decisions and achieves its objectives. The paper also a) demonstrates the benefits of properly integrating the management of risk, including internal control, into the governance, management, and operations of an organization; b) provides ideas and suggestions on how such integration can be achieved; and c) furnishes practical examples of how professional accountants in business can support their organizations with this integration.
“This paper recognizes what risk management was originally intended to do for an organization—help support effective decision making and improve performance,” said IFAC CFO Fayez Choudhury. “Too many organizations don’t realize how useful risk management can be if integrated properly. Without this step—building risk management into your organization—too many management teams are missing the point, and missing the benefits.”
The thought paper is applicable to all organizations—regardless of size or structure, public or private—seeking to improve how they manage risk.
About IFAC
IFAC is the global organization for the accountancy profession, dedicated to serving the public interest by strengthening the profession and contributing to the development of strong international economies. It is comprised of more than 175 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.