If you are not familiar with it already, Oversight Systems produces a newsletter every month with information that we think might be important to folks interested in continuous controls monitoring for transactions.  The newsletter always includes a personal message from me that relates to how continuous monitoring fits in our everyday lives.

One of the best things about this blog site is that it gives me an opportunity to expand on my newsletter message. It also allows you an opportunity to comment on my stories and add your own thoughts about continuous controls, specifically in your industry.

Attached below is my message from February 2009 Oversight Systems Newsletter.

One of the first things people discover about me is that I have five children. Another is that I grew up in small-town Georgia.

One of my favorite South Georgia idioms is, “Nip it in the bud.” In other words, stop a problem early, when it is small and has not yet grown into something serious.

“Nip it in the bud,” came in handy just the other day as I watched my two older boys lead my youngest son up the stairs along with a large, flattened, cardboard box.

I also noticed sofa cushions piled in front of a china cabinet at the bottom of the stairs.

“Boys, I don’t think that is a good idea,” was immediately followed by a chorus of, “Aw, Dad!”

Financial accounting is a little like raising kids. Sometimes, orderly processes can go awry and the best thing to do is stop them, before they lead to serious issues. Finding exceptions early, like duplicate records in your master file, can save you both time and money.

Think of Oversight Systems as an observant parent, nipping transaction problems in the bud, so to speak.