component—the cornerstone of internal control.
The core of any entity is its people; thus,
how they operate drives the organization.
CPAs should discuss the importance of
integrity, ethical values, structure, authority,
and responsibility, as well as the tone at the
top. Next, they should expand the discussion
to introduce the other components of internal
control. To assist in developing a discussion
or consulting engagement about
internal control, this discussion reviews each
of the COSO components and explores how
small and entrepreneurial entities can
improve or enhance each component, often
with minimal additional expense.