From Finding to Fix: Managing Significant Deficiencies and Material Weaknesses

Learning journey

IDENTIFY → ASSESS SEVERITY → REMEDIATE → VALIDATE → COMMUNICATE → CLOSE

What it is

A focused virtual webinar for Internal Audit, SOX, and Internal Controls professionals on how to address Significant Deficiencies (SDs) and Material Weaknesses (MWs) from initial assessment through remediation, validation, communication, and closure.

Event promise

Attendees will learn a practical, repeatable approach to assess, remediate, monitor, communicate, retest, and close Significant Deficiencies and Material Weaknesses.

Practical differentiator

Attendees leave with an SD/MW decision framework, remediation action-plan template, status dashboard, evidence and retesting checklist, and governance and communication prompts.

Major tentative topics

Severity indicators, likelihood and magnitude, aggregation, and compensating controls
Root-cause analysis, ownership, milestones, and interim controls
Evidence, sustainability, and retesting readiness
Management, external-auditor, and Audit Committee communication
Escalation, retesting, and closure criteria

Learning outcomes

1.Distinguish control deficiencies, Significant Deficiencies, and Material Weaknesses using a consistent severity-assessment framework.
2.Develop a credible remediation plan with accountable owners, milestones, root-cause analysis, interim controls, and evidence requirements.
3.Establish governance, escalation, status reporting, and communication protocols for management, external audit, and the Audit Committee.
4.Define retesting and closure criteria that demonstrate corrective actions are designed appropriately and operating sustainably.
5.Apply the approach to a practical SD/MW case and identify common remediation and communication pitfalls.

Proposed agenda

Virtual, live webinar with practical examples, a case discussion, and participant Q&A.

12:00 – 12:10

No CPE

Welcome, Objectives & Poll

Frame participant challenges and identify the most common SD/MW pain points.

12:10 – 12:45

0.5 CPE

Session 1 — From Deficiency to Severity: SD or MW?

Severity indicators, likelihood and magnitude, aggregation, compensating controls, and documentation.

12:45 – 1:20

0.5 CPE

Session 2 — From Finding to Fix: Remediation That Holds

Root cause, ownership, milestones, interim controls, evidence, sustainability, and retesting readiness.

1:20 – 1:50

0.5 CPE

Session 3 — Governance, Communication, and Closure

Management reporting, external-auditor coordination, Audit Committee communication, escalation, retesting, and closure criteria.

1:50 – 2:00

0.5 CPE

Case Takeaways, Q&A & Closing

Apply the framework to a practical case and identify immediate actions.

Primary audience

SOX/Internal Controls, Internal Audit, Finance, Controllers, process owners, remediation leaders, and external-reporting professionals.

Secondary audience

CAEs, Audit Committee support teams, Legal, Compliance, IT Audit, GRC, external audit, and business leaders responsible for corrective actions.

Speaker architecture

Speaker 1

SOX / Internal Controls leader

Explain severity assessment, ownership, root cause, and remediation governance

Speaker 2

External audit / accounting advisory practitioner

Clarify evidence, retesting, sustainability, and auditor expectations

Speaker 3

CAE / remediation leader

Address independent challenge, escalation, and Audit Committee communication

Moderator / Q&A

Cross-functional practitioner panel

Apply the framework to a case and answer participant questions

Preferred operating model: 2–3 experienced practitioners + a moderator, using a concise case study and live Q&A.

Attendee take-home tools

SD/MW severity-assessment decision framework
Root-cause and remediation action-plan template
Management and Audit Committee status dashboard
Evidence, retesting, and sustainable-closure checklist
External-auditor coordination and communication prompts
90-day remediation follow-up plan

Interested in sponsoring or speaking at this event?

Sponsorship packages and speaking opportunities are coordinated by the Programs Committee.

* All dates, venues, pricing, speaker assumptions, and CPE eligibility remain preliminary and subject to Board and Certification/NASBA validation, and may change without further notice.