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Internal Audit
Financial institutions have experienced significant volatility, as well as increased scrutiny from shareholders, regulatory agencies and the general public. Numerous questions are becoming more prevalent in the minds of stakeholders:
- What are we doing to proactively identify existing and emerging operational risks?
- Do our existing risk management practices, including our internal audit process, effectively address these risks?
Financial institutions need a laser-focused risk management approach with a robust internal audit process to effectively address operational risks. Identifying emerging risks, in addition to testing past events and transactions, is now a shareholder expectation. The board of directors, audit committee and senior management must be confident the internal audit function addresses the effectiveness of key internal controls.
Creating an internal audit function to leverage existing risk management practices can help an institution effectively mitigate risks that could inhibit the achievement of strategic goals. The internal audit function must be tailored to test the institution’s controls over specific risks rather than functioning as the control. An unfocused approach could leave stakeholders unable to identify and manage risks.
In an environment where institutions must critically examine spending, BKD's dedicated financial services professionals can help your institution identify and manage risks by identifying and testing controls. Our consultative and tailored approach can provide insight into industry best practices that can be utilized by stakeholders to achieve strategic objectives. In addition to outsourced or co-sourced internal audit service arrangements, we can provide multiple specialized services to complete your internal audit strategy:
- Risk assessment
- Asset/liability and liquidity risk management testing
- ACH testing
- Trust procedures
- Quality assessment review of institution functions
- Process and operation reviews
- PIN security (TR-39)
BKD can assist in identifying limitations and weaknesses in your control structure while providing best practices specific to your institution, working to strengthen your risk management strategy. Strengthening your risk management strategy by enhancing your internal audit function can help stakeholders sleep better at night.
Kim Shoemake
Kim Shoemake
Partner
Audit
Financial Services
Oklahoma City
405.842.7977
- First Colorado National Bank
- Mutual Savings Bank
- Evansville Teachers Credit Union
- The Farmers & Merchants Bank
- Bank of Ann Arbor
- BancStar, Inc.
“We became familiar with BKD when our Chief Credit Officer participated in one of their seminars and was impressed with their knowledge of the financial industry and the changing regulatory environment. After researching other accounting firms, we selected BKD for various consulting engagements and are extremely pleased with our decision.
The BKD accountants and advisors have given us lots of sound ideas and truly want to help! We are really impressed with the entire team and appreciate their quick follow up and thorough response to our questions.
When I call for a partner with questions and should that partner be out of the office, the staff member taking my call doesn’t miss a beat and promptly follows up in answering my questions as quickly as possible. I’m very impressed with BKD’s superior service."
— Stan Park,
President
First Colorado National Bank
Paonia, Colorado
“During the conversion, BKD’s support and guidance were very much appreciated. Whether it was in the planning process or during the actual conversion—setting up general ledger accounts for the holding company, discussing income tax implications and planning or how to properly work through SEC and other regulatory issues—BKD’s input and assistance were critical to our successful conversion.
As we planned for a possible conversion several years before it actually took place, we engaged the services of BKD as part of the process of getting the bank in the proper position for the conversion from a mutual to a stock bank. Not only did it prove beneficial during the conversion, but even to this day the decision to engage BKD has been a great benefit to this bank.
When a bank considers conversion to a stock bank, it is important to consider accounting and tax related needs after the conversion. Since 2004, we have had many issues come up with which BKD has helped greatly. For this bank, these issues included return of capital considerations, assistance in dealing with ESOP matters, when it is appropriate to file consolidated tax returns (or not) and dealing with issues relating to our decision to deregister from the SEC. Each year the process of preparing the company’s annual report and support in the annual meeting of shareholders goes very smoothly, largely due to BKD’s assistance.
Having engaged BKD for a variety of services gives the board of directors confidence in each of the areas served. Feel free to contact me at any time concerning the value of BKD’s expertise.”
— Robert D. Heuchan,
President
Mutual Savings Bank
Franklin, Indiana
“What I look for in a CPA firm is reputation, experience and responsiveness. Most importantly, we expect honesty….Though BKD isn’t a local firm in size, it has a local firm feel….if we didn’t have a firm like BKD advising us, we would not have been as successful as we have been.”
— Mike Phipps,
President & Chief Executive Officer
Evansville Teachers Credit Union
Evansville, Indiana
“I’ve done business with BKD for several years. They have come up with ideas that have helped us save money and with advice that has enabled us to work smarter, not harder, and be more efficient. Their insight has been instrumental in helping us manage the bank and keep us headed in the right direction. I really believe BKD has helped us be a better bank.”
— Charlie Butler,
Retired President/Vice Chairman
The Farmers & Merchants Bank
St. Clair, Missouri
“I have found BKD to be very professional, knowledgeable and responsive to our needs. Their guidance has been instrumental to our bank and the benefits of their advice go well beyond the initial loan review process.”
— Tim Marshall,
President & Chief Executive Officer
Bank of Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
“We like BKD because they know financial institutions. They have helped us with a variety of regulatory compliance services and always send well-trained and knowledgeable professionals to our banks.”
— Thomas H. Keiserm,
President
BancStar, Inc.
Festus, Missouri
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