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Ethics & Compliance   Companies Must Resist Temptations to Cut Corners Current economic challenges have forced companies to take cost-cutting measures to protect the bottom line.      Some may be tempted to sacrifice needed compliance-related due diligence measures or skirt risk assessments that should be standard operating procedure for all prospective international business transactions. Others may pursue unfamiliar offshore business opportunities, or relationships with unknown or less-trustworthy foreign partners, agents or third-party intermediaries. Full story  Related: Three-Quarters of Survey Participants Report Increased Concern over Violating Anti-bribery Law Ethics & Compliance Insights newsletter   Sign up for regular Ethics updates

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Study: Impact of Economy on Internal Audit Profession The results of a new IIA survey have revealed perspectives on the cause and effects of the financial meltdown, as well as the views of internal auditors regarding how they are responding to the new economic and business environment. Restoring Honor on Wall Street Steve Henn, President of SmartPros Legal & Ethics examines fiduciary accountability and the current economic crisis through the lens of a recent Wall Street Journal essay by John C. Bogle. General Counsel as CCEO? Not an Obvious Answer Whether the general counsel (GC) should also serve as the chief compliance and ethics officer (CCEO) has been a very hot topic on the Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics' Social Network. Read the related article from the June 2009 issue of Compliance and Ethics Magazine, featuring SmartPros' own ethics officer, Catherine Finamore Henry. Tracking Down Fraud Is Now in Demand Patrick Taylor is a conniving worker's worst nightmare. The Atlanta fraud expert is called upon a lot these days to help companies sniff out fake sales transactions, bogus expense reports, illegal kickbacks and those trying to cook the company books. Harvard Biz Grads Give Ethics Pledge Some Harvard Business School graduates are vowing not to follow in the greed-is-good footsteps of their Wall Street elders who nearly took down the entire global financial system. SEC to Step Up Internal Oversight The Securities and Exchange Commission announced new measures yesterday to guard against improper stock trading by the agency's employees. Court to Review Anti-Fraud Law The Supreme Court said Monday that it will rule on the constitutionality of the anti-fraud law that grew out of accounting scandals at Enron Corp. and other companies. CAQ's New "Guide to Public Company Auditing" The Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) today released a new resource that illustrates for capital market stakeholders the vital role public company auditors play in providing transparency in the markets. Potential Swine Flu Pandemic Can Cause Legal and Ethical Challenges The Swine Flu "pandemic" poses serious legal and ethical challenges for businesses and public and private agencies that respond with emotion rather than common sense, a leading Chicago immigration attorney warned Monday. Moral of the Story: Ruth Madoff's Duty Does living the high life off ill-gotten gains make Ruth Madoff as culpable as her husband? Managing Your Relationship with Competitors As a business, your competitors are just that: competitors. However, the way you treat your competitors may affect how your customers and the media perceive your business, your ethics, and your friendliness. Stimulus Spending Presents New Opportunities for Fraud New Kroll report indicates that fraud will continue to climb over the next three to five years due to increased competition for resources. Legal Issues: Maintaining Compliance During the Turmoil Sharie A. Brown, a partner in the litigation practice of law firm DLA Piper LLP, expects that within two years, numerous companies will be investigated for financial crimes, corruption and fraud, as the financial crisis causes some firms to operate with fewer compliance resources. Ethisphere Announces the 2009 World's Most Ethical Companies Elite distinction recognizes companies demonstrating leadership in ethical business practice. The third annual list highlights 99 companies in 35 industries. Business Ethics Surveys Have Limitations Is technology making ethics less visible to employees? A new white paper addresses this and other issues impacting the role of today's ethics and compliance officers.

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