Our Services
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Sustainability Assurance ReadinessAssurance will be mandatory under the EU’s ESRA, California climate disclosure laws – and possibly other regulations. Readiness helps companies avoid being called out in public auditor reports.
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Internal Controls: Design, Testing ReadinessCOSO's ICSR outlines a two-step process for applying financial reporting principles to sustainability reporting: design evaluation followed by implementation testing. This is similar to how auditors approach their work.
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WorkshopsCOSO ICSR workshops tailored to your organization, or to your functional area (Controller, IT, Procurement, etc.). Highly rated at Compliance Week, Institute of Internal Auditor conferences.
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Observation and AdvocacySteer the assurance process to your company’s advantage, from the selection of the assurance provider to the procedures themselves, and to reporting and follow-up. Avoid scope creep and irrelevant findings.
About Us
Douglas Hileman (FSA, CRMA, CPEA, P.E.) is founder and president of Douglas Hileman Consulting LLC.
Mr. Hileman is an author of COSO’s “Achieving Effective Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting (ICSR)”, released to wide global acclaim in 2023. This document is designed to bridge the gap between those who understand “internal controls” (auditors, finance) and those who don’t (Environmental, HR, Operations, Procurement, Safety – who happen to be the source of much of the data and information in Sustainability reporting and disclosures. Many assurance providers look to COSO ICSR as foundational to developing their assurance protocols.
Mr. Hileman is an author of COSO’s “Achieving Effective Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting (ICSR)”, released to wide global acclaim in 2023. This document is designed to bridge the gap between those who understand “internal controls” (auditors, finance) and those who don’t (Environmental, HR, Operations, Procurement, Safety – who happen to be the source of much of the data and information in Sustainability reporting and disclosures. Many assurance providers look to COSO ICSR as foundational to developing their assurance protocols.
The Problem With Audits – and Auditors
Auditors may regard audits as a challenge: they have to find something! Gotcha! Or they may regard audits as a helpful exercise. More is better – but “more” is not always “helpful.”
Auditees may regard audits as a nuisance, a make-work exercise, or even a threat.
It shouldn’t be that way. Auditees have the most to gain – and the most to lose – from an audit gone south. Readiness is the key. Understand audit objectives, anticipate questions, align with colleagues on responsibilities. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, or even to challenge an auditor. Strategize about desired outcomes, and work to achieve them. Above all, be professional.
Auditees may regard audits as a nuisance, a make-work exercise, or even a threat.
It shouldn’t be that way. Auditees have the most to gain – and the most to lose – from an audit gone south. Readiness is the key. Understand audit objectives, anticipate questions, align with colleagues on responsibilities. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, or even to challenge an auditor. Strategize about desired outcomes, and work to achieve them. Above all, be professional.