Free initial consultation · Doral, Florida · Serving clients in all 50 states, Latin America & Europe(305) 593-0829info@taxnelson.com
NELSON&ASSOCIATESCERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Audit, Forensic & Litigation

Internal Controls

Most fraud in small and mid-sized organizations happens because one person controls too much. We assess your processes and design practical controls that reduce risk without slowing the business down.

OverviewWhat’s includedForms & documentsProcessLocationsFAQs
Overview

How Nelson & Associates handles Internal Controls

Strong internal controls protect cash, inventory and data, make financial statements reliable and give owners and boards confidence. Using the COSO framework as a guide, we review how transactions are authorized, recorded and reconciled, identify gaps such as missing segregation of duties, and recommend fixes sized for your organization.

Small organizations can't always separate every duty, so we focus on compensating controls such as owner review of bank statements, approval workflows in your accounting system and periodic surprise checks. Our forensic background means we design controls around how fraud actually happens.

Who this is for

  • Growing businesses adding staff and locations
  • Owners who are less involved in daily finances
  • Nonprofits accountable to boards and donors
  • Companies preparing for an audit or sale
  • Organizations that have experienced fraud
  • Foreign parents overseeing U.S. subsidiaries
See if we’re a fit
What’s included

Everything covered in our Internal Controls service

  1. Process walkthroughs for cash, payroll, purchasing and sales
  2. Segregation of duties analysis
  3. Fraud risk assessment
  4. Accounting system permissions review
  5. Written policies and procedures
  6. Approval and reconciliation workflows
  7. Testing of key controls
  8. Board or owner summary of risks and priorities
Forms & filings

The paperwork behind Internal Controls

Key forms and reports
Risk and control matrixRisks mapped to controls and owners
Segregation of duties chartWho can authorize, record and hold assets
Policies and procedures manualWritten rules for finance processes
Control testing resultsEvidence that controls are working
Management letterPrioritized recommendations

What we’ll need from you

Have these ready and your first meeting goes faster. Missing something? We’ll help you find it.

  • Organizational chart and job responsibilities
  • Accounting system user list and permissions
  • Current policies and procedures
  • Bank account signers and payment approval limits
  • Prior audit findings or incidents
Start with a free consultation
The process

How it works, step by step

  1. Understand

    We walk through how money and information flow.

  2. Assess

    We identify risks and gaps, ranked by impact.

  3. Design

    We recommend practical controls and help implement them.

  4. Test

    We confirm the controls are working and refine them.

Why Nelson & Associates

Why clients choose us for Internal Controls

Fraud & forensic training

Our founder holds a Master of Accounting with a minor in fraud forensics.

Courtroom experience

Expert witness and consultant in federal cases involving fraud and tax evasion.

Independent and objective

Findings grounded in evidence and professional standards.

Clear communication

Complex financial findings explained in plain language for owners, boards and juries.

Where we work

Internal Controls across the United States

From our Doral office we provide Internal Controls to clients in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Hover over a state to see its tax profile and the cities we serve; tap it to open the state page.

Internal Controls in Florida: 55 cities, headquartered in Doral

Internal Controls by state

Northeast

Midwest

South

West

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Questions

Internal Controls FAQs

5 answers to the questions clients ask most. Don’t see yours? Ask us directly.

Ask a question

We're a small business. Do we need formal controls?

Yes, sized appropriately. Small businesses are frequent fraud victims precisely because one trusted person handles everything. Simple controls go a long way.

What is segregation of duties?

Separating the ability to authorize transactions, record them and handle the related assets, so no one person can commit and conceal an error or fraud.

Will controls slow us down?

Good controls are built into your existing systems, such as approval workflows and automatic reconciliations, so they add little friction.

Can you test controls periodically?

Yes. Many clients have us perform periodic reviews or surprise counts.

Do you offer Internal Controls outside Florida?

Yes. Our office is in Doral, Florida, and we work with clients across the United States and abroad through secure uploads, phone and video meetings and e-signatures. South Florida clients are welcome to meet with us in person.

Talk to a CPA about Internal Controls.

Your initial consultation is free. Call us, email us or visit our Doral office, and we’ll tell you exactly what you need and what it will cost.

Book a free consultation(305) 593-0829