2010Annual Report - Schneider Electric CZ, s.r.o.
2010Annual Report - Schneider Electric CZ, s.r.o.
2010Annual Report - Schneider Electric CZ, s.r.o.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE<br />
INTERNAL CONTROL AND RISK MANAGEMENT<br />
2. Internal control organisation and management: key participants<br />
In 2010, the Group’s organisational chart rests on Senior<br />
Management, of Global Functions, of Operating Divisions; defi ned<br />
in terms of businesses, geographical location, logistical or industrial<br />
responsibility.<br />
The Group’s corporate governance bodies supervise the<br />
development of the internal control and risk management systems.<br />
The Audit Committee has particular responsibility for monitoring the<br />
system’s effectiveness (see Committees of the Supervisory Board,<br />
Chapter 3 § 4).<br />
Each manager is responsible for monitoring internal control in his<br />
or her area, at the different levels of the organisation, as are all key<br />
internal control participants, in accordance with the tasks described<br />
below.<br />
2.1. Senior Management<br />
(See Committees of the Supervisory Board, Chapter 3 § 4).<br />
Senior Management is responsible for designing and leading the<br />
overall internal control system, with support from all key participants<br />
and notably the Internal Audit and Group’s Internal Control<br />
Departments.<br />
It also monitors the Group’s performance, during quarterly reviews<br />
with the Operating Divisions and Global Functions. These reviews<br />
cover business trends, action plans, current results and forecasts<br />
for the quarters ahead. Similar reviews are carried out at different<br />
levels of the Group prior to Senior Management’s quarterly review.<br />
2.2. Internal Audit Department<br />
The Internal Audit Department reports to Senior Management. It<br />
had an average staff of 12 people in 2010. The internal auditors are<br />
responsible for ensuring that, at the level of each unit:<br />
• risks are appropriately identifi ed and managed;<br />
• signifi cant fi nancial, management and operating information is<br />
accurate, reliable and timely;<br />
• employees’ actions are in compliance with the Group’s policies,<br />
standards, procedures and the applicable laws and regulations;<br />
• instructions issued by Senior Management are effectively applied;<br />
• resources are acquired economically, used effi ciently and<br />
protected adequately.<br />
Annual internal audit plans are drawn up based on risk and control<br />
concerns identifi ed by Senior Management, taking into account the<br />
results of past audits, the work performed by the external auditors<br />
and the results of internal control self-assessments returned by the<br />
units. When necessary, the audit plan is adjusted during the year to<br />
include special requests from Senior Management. These missions,<br />
which are not included in the initial audit plan, help the Group detect<br />
potential cases of fraud.<br />
The internal audit process is described in Section 5 below.<br />
After each internal audit, a report is issued setting out the auditors’<br />
fi ndings and recommendations. Copies of the report are given to<br />
the head of the audited entity, Senior Management and the Audit<br />
Committee.<br />
The external auditors also have access to the reports.<br />
Measures are taken to monitor implementation of recommendations<br />
and specifi c audits are conducted if necessary.<br />
2.3. Internal Control Department<br />
The Internal Control Department, which was created in 2008 and<br />
reports to the Internal Audit Department, is responsible for:<br />
• defi ning and updating the list of Key Internal Controls in close<br />
cooperation with the Global Functions and in line with the<br />
recommendation of the AMF reference framework;<br />
• setting up and leading a network of internal controllers in the<br />
Operating Divisions, with responsibility for defi ning Key Internal<br />
Controls and ensuring their use in the operating units within<br />
their scope – notably through training sessions and annual selfassessments;<br />
• analysing and critically reviewing the results of these selfassessments<br />
to identify areas that require an action plan at the<br />
Group, Operating Division or Global Function level;<br />
• leading the Internal Control Committee, comprising internal<br />
controllers from the Operating Divisions, as well as internal control<br />
correspondents from the Global Functions. The Committee<br />
members work to improve internal control and adapt procedures<br />
in light of the results of self-assessments and changes in the<br />
business environment or organisation.<br />
2.4. Finance and Control – Legal Affairs<br />
Departement<br />
The Finance and Control – Legal Affairs Department is actively<br />
involved in organising control and ensuring compliance with<br />
procedures.<br />
Within the department, the Management Control and Accounting<br />
unit plays a key role in the internal control system by:<br />
• drafting and updating instructions designed to ensure that<br />
statutory and management accounting practices are consistent<br />
throughout the Group and compliant with applicable regulations;<br />
• organising period-end closing procedures;<br />
• analysing performance and tracking the achievement of targets<br />
assigned to the operating units.<br />
The Management Control and Accounting unit is responsible for:<br />
• the proper application of Group accounting principles and<br />
policies;<br />
• the integrity of the consolidation system database;<br />
• the quality of accounting processes and data;<br />
• training for fi nance staff in the form of specifi c seminars;<br />
2010 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC 131<br />
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