FERF release two key reports.

Financial Executives Research Foundation (FERF) has just released two new timely reports. "The Seventh Annual Survey of Technology Issues for Financial Executives" and "Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 Implementation Practices of Leading Companies." Both of the publications were highlighted at FEI's Annual Summit in Chicago in May.

"The Seventh Annual Survey of Technology Issues for Financial Executives" is based on a survey of 784 FEI members. FERF collaborated with CSC Consulting Inc. to analyze the responses and complete the final report. Gerald Boltin, senior partner at CSC, presented the results during a breakfast session at FEI's Summit, which included a roundtable discussion of the technology issues facing today's financial executives.

An executive summary of FERF's "Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 Implementation Practices of Leading Companies," was distributed to Summit attendees. This report describes the compliance practices of leading companies for a number of aspects of Section 404 as they transition from a "project" orientation to a sustainable "process." Based on the experiences of the companies that participate on FEI's Committee on Corporate Reporting (CCR), the report examines.

* Unintended Consequences of Section 404 Implementation

* Organization Structure

* Scope, Documentation, and Testing

* IT Controls

* Use of External Resources

* Relationship with the Auditor

* Deficiency Management

* Audit Committee Communications

* Section 302/404 Certification Process

* Management Letter and Reporting

On another note, in celebration of FERF's 60th Anniversary this year, FERF is offering all FEI members a complimentary PDF copy of the complete Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 Implementation report. To request a free copy, send an email to Janet Guzman at [e-mail].