Enron Whistleblower Sherron Watkins to Lead Ethics Discussion at the SOX & Internal Controls Group 2020 Summit

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The SOX & Internal Controls Professionals Group today announces Sherron Watkins, the former Enron vice president who exposed the company’s corporate misconduct and paved the way for the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), will lead a discussion on ethics and finding your voice at the group’s annual summit, to be held virtually on Sept. 29, 2020, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET.

In her interview with SOX & Internal Controls Executive Advisor and Workiva Senior Director of Product Marketing, Steve Soter, Watkins will address the accounting irregularities that led her to reach out to Enron CEO Kenneth Lay with concerns of fraud, and the subsequent backlash and inevitable downfall of the organization.

“We are very excited to welcome Ms. Watkins to our 2020 Summit,” said Camille Kearns Rudy, National Director of the SOX & Internal Controls Professionals Group. “We will explore issues surrounding the legality and morality of Enron’s actions and share best practices for SOX and internal controls professionals as they navigate the most demanding challenges their industries face today.”

Watkins will be joined by David Peavler, Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Fort Worth Regional Office, who will share advancements made in the SEC’s whistleblower program since Enron, including protections for whistleblowers and the bounty provision. Peavler will also highlight some of the more than 30,000 whistleblower complaints his office has received that he believes are evidence of an effective, deterrent program.

SOX & Internal Controls Professionals Group 2020 Summit Attendees will:

• Receive 1.5 ethics credits, compliments of Workiva
• Review how companies escalate compliance and ethical concerns raised by employees
• Compare and contrast past compliance scandals with more recent events
• Know the rules in place that protect whistleblowers and prevent accounting and compliance deficiencies and fraud
• Explain how a more open dialogue with the SEC can be beneficial

Registration is open now. Details can be found at soxprofessionalsgroup.org.

About The SOX & Internal Controls Professional Group

The SOX & Internal Controls Professional Group is a community of professionals who work with Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) compliance, internal controls and internal audit processes, which include documenting, evaluating and testing internal controls. The group fosters networking, promotes thought leadership and creates opportunities for members to share best practices with like-minded professionals to help them increase their value and influence across their organizations. Workiva is a national sponsor of the SOX & Internal Controls Professional Group. For more information, visit soxprofessionalsgroup.org.

About Workiva

Workiva Inc. (NYSE: WK) simplifies complex work for thousands of organizations worldwide. Customers trust Workiva’s open, intelligent and intuitive platform to connect data, documents and teams. The results: improved efficiency, greater transparency and less risk. Learn more at workiva.com.

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