SOX

Sarbanes-Oxley Act

US law on financial reporting controls for public companies.

When you'd see it: Public companies and those preparing to IPO. SOX drives a lot of finance, audit, and IT-controls work.

Why it matters: SOX requires public companies to prove their financial-reporting controls are sound, with executives personally attesting. It is why access controls, change management, and audit trails get so much attention around an IPO.