Paisley Consulting, SmartPros Partner in E-Learning Center

Paisley Consulting, a provider of business accountability software, and SmartPros Ltd., a developer of continuing education programs, have partnered to launch The Collaborative Assurance & Risk Design -- or CARD -- e-learning center. The CARD e-learning center was built to assist Paisley customers and the public meet the requirements of such regulations as Sarbanes-Oxley and Basel II. SmartPros will host the Paisley classes at education.smartpros.com in both methodology and technology training. "One of the problems with technology is that if you do not take the time to explain things, people are not going to take it seriously," said Tim Leech, principal consultant and chief methodology officer for Paisley Consulting, in a statement. For Paisley customers wanting to further their accounting software skills, technology classes are being offered in how to better use Focus, the company's control assurance software, and Risk Navigator, its enterprise risk management solution. The online classes are available for both the first two modules of both applications and cost between $75 and $150. Under the methodology sessions for the public are sessions on risk and control assessment, COSO enterprise risk management, and three on Sarbanes-Oxley compliance for Sections 302 and 404 of the act. The methodology classes range from $75 to $150. Companies can also pre-pay for hours of training and receive some discounts on the expense. For example, 500 to 700 hours of training costs $50 an hour, whereas 1,000 to 1,500 hours of training costs $40 an hour. "Eventually, we'll carry a whole range of courses," explained Leech, "introductory, intermediate and expert in skills training for normal people and more specialized groups like the banking sector." Leech added that there is a Basel II compliance module about to be rolled out for banks, and an overview for the assurance strategies class should be out within a week. All the courses available now offer continuing professional education credit towards CPA certification, up to two credits.