Despite similar spending amounts, however, the poll revealed that there are likely to be differences in how those funds will be spent.

According to AMR, the budgets are expected to pan out, by dollar and percentage of spending, as follows:

Internal labor/head count—$2.3 bn (39%)
Technology—$1.9 bn (32%)
External consulting—$1.8 bn (29%)

Budgets allocated to internal head count are expected to fall by 8%, while the technology allocation is likely to grow by more than 13% in real dollars from 2005 numbers. External consulting activities, which do not included audit fees, are expected to hold steady in 2006.

Throughout 2005, companies reported that they were putting the bulk of their efforts into refining existing business and IT controls in preparation for automation efforts using technology. Many of these activities are a result of updated guidance issued earlier this year by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the US government agency chartered with regulating SOX, and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), the watchdog of the public accounting firms.

More than 80% of companies surveyed said they plan to add to or improve their SOX compliance regimens in the next 12 months, and the expected business benefit will be overwhelmingly in streamlined business processes.