Dave Browser, information security manager at kennametal has written an excellent article where he shares his learnings from Sarbanes Oxley Compliance. He writes the article from a point of view of information security and SOX compliance stressing on seven key points. Dave has written how better controls result in efficiencies. I would like to quote Dave, he says

"Contrary to popular opinion—that the addition of controls will inevitably slow you down—I see a strong correlation between efficiency and good controls."

I totally agree with Dave when he says there is a strong relation between efficiency and good controls. The better the controls, the more the efficiencies built in the processes. The seven points which Dave stresses
on are:

1. Refining the Documentation
2. Centralizing the Security Administration Function
3. Business Acquisitions and SOX compliance
4. How to keep your staff compliance-motivated
5. Building long term relationships with auditors and peers
6. Costs of complying with Sarbanes Oxley
7. Justifying compliance costs with efficiencies

You can read the full article here. Though this piece was written in December 2005. it still makes a lot of street sense today, as it did at the time it was written. Thanks Dave!