Meaning
Internal control policies require two authorised individuals to sign off on transactions that exceed a specific monetary value. The use of dual signature limits prevents a single person from having total control over the liquid assets of the firm. It is a standard method for reducing the risk of fraud or accidental overspending.
Approval Threshold
Different levels of seniority are assigned varying degrees of spending power within the organization. Under dual signature limits, a junior manager might be able to approve a small purchase alone, but a larger contract requires the treasurer and the chief executive to both provide consent. This hierarchy ensures that the most expensive decisions receive the highest level of scrutiny.
The thresholds are typically reviewed every year to account for inflation and changes in the procurement strategy.
Verification Step
Requiring a second set of eyes on a document increases the chance that an error or a policy breach will be caught before the money is moved. The process for dual signature limits often involves a digital workflow where the second signer can see the history and the supporting evidence for the request. It creates a culture of transparency where no one operates in a vacuum.
Banking Integration
Financial institutions often enforce these rules at the account level to prevent unauthorised withdrawals. Setting up dual signature limits in the banking software provides a hard stop that cannot be bypassed by a single disgruntled employee. This external check adds a layer of security that protects the capital of the investors.