An essential guide for practitioners on avoiding unethical situations in a fraud investigation - provides tips, techniques, and real-life examples
Credentialed accountants, auditors, and fraud examiners who fail to identify fraud and misconduct may be in violation of their professional standards. Among these standards are requirements to exercise professional and moral judgment, act in the best interest of the public, maintain integrity, objectivity, and independence, render opinions based on evidence and documentation, and exercise due care in planning and discharging professional activities. Failing to adhere to professional standards and ethical codes have serious consequences for CPAs, CFEs, and CIAs engaged in fraud investigations. Fraud helps readers avoid unethical situations in fraud investigations and stay within the boundaries of professional guidelines and standards.
Author Jeffrey Matthews combines real-world techniques and practical advice with personal insights from his experience as a forensic accountant. Detailing how he faced death threats, retaliation, and family hardships during actual fraud investigations, the author shares how despite serious challenges, he never deviated from professional standards. The author demonstrates how accountants can avoid being caught in unethical practices and examines the common tendencies that hinder the ability to detect, deter, and prevent fraud and misconduct. This fascinating, highly-relevant book will help practitioners:
- Recognize current and emerging trends to identify new areas of weakness
- Address time and budget constraints with effective delegation and supervision of lower-level staff
- Maintain a healthy dose of skepticism by ‘testing not accepting’
- Understand the effort and expertise required to perform an investigation before accepting engagements
- Avoid establishing biases and pre-determining outcomes before accepting assignments
A full-featured resource, complete with PowerPoint slides and a test bank, Fraud is invaluable for auditors, accountants, and other certified fraud examiners.
Table of Contents
Preface vii
Introduction xi
Statement on Standards for Consulting Services xx
Discussion Points xxvii
Chapter 1: F - Forgetting the Present and the Past 1
Fraud in the Present and Past 1
Management 6
External Auditors 11
Internal Auditors 17
Ethical Standards around the World 18
Audit versus Fraud Investigation 32
Summary 40
Recommendations 40
Chapter 2: R - Relying on Others 45
Introduction 45
Management 46
External Auditors 55
Internal Auditors 69
Expert Witnesses 71
Additional Considerations 74
Summary 75
Recommendations 75
Discussion Questions 76
Chapter 3: A - Accepting, Not Verifying 81
Introduction 81
Sufficient Evidential Matter 84
Management 89
External Auditors 96
Others: Expert Witnesses 100
Summary 106
Recommendations 106
Chapter 4: U - Underestimating the Effort 109
Introduction 109
External Auditors 111
Expert Witnesses, Fraud Examiners, and Consulting Experts 118
Management and Internal Audit 136
Summary 137
Recommendations 138
Chapter 5: D - Determining the Outcome Before the Work 141
Introduction 141
Objectivity 145
Objectivity in Other Areas 152
Due Professional Care and Skepticism 154
Summary 164
Recommendations 164
Chapter 6: Overcoming Barriers to Reporting Fraud and Misconduct 167
Introduction 167
Barriers 168
Summary 189
Recommendations 190
About the Author 195
Acknowledgments 197
Index 203
