...Bernard Mitchell Jr. Forensic Accounting Prof. Steffel May 23, 2013 The Forensic Accountant What is a forensic accountant? There are many attributes that are needed to be a forensic accountant. Bolgna and Linquist (1995) defined forensic accounting as the application of financial skills and an investigative mentality to unresolved issues, conducted within the context of the rules of evidence. In 2011, a definition in Accountancy Ireland, noted: “Forensic accounting has been defined as "the science of gathering and presenting financial information in a form that will be accepted by a court of jurisprudence against perpetrators of economic crimes". The field integrates accounting, auditing and investigative competences to detect and prevent financial irregularities in business. (Idowa, 2011). This is a growing field so the definition will grow continuously over time. There is a great deal of gathering information included in being a forensic accountant. The biggest skill is having above average skill when it comes to looking for details. Each detail has to be exact in order when being presented during a case. In order to be successful you have to have a drive that keeps you thirsting for the truth. Anytime that you have to go looking through documents and other financial information you have to pay close...
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...Career Opportunities in Accounting Christopher Trahan Accounting 100 Michael Kapral December 10, 2014 “Accounting consists of three basics activities, it identifies, records, and communicates the economics events of an organization to interested users.” (Weygandt, 2013, p. 4). The primary function of accounting is to record business transactions and provide financial reports for a variety of different business processes. There are many duties that fall under the accounting umbrella and many different career options available if accounting is the chosen field. Public accountants is one of the broadest fields that provide accounting, tax auditing and consulting services to a government corporation, nonprofits, and individuals. Many public accountants are Certified Public Accountants (CPA). They handle a broad range of duties from filling taxes for individuals and corporations in financial planning services. CPA duties are regulated under the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). “AICPA sets ethical standards for the profession and U.S. auditing standards for audits of private companies, non-profit organizations, federal, state and local governments.”(2014, November 30). They perform financial planning services for either an individual or a corporation, assist clients with a number of financial functions, including public accounting, assessment management, and tax planning services, risk assessment and management, financial compliance and performing...
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...FORENSIC AUDITING As stated by Gordon Brown, the former Prime Mister of the United Kingdom, “what the use of fingerprints was to the 19th century and DNA analysis was to the 20th century, forensic accounting will be to the 21st century”. When people first see the word “forensic”, they naturally categorize it into a science-related field. According to Webster’s Dictionary, the term “forensic” is defined as “belonging to, used in, or suitable to courts of judicature or to public discussions and debate”. Therefore, forensic accounting is generally defined as relating and applying financial facts to legal problems (Singleton and Singleton 12). Forensic accounting consists of a combination of the techniques that are used in accounting, auditing, and investigative work. The focus of this paper is on the concept of forensic auditing; however, forensic auditing cannot be fully understood without incorporating all of the facts about forensic accounting. Most situations that involve forensic auditing will deal with proposed fraudulent activities, but there are some cases that may deal with non-fraudulent activities, such as settlements of monetary disputes (“Student Accountant”). Throughout this paper, we will discuss, in detail, the profession of forensic auditing and forensic accounting in relation to fraudulent activities. What is Forensic Auditing? Forensic auditing and financial auditing are not related in any way; rather, they have their own distinct objectives that are set...
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...CAREER PAPER MUQRIN ALJHARI October 2, 2015 INTRODUCTION Accounting is popularly known as “language of business". Accountants are the practitioners of accounting, who can speak it better than anyone. It measures the results of a company’s economic activities and conveys this information to different users like creditors, investors, management, and regulators, etc. Accounting is the body of knowledge, which is primarily concerned with methods for recording transactions, keeping financial records, performing internal audits, reporting and analysing financial information to the management, and advising on taxation matters. In short, it is a systematic process of identifying, recording, measuring, classifying, verifying, summarizing, interpreting and communicating financial information. It reveals profit or loss for a given period, and the value and nature of a firm's assets, liabilities and owners' equity. Accounting provides information on the resources available to a firm, the means employed to finance those resources, and also the results achieved through their use. ACCOUNTING CAREERS Choosing the field of accounting as a career path is a smart decision. This field will always be in demand. This field can help you to grow continuously and help you move up inside your organization. A lot of different positions are available in the field of accounting. Accounting careers can range from entry level positions to executive level positions. Some of the popular careers in...
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...of numbers. If you want to be an accountant, it is no big surprise that you should have a knack for numbers. According to Taylor (2010), as a certified public accountant, or CPA, you will be in charged of reviewing and analyzing the financial information of clients’ companies for auditing, taxpaying, or advisory purposes. The diversity of the accounting profession makes it easier for accounting graduates to find and fill a job. Accounting graduates will not run out of job opportunity. In fact, accounting graduates have many opportunities in the job market such as as accountants, budget analysts, forensic accountants and auditors. First, the most popular job opportunity for accounting graduates is as accountants. Accountants check financial accounts. They can work in the private or government sector. Their scope of work includes working in accounts payable, receivable or general ledger. They also perform reconciliations and analysis. This profession can be divided into three major fields. The first field is public accountants who focus on auditing and tax functions. The second field is management accountants. They work in companies and contribute to decisions making on capital budgeting and business analysis. The last field is financial accountants. The information from general ledgers will be drawn by them to prepare financial statements. Nguyen (2011) states that financial accountants are generally more active than the typical accountants. They get to travel a lot and are...
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...AN OVERVIEW OF FORENSIC ACCOUNTING IN MALAYSIA Mohd Sarif Ibrahim and Mazni Abdullah Department of Financial Accounting & Auditing Faculty of Business and Accountancy, University of Malaya 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia sarif51@um.edu.my, mazni@um.edu.my ABSTRACT Forensic accounting may not be a new field in accounting. However it becomes so important recently and has been an interest to various stakeholders, from the government, investors, and practitioners to regulatory bodies. Corporate failures like the often cited Enron and WorldCom cases have placed forensic accounting into the limelight. The objective of this study is to present the views of practitioners regarding forensic accounting and its current development in Malaysia. For the purpose of this study, practitioners from the big and medium accounting firms and regulatory bodies in Malaysia were interviewed regarding the subject matter and unstructured interviews were used in the study. Keyword: Forensic Accounting, Auditing and Investigation. INTRODUCTION Corporate financial scandals like the often cited Enron and WorldCom cases of the last few years is a wake-up call to the accounting profession and has rejuvenated the interest in forensic accounting. Increasing government regulations and pressures from other stakeholders has made businesses acutely aware of the consequences of employees’ misdeeds and inadequate internal controls. Companies are now beginning to be more determined than ever to ensure...
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...Running head: Forensic accountant 1 Forensic Accountant Tanya Pace Dr. Gina Zaffino Bus 508, Contemporary Business 11/16/2012 Running head: Forensic Accountant 2 Determine the most important five (5) skills that a forensic accountant needs to possess and evaluate the need for each skill. Be sure to include discussion regarding the relationship between the skill and its application to business operations. Although forensic accounting is not a new field, it has become more talked about since cases like Enron came to light. For someone interested in the Forensic Accountant profession they should know that this field can be time consuming, but very rewarding. People who work in this career investigate white collar crimes such as company fraud, fraudulent financial record reporting, and illegal investment schemes. In a recent study by the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows that white collar crimes have cost the United States and estimated 300 billion dollars (DiGabriele 2008). I think five of the skills that a forensic account would need are communication skills, detail oriented, professional and ethical behavior, sound judgment and discretion. Communication skills are vital in any profession. It allows you to convey information for others to receive. The problem with communication is that it can be interpreted differently by other intended parties. As a forensic accountant, communication skills, verbal and non verbal, are important...
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...Regardless of the term accounting in forensic accounting, the discipline isn’t related to simply reading financial statements that are available to the public or dealing with other accounting issues; the usual accountants, portfolio managers, investment analysts, and etc. already do the regular financial tasks. Instead, forensic accounting scrutinizes the financial documents that are internal which aren’t readily available to the public; these documents are usually considered in litigation affairs. Generally, the field of accounting was undergoing a major overhaul; before the recent economic crisis that has devastated some parts of the western world, the accounting scandals regarding WorldCom and Enron pushed the field towards change. Accounting in general was put under scrutiny as a result of increasing white collar crime and the economic crisis pushed that process even faster and further. Ergo, there was an increasing need to have forensic accountants and the field in general needs proper development in its education system and practice for it to be effective. Overall, the laws of the developed world favor the ones who commit white collar crimes rather than a person robbing a convenience store with a gun. The problem with policymaking in the current democratic regimes is that it’s a paradox that allows white collar crimes like WorldCom and Enron to get away or only end up with a milder outcome than the robbers who may physically go out and do it with a gun. Of course, debating...
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...Running Head: Forensic Accountant 1 The Forensic Accountant Career Bus-508 Contemporary Business Professor Chris Lin Sarah Reid August 12, 2012 Forensic Accountant 2 1. Determine the most important five skills that a forensic accountant needs to possess and evaluate the need for each skill. Be sure to include discussion regarding the relationship between the skill and its application to business operations. A document for the Skills needed for Forensic Accounting (2012) suggests that Forensic Accountant needs to possess is computer skills, “since document and financial statements have taken a more electronic format, forensic accountants must demonstrate computer skills in finding the paper trials left behind by corporate criminals. A forensic scientist will use computer software, known in their profession as computer-aided tools and techniques CATT to detect white –collar crimes. Some software includes data extraction, spreadsheet and data mining analysis.” According to forensic Accounting (2012) suggests that Forensic Accountant’s investigative skills involve collecting and analyzing the audited information for possible discrepancies. The investigations delve into both missed by ordinary accounting and auditing methods. A forensic accountant...
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...Forensic accounting, sometimes referred to as investigative accounting, is a unique career field that combines accounting with information technology. A forensic accountant uses sophisticated computer programs to analyze financial data and find evidence that would be legally valid during a court proceeding. Forensic accountants are often asked to review financial records for mergers and acquisitions. They may also serve as advisers to a corporation’s audit committee or work to resolve shareholder disputes within a company. Increasing number of cheater people and organizations on accounting and result of its economic damages, economic and commercial disagreements and increasing number of misleading enforcements for the users of financial statements (such as Fuzzy Accounting and Creative Accounting) has been caused of existence of Forensic Accounting. It has widespread practice area in developed countries. Forensic Accounting uses techniquies of researching, accounting and inspecting. So Forestic accountants need to have abilities to do that job. In this research I am going to determine most important skills and legal responsibilities of forensic accountants and role of forensic accountants in courtroom. Required and Expected Skills According to AICPA’s CFF Credential Committee’s survey, the most important skills that a forensic accountant should have are; Thinking analytical (It is the main requirement, like medicine knowledge of a doctor.) , being detail-oriented (...
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...| Forensic Accountant | | BUS508 Professor Gina Zanfinno Melissa Harris 11/18/2012 | The corporate environment in this country is evolving, and the need for forensic accounting grows along with the progressive economy. Due to the increase in corporate scandals the government issued new, stricter regulations in 2002. Majority of accounting firms within the AICPA stated that their need for forensic accountants surged following the rise of financial statement fraud. Forensic accounting involves a combination of accounting, auditing and investigating. There are some important skills that individuals going out for this position should have and the due diligence in this position is crucial. If pursuing the career of forensic accounting one should develop the necessary skills that will be used in the field. An individual should be analytical, investigative, possess the ability to interpret financial statements, ethically responsible, and hold effective communication skills. Each of these particular skills is important to the field, along with some others that are great in addition. Forensic accountants also should also need the general accounting knowledge in order to understand the information they are required to assess. The ability to analyze the data provided, such as financial statements, audit reports etc will help a forensic accountant figure out their next course of action. Since they are usually retained for court purposes or to resolve a dispute...
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...Forensic Accounting Name: Institution: Forensic accounting, also referred to as investigative accounting involves in the utilization of accounting concepts as well as techniques in solving legal problems. It is the work of forensic accountants to investigate and document fraud (financial) as well as white collar crimes like embezzlement. They also assist attorneys in litigation support and law enforcement agents in investigating and solving financial inconsistencies (Silverstone, 2012). Corporations and Legal firms consult forensic accountants to aid in allegations of fraud. It is therefore important for forensic consultants to be very good at their work considering their clients. To be an excellent forensic attorney one needs to possess certain skills. Important Skills that a Forensic Accountant needs to possess: Firstly, a good forensic accountant must be competent in accounting. One must initially be a certified public accountant before considering working a career in forensic accounting. This is because one need to be familiar with basic as well as complex accounting in order to perform the necessary tasks that forensic accountants are contracted to do. CPAs are evaluated by the Certified Financial Forensics (CFFs) credential which is exclusively issued to CPAs who demonstrate expert ability in forensic accounting through their education, experience and skills (Singleton, 2010). ...
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...The Language and Culture of the Accountant, Auditor and Forensic Accountant Jerry Brockman Davenport University Abstract The overall purpose of this Professional Language and Culture report is to detail the accountant’s communication style and culture, as well as, their specialized language. The report begins with a brief discussion of the origin of accounting, as well as, the distinction between bookkeeping and accounting. Additionally, an examination of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) provides insight into the culture, ethical values and professional standards of accountants. Other areas of discussion in this report are the voice and tone used in various forms of communication by the accountant. Also, included in this report is an excerpt from an interview of an accounting professional as well as an example from a journal article. These artifacts will provide the reader with examples of the mind-set and communication style of the accountant. Finally, this report concludes with an examination of the auditor’s as well as the forensic accountant’s culture and communication style. Table of Contents Contents Abstract 2 Table of Contents 3 Accounting has been around for centuries.. 4 Professional Standards and Ethics 4 Culture of Professional Standards 5 Language of Business 6 Voice and Tone 6 Specialized Areas of Accounting 7 Communication 8 Forensic Accounting 8 Communication 9 Conclusion 9 References 11 Appendix A 13 Appendix...
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...Importance of forensic accounting and fraud awareness in Malaysia As a result of recent, highly publicized financial scandals; reported increases in occupational fraud; and heightened concerns over money laundering to support terrorism and racketeering, legislative mandates and public expectations have heightened the necessity to hrther define the auditor's and accountant's responsibility for detecting fraud within organizations. Successful fraud or forensic accounting analyses and findings reported by practicing professionals may be the difference between whether perpetrators avoid detection of their illegal activities or they are brought to justice. In most cases, success is directly and primarily dependent upon the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the professionals performing the work. Consequently, the demand for entry-level professionals with formal education in fraud and forensic accounting has grown. Academic institutions and stakeholder organizations that provide education in these fields are faced with a number of questions regarding the nature, extent, and format of a worthwhile curriculum. A review of existing higher education institution offerings indicates that the number of courses available varies from a single class to programs of 4-10 different courses. Programs are offered at the undergraduate and graduate level as majors, minors, tracks, or as nondegree "certificate" programs. Further, job opportunities and the student applicant pool are likely to vary...
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...A Project Report On “Forensic Accounting And Auditing” Submitted By Durvesh S. Naik Roll No: - 6025 MCOM PART-II (Advanced Accountancy) 2014-15 MULUND COLLEGE OF COMMERCE SAROJINI NAIDU ROAD, MULUND (W.) MUMBAI-80 SUBMITTED TO UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI ACADEMIC YEAR 2014-15 DECLARATION I Durvesh Naik student of Mulund College of Commerce, S. N. Road, Mulund (W.) Mumbai – 80 of Mcom Part II (Advanced Accounting) Seat no: - 6025, hereby declare that I have completed the project on the title “Forensic Accounting and Auditing” during the academic year 2014-15. The information submitted is true and best of my knowledge and belief. Date of submission: - Signature Place:- Parle Tilak Vidyalaya Association's MULUND COLLEGE OF COMMERCE Sarojini Naidu Road, Mulund West, Mumbai 400080. Certificate This is to certify that Mr. __________________________________________________________ Of Mcom. Part II (Advanced Accountancy) Semester _______ has undertaken completed the project work titled _________________________ ______________________________ during the academic year __________ under the guidance of Prof. ______________________________________. Submitted on _________________ to this college on the fulfillment of the curriculum of Mcom (Advanced Accountancy) University of Mumbai. This is a bonafide project work & the information presented is true/ and original to the best of our knowledge...
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