Frequent Frauds Found in Governments and Not-for-Profits


Book Description

Recognizing fraudulent or deceptive practices is not always easy. What common frauds occur in governments and not-for-profits and how can they be avoided? Illustrating common frauds that make headlines and damage the reputations of government and not-for-profit entities, this title allows accountants to sharpen their forensic skills and uncover and avoid fraudulent activities. It provides an informative case study approach to real world situations. This title will show accountants how to do the following: Determine how interim fraudulent reporting may affect planned reliance on internal controls and any related audit procedures. Identify how personnel policies and procedures can be circumvented and lead to possible fraud or abuse. Apply potential ways to follow up on noted indications of fraud, abuse, and weaknesses in internal control. Determine how management override of internal controls can lead to possible fraud. Analyze how bribes and kickbacks may occur. Identify how donated assets and capital assets in general might be misappropriated.




Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government


Book Description

Policymakers and program managers are continually seeking ways to improve accountability in achieving an entity's mission. A key factor in improving accountability in achieving an entity's mission is to implement an effective internal control system. An effective internal control system helps an entity adapt to shifting environments, evolving demands, changing risks, and new priorities. As programs change and entities strive to improve operational processes and implement new technology, management continually evaluates its internal control system so that it is effective and updated when necessary. Section 3512 (c) and (d) of Title 31 of the United States Code (commonly known as the Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA)) requires the Comptroller General to issue standards for internal control in the federal government.




Audit Risk Alert


Book Description

New standards for financial statement presentation and revenue recognition have created many not-for-profit financial reporting changes. Combine those with today's technology-centered environment and the ever-present scrutiny of exempt organizations by the IRS and watchdog and rating agencies, and accountants, auditors, and financial managers may wonder how they'll ever tackle all the associated risks. This alert takes discusses the important developments affecting not-for-profit entities in 2018, and the issues auditors may face. It's jam-packed with targeted discussions of current economic, accounting, and auditing issues affecting nonprofits, as well as changes on the horizon. Topics range from business environment issues like cybersecurity to accounting and auditing challenges like implementation of FASB's new financial statement standard (ASU No. 2016-14) and valuation of gifts-in-kind. This alert also covers legislative and regulatory issues like UBIT, debt-financed property rules, and tax reform provisions of interest to exempt organizations, as well as the new auditing standard on auditor involvement with exempt offering documents. Among other topics, this alert focuses on risks related to recent nonprofit industry trends, financial statement presentation changes, revenue recognition, and fair value issues. A discussion of tax reform provisions affecting exempt organizations is also included as well as information on emerging issues such as: Revenue recognition for grants and contracts Phase 2 of FASB's not-for-profit financial statement presentation project Changes to the auditor's report Cybersecurity Blockchain and other transformative technology Awareness of key trends affecting the nonprofit environment informs audit planning, risk management, strategic planning, and oversight, thereby promoting greater success and sustainability of not-for-profit entities.







Yellow Book: Government Auditing Standards


Book Description

Do you perform engagements in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS) as presented in the Yellow Book? This book provides an excellent baseline of information for accountants to better understand governmental auditing foundations, ethics, general audit standards, financial audit standards, attestation engagement standards, and fieldwork and reporting standards for performance audits. It is essential that all auditors planning and conducting audits in accordance with GAGAS understand and discern these concepts and standards in executing their responsibilities. In addition to a chapter covering the key points in a Uniform Guidance compliance audit, this book also includes content from AICPA Guide Government Auditing Standards and Single Audits related to a Uniform Guidance compliance audit, including appendixes for example auditor's reports and sampling guidance. This book will prepare you to do the following: Identify the types of engagements that are performed under Government Auditing Standards. Recognize Yellow Book requirements related to independence, peer review, and more. Identify the additional requirements for performing a financial audit under GAGAS. Recognize the additional GAGAS reporting requirements for financial audits. Recall the requirements for performing attestation engagements and performance audits under the Yellow Book.




The New Yellow Book


Book Description

It is essential all auditors performing Yellow Book audits understand the recently revised concepts and standards of generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS). This book provides a baseline of information for accountants to gain an understanding of the new Yellow Book (2018 revision of Government Auditing Standards). Featuring new guidance related to independence and peer review, this book will increase your knowledge of the requirements and application guidance related to: Ethics Independence Standards for financial audits Attestation engagements Performance audits Key topics covered include: Foundation and principles for the use and application of generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS) General requirements for complying with the Yellow Book Ethics, independence, and professional judgment Competence and continuing professional education Quality control and peer review Standards for financial audits Standards for attestation engagements and reviews of financial statements Fieldwork standards for performance audits Reporting standards for performance audits




Occupational Fraud and Abuse


Book Description




Government Auditing Standards - 2018 Revision


Book Description

Audits provide essential accountability and transparency over government programs. Given the current challenges facing governments and their programs, the oversight provided through auditing is more critical than ever. Government auditing provides the objective analysis and information needed to make the decisions necessary to help create a better future. The professional standards presented in this 2018 revision of Government Auditing Standards (known as the Yellow Book) provide a framework for performing high-quality audit work with competence, integrity, objectivity, and independence to provide accountability and to help improve government operations and services. These standards, commonly referred to as generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS), provide the foundation for government auditors to lead by example in the areas of independence, transparency, accountability, and quality through the audit process. This revision contains major changes from, and supersedes, the 2011 revision.




For-Profit Enterprise in Health Care


Book Description

"[This book is] the most authoritative assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of recent trends toward the commercialization of health care," says Robert Pear of The New York Times. This major study by the Institute of Medicine examines virtually all aspects of for-profit health care in the United States, including the quality and availability of health care, the cost of medical care, access to financial capital, implications for education and research, and the fiduciary role of the physician. In addition to the report, the book contains 15 papers by experts in the field of for-profit health care covering a broad range of topicsâ€"from trends in the growth of major investor-owned hospital companies to the ethical issues in for-profit health care. "The report makes a lasting contribution to the health policy literature." â€"Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law.




Preventing Fraud and Mismanagement in Government


Book Description

Dig to the root of public fraud with deep exploration of theory, standards, and norms Preventing Fraud and Mismanagement in Government identifies common themes in public fraud and corruption, describes the forces that drive them, and provides an objective standard of good practices with no political bent. From Bridgegate to Iran-Contra, this book walks through the massive scandals that resulted from public mismanagement and fraud to illustrate how deeply-entrenched, entity-specific norms can differ from actual best practices. The discussion includes the theoretical underpinnings of public fraud, and how intense corporate culture and limited exposure to outside practice standards can lead to routine deviation from normal behavior and moral standards. You'll find a compendium of practices that illustrate actual norms, allowing you to compare your own agency's culture and operations to standard practice, and contrast the motivations for fraud in the public and private sectors. Public agencies and governmental entities are generally driven by a pubic benefit or goal, but are widely varied in the ability and desire to deliver value while retaining best practices. This book explicitly explores the common patterns of agency practices and cultural norms, and describes how they can easily cross over into illegal acts. Understand why fraud exists in the public sector Discover how your agency's mindset diverges from the norm Review cases where agency practices diverged from best financial practices Learn good practices in an objective, nonpolitical context The government/public sector provides some of the most basic services that are critical to a functioning society. Lacking a profit motive, these agencies nonetheless show a pattern of fraud and borderline behavior that could be mitigated with the adoption of standards and best practices. Preventing Fraud and Mismanagement in Government shares a canon of knowledge related to public operations and fraud, providing deep insight into the causes, solutions, and prevention.