Financial Forensics Body of Knowledge


Book Description

The definitive, must-have guide for the forensic accounting professional Financial Forensics Body of Knowledge is the unique, innovative, and definitive guide and technical reference work for the financial forensics and/or forensic accounting professional, including nearly 300 forensic tools, techniques, methods and methodologies apply to virtually all civil, criminal and dispute matters. Many of the tools have never before been published. It defines the profession: "The Art & Science of Investigating People & Money." It defines Forensic Operators: "...financial forensics-capable personnel... possess unique and specific skills, knowledge, experience, education, training, and integrity to function in the financial forensics discipline." It defines why: "If you understand financial forensics you understand fraud, but not vice versa" by applying financial forensics to all aspects of the financial community. It contains a book-within-a-book Companion Section for financial valuation and litigation specialists. It defines foundational financial forensics/forensic accounting methodologies: FAIM, Forensic Accounting Investigation Methodology, ICE/SCORE, CICO, APD, forensic lexicology, and others. It contains a Reader Lookup Table that permits everyone in the financial community to immediately focus on the pertinent issues.




Financial Forensics Body of Knowledge, + Website


Book Description

The definitive, must-have guide for the forensic accounting professional Financial Forensics Body of Knowledge is the unique, innovative, and definitive guide and technical reference work for the financial forensics and/or forensic accounting professional, including nearly 300 forensic tools, techniques, methods and methodologies apply to virtually all civil, criminal and dispute matters. Many of the tools have never before been published. It defines the profession: "The Art & Science of Investigating People & Money." It defines Forensic Operators: "…financial forensics-capable personnel… possess unique and specific skills, knowledge, experience, education, training, and integrity to function in the financial forensics discipline." It defines why: "If you understand financial forensics you understand fraud, but not vice versa" by applying financial forensics to all aspects of the financial community. It contains a book-within-a-book Companion Section for financial valuation and litigation specialists. It defines foundational financial forensics/forensic accounting methodologies: FAIM, Forensic Accounting Investigation Methodology, ICE/SCORE, CICO, APD, forensic lexicology, and others. It contains a Reader Lookup Table that permits everyone in the financial community to immediately focus on the pertinent issues. This work is the only financial forensics/forensic accounting methodology also published by the United States Department of Justice. It redefines the standard for all dimensions of the financial forensics and forensic accounting profession and is written to address the entire financial community comprised of Originators (CFOs, controllers, accountants, analysts, etc.), Users (auditors, valuators, attorneys, judges, lenders, investors, internal auditors, consumers, bankers, professors, board members, executives, journalists, etc.), and Regulators (civil, including IRS, IMF, SEC,; and criminal, including FBI and state and local law enforcement; Interpol, counterterrorism and military. Financial Forensics Body of Knowledge is: The only codified financial forensics/forensic accounting methodology known to exist; The only codified methodology comprising civil, criminal, and dispute methodologies within the same framework; The only codified methodology supported by optional Internet-based software that continually updates content with newly discovered and developed forensic tools, techniques, methods and methodologies, and actual reports; The only codified methodology to contain actual report content (BLINDED) for many different forensic matters, including alter ego, damages, fraud, fraudulent transfer, marital dissolution, valuation, etc.; The only codified methodology to contain a comprehensive Forensic Inventory of tools, techniques, methods and methodologies; The only codified methodology to address virtually every type of entity, i.e. privately-held, publicly-held, governmental, charitable, NPO, NGO, etc.; The only codified methodology applicable to the US and global financial community; The only codified methodology that comprises an embedded training tool for beginning, intermediate and advanced financial professionals; The only codified methodology suitable for immediate adoption as firm-wide and agency-wide best practices technical and training standards. The great majority of the content has not been previously assembled and published, and duplication of other publications has been purposely avoided to prevent redundancy. The two principal authors have trained literally thousands within the financial community in various aspects of the content during the last several years. The attendees have included virtually all entity types, including federal, state and local government and law enforcement, e.g. SEC, FBI. The feedback has been universally positive and prompted the construction of this book. The contributing authors include public and private practice, attorneys, academics, law enforcement, and publicly-held and privately-held financial professionals. They are practitioners first and foremost and heavily experienced in instructional settings.




Forensic Accounting For Dummies


Book Description

A practical, hands-on guide to forensic accounting Careers in forensic accounting are hot-US News & World Report recently designated forensic accounting as one of the eight most secure career tracks in America., Forensic accountants work in most major accounting firms and demand for their services is growing with then increasing need for investigations of mergers and acquisitions, tax inquiries, and economic crime. In addition, forensic accountants perform specialized audits, and assist in all kinds of civil litigation, and are often involved in terrorist investigations. Forensic Accounting For Dummies will track to a course and explain the concepts and methods of forensic accounting. Covers everything a forensic accountant may face, from investigations of mergers and acquisitions to tax inquiries to economic crime What to do if you find or suspect financial fraud in your own organization Determining what is fraud and how to investigate Whether you're a student pursuing a career in forensic accounting or just want to understand how to detect and deal with financial fraud, Forensic Accounting For Dummies has you covered.




A Guide to Forensic Accounting Investigation


Book Description

Recent catastrophic business failures have caused some to rethinkthe value of the audit, with many demanding that auditors take moreresponsibility for fraud detection. This book provides forensicaccounting specialists?experts in uncovering fraud?with newcoverage on the latest PCAOB Auditing Standards, the ForeignCorrupt Practices Act, options fraud, as well as fraud in China andits implications. Auditors are equipped with the necessarypractical aids, case examples, and skills for identifyingsituations that call for extended fraud detection procedures.




Forensic Analytics


Book Description

Become the forensic analytics expert in your organization using effective and efficient data analysis tests to find anomalies, biases, and potential fraud—the updated new edition Forensic Analytics reviews the methods and techniques that forensic accountants can use to detect intentional and unintentional errors, fraud, and biases. This updated second edition shows accountants and auditors how analyzing their corporate or public sector data can highlight transactions, balances, or subsets of transactions or balances in need of attention. These tests are made up of a set of initial high-level overview tests followed by a series of more focused tests. These focused tests use a variety of quantitative methods including Benford’s Law, outlier detection, the detection of duplicates, a comparison to benchmarks, time-series methods, risk-scoring, and sometimes simply statistical logic. The tests in the new edition include the newly developed vector variation score that quantifies the change in an array of data from one period to the next. The goals of the tests are to either produce a small sample of suspicious transactions, a small set of transaction groups, or a risk score related to individual transactions or a group of items. The new edition includes over two hundred figures. Each chapter, where applicable, includes one or more cases showing how the tests under discussion could have detected the fraud or anomalies. The new edition also includes two chapters each describing multi-million-dollar fraud schemes and the insights that can be learned from those examples. These interesting real-world examples help to make the text accessible and understandable for accounting professionals and accounting students without rigorous backgrounds in mathematics and statistics. Emphasizing practical applications, the new edition shows how to use either Excel or Access to run these analytics tests. The book also has some coverage on using Minitab, IDEA, R, and Tableau to run forensic-focused tests. The use of SAS and Power BI rounds out the software coverage. The software screenshots use the latest versions of the software available at the time of writing. This authoritative book: Describes the use of statistically-based techniques including Benford’s Law, descriptive statistics, and the vector variation score to detect errors and anomalies Shows how to run most of the tests in Access and Excel, and other data analysis software packages for a small sample of the tests Applies the tests under review in each chapter to the same purchasing card data from a government entity Includes interesting cases studies throughout that are linked to the tests being reviewed. Includes two comprehensive case studies where data analytics could have detected the frauds before they reached multi-million-dollar levels Includes a continually-updated companion website with the data sets used in the chapters, the queries used in the chapters, extra coverage of some topics or cases, end of chapter questions, and end of chapter cases. Written by a prominent educator and researcher in forensic accounting and auditing, the new edition of Forensic Analytics: Methods and Techniques for Forensic Accounting Investigations is an essential resource for forensic accountants, auditors, comptrollers, fraud investigators, and graduate students.




Fundamentals of Forensic Accounting Certificate Program


Book Description

The Fundamentals of Forensic Accounting Certificate Program (21.5 CPE credits) covers those areas representative of the AICPA's Body of Knowledge in the financial forensics area. This certificate program is tailored to provide an introduction to financial forensics and help you become familiar with the forensic accountant's professional responsibility. It provides a foundational knowledge of: The legal system How to plan and prepare a forensic engagement Gathering information Discovery Reporting Providing expert testimony This online CPE self-study certificate program consists of 19 required modules that utilize interactive scenario-based learning, including audio and video animation, to guide you through the concepts, including: AICPA Guidance for the Forensic Engagement Understanding the Forensic Accountant Role Understanding the Basic Structure of the Legal System Managing the Forensic Engagement Identifying and Obtaining Evidence Conducting Effective Interviews Common Investigative Techniques Deposition and Testimony Reporting Requirements & Preparing Sustainable Reports Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Reorganization Leveraging Technology in Forensic Engagements Economic Damages in Business Economic Damages for Individuals: A CPA's Role Economic Damages for Individuals: Case Studies and Analysis Calculating Intellectual Property Infringement Damages Family Law Engagements Fraud Prevention, Detection, and Response Financial Statement Fraud and Asset Misappropriation Valuations in Litigation Matters Key Topics Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Reorganization Computer Forensic Analysis Economic Damages Calculations Family Law Financial Statement Misrepresentation Fraud Prevention, Detection and Response Valuation Learning Objectives Interpret regulatory standards and legal system requirements applicable to forensic accounting engagements Describe the elements essential to accepting forensic accounting engagements such as identifying the engagement terms and client provisions, managing the engagement, and reporting requirements Identify the means of gathering evidence and conducting research critical to forensic engagements through the use of effective interviewing and investigative techniques Describe the role of the expert and non-expert in participating in depositions and providing testimony Credit Info CPE CREDITS: Online: 21.5 (CPE credit info) NASBA FIELD OF STUDY: Accounting LEVEL: Basic PREREQUISITES: None ADVANCE PREPARATION: None DELIVERY METHOD: QAS Self-Study COURSE ACRONYM: FACERTBundle.EL Online Access Instructions A personal pin code is enclosed in the physical packaging that may be activated online upon receipt. Once activated, you will gain immediate online access to the product. System Requirements AICPA’s online CPE courses will operate in a variety of configurations, but only the configuration described below is supported by AICPA technicians. A stable and continuous internet connection is required. In order to record your completion of the online learning courses, please ensure you are connected to the internet at all times while taking the course. It is your responsibility to validate that CPE certificate(s) are available within your account after successfully completing the course and/or exam. Supported Operating Systems: Macintosh OS X 10.10 to present Windows 7 to present Supported Browsers: Apple Safari Google Chrome Microsoft Internet Explorer Mozilla Firefox Required Browser Plug-ins: Adobe Flash Adobe Acrobat Reader Technical Support: Please contact [email protected]. Frequently Asked Questions What is the Fundamentals of Forensic Accounting Certificate Program? Developed by the AICPA, this certificate program is specially designed to help accountants and others 1) build the knowledge needed to gain a basic understanding of the field of forensic accounting, 2) earn CPE credits needed to meet the 75-hour education requirement for the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) credential, or 3) earn CPE credits needed to maintain the CFF credential. Why should I participate? Certificate holders will learn or be refreshed on the core material in professional standards that applies to forensic engagements. The program provides participants with a solid understanding of how to work within the court system when engaged as a forensic accountant. With information provided by subject matter experts from each of the specialization areas, participants are provided first-hand knowledge that guides them through solid investigation, documentation, reporting and other required skills. A series of 20 courses takes you through the "best practices" styles for performing an engagement. These knowledge and skills are necessary for an accountant and others who are considering entering or are already in the field of forensic accounting. Is the certificate program available to both CPAs and other accounting professionals who are not CPAs? Yes. The courses that comprise the Fundamentals of Forensic Accounting Certificate Program curriculum are available for CPAs, CAs and other accounting professionals who do not have one of these credentials or their equivalent. What level of knowledge should I possess prior to starting the certificate program? All individuals pursuing the Forensic Accounting Certificate of Achievement should possess a base knowledge of AICPA Auditing Standards. What course topics are included in the curriculum? The certificate program includes 19 required modules, including: 3 Fundamental modules, 6 Forensic Engagement modules, and 10 Specialized Knowledge modules. In total, the program provides 21.5 CPE hours at a basic level. Visit AICPAStore.com/forensic for a list of modules included in the program. All modules will be approximately 50-minutes long and provide individual CPE credit upon successful completion of the end-of-module exam. Some modules may be longer than 50 minutes, as required by the depth or complexity of the content, with a maximum length of 2 hours. How long will it take me to complete all of courses of the Fundamentals of Forensic Accounting Certificate Program? This varies from individual to individual and is completely dependent upon the time the participant allocates to completing the coursework. There is a commitment of 21.5 required hours to successfully complete the program. What period of time do I have to complete the entire curriculum? Once you enter the program you have twenty-four (24) months from the date of purchase. You are encouraged to complete the program within a twelve (12) month period or less. Once I complete the curriculum and obtain my Forensic Accounting Certificate of Achievement, is there a time period for which it is "active?" No. The Forensic Accounting Certificate is not a professional credential or license. It is evidence of successful completion of a required course curriculum as of a point in time. As a result, it has no period for which it is deemed "active" or in-force. Am I required to obtain a certain number of CPE credits annually for the certificate to remain current and active? No. The Forensic Accounting Certificate of Achievement is not a professional credential or license. It is evidence of successful completion of a required course curriculum as of a point in time. As a result, it has no period for which it is deemed "active" or in-force. If I am a CPA, will I receive CPE credit toward my CPA license if I take this program? Yes, all of the courses in the Fundamentals of Forensic Accounting Certificate Program will qualify for CPE credit. The AICPA is a NASBA-approved provider of CPE. How many credits of CPE will I receive if I earn the certificate? Completing the curriculum will result in earning 21.5 credits. All of these credit hours will qualify for CPE credit and can count toward meeting your state's CPE requirements. Will the CPE credit satisfy my requirements for CMA, CIA or other certifications? The courses in the Fundamentals of Forensic Accounting Certificate Program will be classified as Accounting for purposes of granting CPE credits. As with other AICPA courses that are approved for other certifications, we fully expect the Forensic Accounting Certificate courses will satisfy those requirements. To be certain, please check with the organization that issues your CMA, CIA or other certifications. If I am unable to complete the entire Fundamentals of Forensic Accounting Certificate Program, will I receive CPE credit for the courses I do complete? Yes. The courses are offered individually, so you will earn NASBA QAS CPE credit for each course you take and successfully complete the exam. You are not required to complete the entire program to earn CPE credit. However, you must successfully complete the exam for all required courses in the entire program in order to receive the Forensic Accounting Certificate of Achievement. I have prior experience in working with forensic accounting. Will I be allowed to test out of certain courses while still earning the certificate? Actual completion of the courses is required to earn the Forensic Accounting Certificate. CPE credit will be awarded for the courses, and the CPE standards do not allow for "testing out of" a course as a way to earn credit. Is the entire program fixed, or are their elective courses I can select from in earning the certificate? The curriculum for the Forensic Accounting Certificate is fixed. It is designed to provide participants with a solid understanding of knowledge required to perform forensic accounting engagements. In order to receive the Forensic Accountant Certificate of Achievement all required modules must be completed. What are the systems requirements for the e-learning portion of the program? Please review the information on the System Requirements tab for this product for complete information on minimum operating system and browser requirements. I am already proficient in forensic accounting but would like to learn more about a few select topics that are specific to my job. Can I purchase individual titles in the Fundamentals of Forensic Accounting Certificate Program separately? Yes. Courses in the Certificate Program may be purchased individually. If you decide that you would like to enroll in the full Certificate Program after purchasing one or more individual courses, credit for those courses may be applied to the purchase amount of the full program as long as they have been purchased within one year of enrolling in the full program. Please call the AICPA service center at 888.777.7077 for more information. Can credits earned in the Fundamentals of Forensic Accounting Certificate Program be applied towards the 75-hour minimum CPE requirement to apply for the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) Credential? Yes. Courses in the Certificate Program can be applied toward the requirement to apply for the credential as well as the ongoing education requirement. When will I receive a hard copy of my certificate? You will receive your certificate in the mail 6-8 weeks after completing the program.




Estimation of the Time Since Death


Book Description

Estimation of the Time Since Death remains the foremost authoritative book on scientifically calculating the estimated time of death postmortem. Building on the success of previous editions which covered the early postmortem period, this new edition also covers the later postmortem period including putrefactive changes, entomology, and postmortem r




Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States


Book Description

Scores of talented and dedicated people serve the forensic science community, performing vitally important work. However, they are often constrained by lack of adequate resources, sound policies, and national support. It is clear that change and advancements, both systematic and scientific, are needed in a number of forensic science disciplines to ensure the reliability of work, establish enforceable standards, and promote best practices with consistent application. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward provides a detailed plan for addressing these needs and suggests the creation of a new government entity, the National Institute of Forensic Science, to establish and enforce standards within the forensic science community. The benefits of improving and regulating the forensic science disciplines are clear: assisting law enforcement officials, enhancing homeland security, and reducing the risk of wrongful conviction and exoneration. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States gives a full account of what is needed to advance the forensic science disciplines, including upgrading of systems and organizational structures, better training, widespread adoption of uniform and enforceable best practices, and mandatory certification and accreditation programs. While this book provides an essential call-to-action for congress and policy makers, it also serves as a vital tool for law enforcement agencies, criminal prosecutors and attorneys, and forensic science educators.




Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination


Book Description

Forensic Accounting provides comprehensive coverage of fraud detection and deterrence and includes the broader educational material of the forensic accounting field with all the necessary accompaniments. The text follows the model curriculum for education in fraud and forensic funded by the U.S. national Institute of Justice and developed by a Technical Working Group of experts in the field. The text serves as a comprehensive and authoritative resource for teaching forensic accounting concepts and procedures that is also and appropriate and pedagogically ready for class room use. This easy to read, comprehensive textbook includes case study examples to clearly explain technical concepts and bring the material to life.




A.B.C.'s of Behavioral Forensics


Book Description

Get practical insights on the psychology of white-collar criminals—and how to outsmart them Understand how the psychologies of fraudsters and their victims interact as well as what makes auditors/investigators/regulators let down their guard. Learn about the psychology of fraud victims, including boards of directors and senior management, and what makes them want to believe fraudsters, and therefore making them particularly vulnerable to deception. Just as IT experts gave us computer forensics, we now have a uniquely qualified team immersed in psychology, sociology, psychiatry as well as accounting and auditing, introducing the emerging field of behavioral forensics to address the phenomenon of fraud. Ever wonder what makes a white-collar criminal tick? Why does she or he do what they do? For the first time ever, see the mind of the fraudster laid bare, including their sometimes twisted rationalizations; think like a crook to catch a crook! The A.B.C.'s of Behavioral Forensics takes you there, with expert advice from a diverse but highly specialized authoring team of professionals (three out of the four are Certified Fraud Examiners): a former accounting firm partner who has a PhD in psychology, a former FBI special agent who has been with investigative practices of two of the Big Four firms, an industrial psychiatrist who has worked closely with the C-level suite of large and small companies, and an accounting professor who has interviewed numerous convicted felons. Along with a fascinating exploration of what makes people fall for the common and not-so-common swindles, the book provides a sweeping characterization of the ecology of fraud using The A.B.C.'s of Behavioral Forensics paradigm: the bad Apple (rogue executive), the bad Bushel (groups that collude and behave like gangs), and the bad Crop (representing organization-wide or even societally-sanctioned cultures that are toxic and corrosive). The book will make you take a longer look when hiring new employees and offers a deeper more complex understanding of what happens in organizations and in their people. The A.B.C. model will also help those inside and outside organizations inoculate against fraud and make you reflect on instilling the core values of your organization among your people and create a culture of excellence and integrity that acts as a prophylactic against fraud. Ultimately, you will discover that, used wisely, behavioral methods trump solely economic incentives. With business fraud on the rise globally, The A.B.C.'s of Behavioral Forensics is the must-have book for investigators, auditors, the C-suite and risk management professionals, the boards of directors, regulators, and HR professionals. Examines the psychology of fraud in a practical way, relating it to aspects of fraud prevention, deterrence, detection, and remediation Helps you understand that trust violation—the essence of fraud—is a betrayal of behavioral assumptions about "trusted" people Explains how good people go bad and how otherwise honest people cross the line Underscores the importance of creating a culture of excellence and integrity that inoculates an organization from fraud risk (i.e., honest behavior pays, while dishonesty is frowned upon) Provides key takeaways on what to look for when hiring new employees and in your current employees, as well as creating and maintaining a culture of control consciousness Includes narrative accounts of interviews with convicted white-collar criminals, as well as interpretive insights and analysis of their rationalizations Furnishes ideas about how to enhance professional skepticism, how to resist fraudsters, how to see through their schemes, how to infuse internal controls with the people/behavioral element, and make them more effective in addressing behavioral/integrity risks Provides a solid foundation for training programs across the fraud risk management life cycle all the way from the discovery of fraud to its investigation as well as remediation (so the same fraud doesn't happen again) Enables auditors/investigators to engage in self-reflection and avoid cognitive and emotional biases and traps that lead to professional judgment errors (e.g., overconfidence, confirmation, self-deception, groupthink, halo effect, availability, speed-accuracy trade-off, etc.) Ever since the accounting scandals surrounding Enron and WorldCom surfaced, leading to the passage of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, as well as the continuing fall out from the Wall Street financial crisis precipitating the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, fraud has been a leading concern for executives globally. If you thought you knew everything there was to know about financial fraud, think again. Get the real scoop with The A.B.C.'s of Behavioral Forensics.