Forensic accounting

Investigating the dark side of business

New for 2012

CEOs and their financial directors and controllers, internal and external auditors, plus other financial managers.

• Tools to identify, investigate and prevent fraud.
• An understanding of the law regarding fraud.
• How to interview suspects or witnesses.
• Tools to analyse the accounts to identify fraud.

Presented by a forensic accountant experienced in fraud investigations who is also a criminal barrister, the course will provide both an accountancy and a legal insight and include many true life fraud case studies.

Mike Mason, Forensic Accountant and Barrister

Mike has 20 years' experience as a forensic accountant and was for eight years the Ministry of Defence Fraud Squad's external fraud investigator. He is also a qualified barrister and has worked for Pump Court Barrister Chambers in London and Winchester. He also presents the BPP forensic accountancy course for the Bar Standards Board.

• Case study to demonstrate 'teeming and lading'.
• Definitions of fraud and the burden and standard of proof.
• An analysis of fraud in the UK: where it is happening, type of fraud, value and frequency of fraud.
• Who is the fraudster: the profile of the typical fraudster.
• What causes fraud - the fraud triangle: motivations and the Albrecht study showing how the fraud develops.
• The law covering fraud: the Fraud Act 2006, Bribery Act 2010, other legislation.
• Fraud types: misappropriation of assets; financial statement fraud; third party fraud - mortgage fraud, Ponzi schemes, tax fraud.
• How do we detect fraud and investigate it - six fraud types analysed.
• Indicators of fraud and warning signs to look out for.
• Tools to analyse the financial statements to identify fraud.
• What should you do when a fraud is detected? Should you go to the police? Prosecuting fraud - the criminal or civil route?
• Fraud interviews: the techniques of interviewing witnesses and suspects - how can this help you?
• Auditors - what are their responsibilities in relation to fraud; International Auditing Standard 240 - what does it mean for auditors?
• Preventing fraud - the importance of accountancy controls - which ones work?
• Case studies demonstrating the importance of accountancy controls when a case goes to court.
• The companies most susceptible to fraud - make sure it's not yours.
• Finally - 12 surprise control checks that can be used to help prevent fraud.

6 CPD hours (where applicable)