Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chapter 06
Employee Fraud and the Audit of Cash
"Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud." --Sophocles (496-406 BC)
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Learning Objectives
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Define and explain the differences among several kinds of employee fraud that might occur at an audit client. Identify and explain the three conditions (i.e., the fraud triangle) that often exist when a fraud occurs. Describe techniques that can be used to prevent employee fraud. Describe the control activities over the receipt and disbursement of cash. Describe the types of substantive procedures that are conducted during the audit of cash. Discuss actual cash fraud cases and describe how the schemes were uncovered. Describe some extended procedures for detecting employee fraud schemes involving cash.
7.
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Motivation
A motive is some kind of pressure a person experiences and believes to be unshareable with friends and confidants
Actual or perceived need for money (Economic motive) Habitual criminal who steals for the sake of stealing (Psychotic motive) Committing fraud for personal prestige (Egocentric motive) Cause is morally superior, justified in making others victims (Ideological motive)
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Opportunity
An opportunity is an open door for solving the unshareable problem by violating a trust.
Weak internal controls Circumvention of internal controls The greater the position, the greater the trust and exposure to unprotected assets.
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Rationalization
When people do things that are contrary to their personal beliefs outside their normal behavior they provide an argument to make the action seem like it is in line with their moral and ethical beliefs.
Some of the most frequent rationalizations are:
I need it more than the other person. Im borrowing the money and will pay it back. Everybody does it. The company is big and will never miss it. Nobody will get hurt. I am underpaid, so this is due compensation I need to maintain a lifestyle and image.
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Fraud Prevention
A strong control environment and tone at the top
Can have a pervasive effect on fraud prevention
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SEGREGATION OF DUTIES
Separate custody, authorization, recording, execution
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Audit of Cash
The first procedure in an audit of cash is to obtain a bank reconciliation for each cash account and audit them in the following manner:
Balance per bank
CONFIRM (STANDARD BANK CONFIRMATION) directly with bank Agree amount to CUTOFF BANK STATEMENT TRACE to cash receipts journal VOUCH to CUTOFF BANK STATEMENT VOUCH to cash disbursements journal TRACE checks cleared from cutoff bank statement Inspect bank credit/debit memo and audit for reasonableness. Examine relevant supporting documentation. FOOT the entire reconciliation for mathematical accuracy TRACE the amount to the trial balance
Add deposits-in-transit
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