Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Moderator
Rahat Munir
Unit convenor
Vladimir Chugunov
Lecturer
Tony Prior
Michael Quilter
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
ACCG611 or (admission to MAdvProfAcc or MCyberSec)
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit examines various techniques of financial fraud prevention, investigation and detection. Topics will include: motivations for financial fraud, symptoms of financial fraud, financial statement fraud, evidence collection and evaluation, legal report writing, interviewing witnesses and perpetrators, and fraud prevention. Case studies will be used to provide essential forensic accounting skills.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
To complete this unit satisfactorily, students must attempt all components of the assessments and obtain a minimum aggregate grade of 50%.
LATE SUBMISSIONS
No extensions will be granted. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission – 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply to cases in which an application for disruption of studies is made and approved. No submission will be accepted after solutions have been posted.
EXTENSIONS
You are expected to submit written assessment tasks by the published due date unless you have received written permission to submit your work at a later date from the Unit convenor. No extensions will be granted. This penalty does not apply to cases in which an application for disruption of studies is made and approved. No submission will be accepted after solutions have been posted. Details of how the University defines serious and unavoidable disruption to studies, and information about the processes involved, are contained in the Disruptions to Studies Policy.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Class participation | 10% | No | Weekly |
Homework assigments | 10% | No | Weekly |
Group case work | 20% | No | Week 13 |
Final Examination | 60% | No | University Exam Period |
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%
Participation includes attendance, contribution to class discussion, and surprise class quizzes.
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%
Students will be required to submit weekly homework assignments through iLearn. No extensions will be granted.
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 20%
Students will be allocated a small group to work in Week 5 and will be assigned a client request.
The task is to determine how you as a forensic accountant can assist them and win this engagement.
You will be required to:
- obtain additional information from “the client” (the lecturer),
- prepare a business proposal in the form of a presentation with your understanding of the situation and analysis how you can assist the client’s case,
- prepare a presentation to convince the client. Presentations will be 15 minutes for each group (one presenter from each group).
Presentations will occur during the final week.
Due: University Exam Period
Weighting: 60%
Short and long answer questions covering all topics from the Unit. Case studies and calculations may be present.
Students are required to attend one 3 hours face-to-face seminar per week. The timetable for classes is on the University website at http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/
REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS
Prescribed Textbooks:
Crumbley, D., Heitger, L., Smith, G. 2017. Forensic and Investigative Accounting (8th Edition), Wolters Kluwer. ISBN: 9780808046240
Recommended Reference Books:
Albrecht, W., Albrecht, C., Zimbelman, M. 2016. Fraud Examination. 5th edition.
Crain, M., Hopwood, W., Pacini, C., Young G. 2015. Essentials of forensic accounting. Wiley
Crumbley, D., LaGraize, W., Peters, C. 2016. Case Studies in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Auditing (2nd Edition), Wolters Kluwer.
Hahn, B., Rufus, R., Miller, L. 2015. Forensic Accounting, Global Edition, Pearson Australia.
Hoffman, R., Finney, W., Cox, P., Cooper, K. 2013. The Accountant as an Expert Witness: A Basic Guide to Forensic Accounting, 2nd edition, CCH Australia
Hopwood, W., Leiner, J., Young, G. 2012. Forensic accounting and fraud examination. 2nd edition, McGraw-Hill Irwin
Nelson, B., Phillips, A., Steuart, C. 2015. Guide to Computer Forensics and Investigations. 5th edition, Cengage Learning
Pedneault, S., Rudewicz, F. Silverstone H. and Sheetz M. 2012. Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation by Non-Experts, 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons
Journals:
Forensic Accounting Review
Journal of Forensic Accounting
Journal of Forensic and Investigative Accounting
Fraud Magazine
Additional Resources:
There will be supplemental readings and materials available on the unit website.
TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED
Students are expected to have: Proficiency in Word, Excel and Powerpoint Knowledge of Macquarie University iLearn - for downloading lecture materials, etc. Knowledge of the library research databases - for accessing additional research material. Access to a personal computer to be able to access iLearn and submit completed assessment material online.
UNIT WEB PAGE
Course content is available in the learning management system (iLearn). The web page for this unit is at http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/index.htm
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Topics |
Readings |
Week 1 |
The field and practice of forensic accounting • Introduction • The legal, regulatory, professional environment and ethics • Professional roles of fraud and forensic accounting professionals |
Crumbley 1, 2
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Week 2 |
Fraud-related services • Types of fraud • Fraud detection, prevention, deterrence, investigation, remediation • Fraudulent financial reporting |
Crumbley 3, 4 |
Week 3 |
Fraud-related services • Misappropriation of assets |
Crumbley 5 |
Week 4 |
Engagement management • Planning and managing an investigation • Case management and communication • Reporting and closure |
Crain 7 Rufus 3 |
Week 5 |
Financial analysis • Context of financial reporting • Foundations of financial analysis • Methods of financial analysis |
Rufus 5 |
Week 6 |
Evidence collection • Types of evidence • Background research • Computer forensics • Documents • Interviewing • Surveillance |
Crumbley 9, 13 Rufus 4 |
Week 7 |
Transforming Data into Evidence - Data Analysis • The role of data analysis • Data sources • Data analysis tools |
Rufus 8 |
Week 8 |
Transforming Data into Evidence - Data and Digital Analysis • Descriptive statistics • Methods for displaying data • Data mining |
Rufus 9 |
Week 9 |
Evidence analysis • Financial analysis • Data and Digital forensic analysis • Analytics for forensic accountants • Forensic accounting in action |
Crumbley 6, 14, 18 Crain 11 |
Week 10 |
Commercial and economic damages • Damages litigation • Damages calculation |
Crumbley 10, 12
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Week 11 |
Business valuation • Valuation fundamentals • Financial analysis • Business valuation reports |
Crumbley 17 |
Week 12 |
Accountant as an expert witness • Legal frameworks • Litigation support from accountants • Working with attorneys • Forensic accountant and the court |
Crumbley 8 Hoffman |
Week 13 |
Special topics - Cybercrime • Introduction to cybercrime issues • Types and actors • Cybercrime loss valuations • Matrimonial forensics • Bankruptcy • Specialized areas (tax fraud, identity theft, anti-money laundering) • Insurance claims Group presentations |
Crumbley 7, 11, 15, 16 |
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Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
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Date | Description |
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23/02/2018 | Unit schedule and topics amended. |