BA323 - Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination

Credit Points: 15 credit points

Workload: 36 hours

Prerequisite: BA313 Auditing

Co-requisite: BA302 Accounting Theory

Aims & Objectives

This is a third year Core Unit in the Bachelor of Business, major in Accounting, and offered as an Elective Unit in the Bachelor of Business Marketing, and Bachelor of Business Management. For Course Learning Outcomes and further information relating to Bachelor of Business programs please visit our website:  http://www.mit.edu.au/study-with-us/programs/bachelor-business.

This unit focuses on business fraud and forensic processes from an accounting perspective. The unit develops understanding of the nature of fraud and apply theories and techniques relevant to preventing and detecting fraud. Students will review and analyze the nature of forensic accounting with a focus on forensic fraud investigation, various types of fraud, and recent trends in fraudulent business activities. Emphasis is placed on regulatory requirements and best practice procedures for the design of fraud management (prevention) programs and the latest in fraud detection methods. 

Unit topics include:

  • Introduction to forensic accounting and fraud examination
  • Preventing fraud
  • Recognising the symptoms of fraud
  • Data driven fraud detection
  • Investigating theft and concealment act
  • Conversion investigation
  • Inquiry methods and fraud reports
  • Financial statement fraud 
  • Fraud against organisations 
  • Ecommerce fraud

Learning Outcomes

The Course learning outcomes applicable to this unit are listed on the Melbourne Institute of Technology’s website: http://www.mit.edu.au/study-with-us/programs/bachelor-business/accounting.
At the completion of this unit students should be able to:
a. Describe and explain the process of forensic accounting.
b. Investigate issues and cases in forensic accounting.
c. Identify the risks of fraud and plan accounting systems to minimize fraud.
d. Understand the links between corporate governance and risk management.
e. Conduct analysis to detect financial statement fraud.

Assessment

Assessment Task Due Date A B Unit Learning Outcomes
1.Formative Assessment Week 3 - 5% a
2.Contribution and Participation Weeks 1-12 - 5% a-e
3.Assignment [Individual] Week 6 15% - a,b
4.Assignment [Group] Week 10 20% - b,c,d
5.Presentation [Individual] Week 11 - 5% b,c,d
6.Case Study Analysis [Individual] (3 hours) TBA - 50% a-e
TOTALS   35% 65%  

Task Type: Type A: unsupervised, Type B: supervised.

Contribution and Participation (5%)

This unit has class participation as an assessment. The assessment task and marking rubric will follow the Guidelines on Assessing Class Participation (https://www.mit.edu.au/about-us/governance/institute-rules-policies-and-plans/policies-procedures-and-guidelines/Guidelines_on_Assessing_Class_Participation). Further details will be provided in the assessment specification on the type of assessment tasks and the marking rubrics.

Teaching Methods

NOTE: All School of Business units 3-hour workshops Flipped Classroom Mode. 

Textbook and Reference Materials

Note: Students are required to purchase the prescribed text book and have it available each week in class.

Prescribed Text Book

  • Albrecht, W. S., Chad O. Albrecht, C. O., Albrecht, C.C., & Zimbelman, M. F. (2018). Fraud Examination, 6th edition, Cengage Learning. 

Other recommended references

  • Hahn, B., Rufus, R., Miller, L. (2015). Forensic Accounting, Global Edition, Pearson Higher Ed USA.
  • Du Plessis, J.J., Hargovan, A., Bagaric, M., and Harris, J., (2014). Principles of Contemporary Corporate Governance, 3rd edition, Cambridge University Press.
  • Hopwood, W., Young, Y., & Leiner, J. (2012). Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination, 2nd edition, McGraw Hill. 
  • Kranacher, M.J., Riley, R.A., and Wells, J.T., (2011). Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination, John Wiley.

Journal articles

  • Carmichael, D. (2018). Audit versus fraud examination. CPA Journal, 88(2).
  • Zhang, J. (2018). Public governance and corporate fraud: Evidence from the recent anti-corruption campaign in china. Journal of Business Ethics, 148(2), 375-396.
  • Kaplan. S.E., Samuels. J.A., & Pope, K.R. (2015). An examination of the effects of managerial procedural safeguards, managerial likeability, and type of fraudulent act on intentions to report fraud to a manager. Behavioral Research in Accounting, 27(2), 77-94.
  • Getie Mihret, D. (2014). National culture and fraud risk: Exploratory evidence. Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, 12(2), 161-176.

The Referencing style for this using is APA: See the MIT Library Referencing webpage: https://library.mit.edu.au/referencing/APA and the Unit Moodle page for additional referencing support material and weblinks.

Graduate Attributes

MIT is committed to ensure the course is current, practical and relevant so that graduates are “work ready” and equipped for life-long learning. In order to accomplish this, the MIT Graduate Attributes identify the required knowledge, skills and attributes that prepare students for the industry.
The level to which Graduate Attributes covered in this unit are as follows:

Ability to communicate Independent and Lifelong Learning Ethics Analytical and Problem Solving Cultural and Global Awareness Team work Specialist knowledge of a field of study

Legend

Levels of attainment Extent covered
The attribute is covered by theory and practice, and addressed by assessed activities in which the students always play an active role, e.g. workshops, lab submissions, assignments, demonstrations, tests, examinations.
The attribute is covered by theory or practice, and addressed by assessed activities in which the students mostly play an active role, e.g. discussions, reading, intepreting documents, tests, examinations.
The attribute is discussed in theory or practice; it is addressed by assessed activities in which the students may play an active role, e.g. lectures and discussions, reading, interpretation, workshops, presentations.
The attribute is presented as a side issue in theory or practice; it is not specifically assessed, but it is addressed by activities such as lectures or tutorials.
The attribute is not considered, there is no theory or practice or activities associated with this attribute.