Nonfinancial Measures and Fraud Risk:Evaluating Investors’ Reactions to Greater Transparency

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph F. Brazel ◽  
Tina Carpenter ◽  
Keith Jones ◽  
Jane Thayer
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Fraudulent Financial Reporting ◽  
Financial Measures ◽  
Nonprofessional Investors ◽  
Fraud Risk ◽  
Nonfinancial Measures ◽  
Red Flag ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Reporting Environment

We examine whether increased transparency in the comparison of financial measures and nonfinancial measures (NFMs) influences nonprofessional investors’ reactions to the risk of fraudulent financial reporting. We consider a comparison of key financial measures and NFMs to be transparent when the relevant information is presented in close proximity and formatted to provide an easy comparison of the individual measures. We manipulate the presence of an NFM red flag and the transparency of the comparison of financial measures and NFMs. We find that when the NFM red flag is present (i.e., higher fraud risk) and transparent, investors choose lower investment levels. However, without increased transparency, as is typical in the current reporting environment, we observe that investors are more likely to increase their investment levels in firms with elevated fraud risk. Additionally, we observe that the effect of transparency on investment levels is driven by investors with greater investing experience.

A Synthesis of Fraud-Related Research

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 287-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory M. Trompeter ◽  
Tina D. Carpenter ◽  
Naman Desai ◽  
Keith L. Jones ◽  
Richard A. Riley
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Fraud Triangle ◽  
Fraudulent Financial Reporting ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Fraud Risk ◽  
Corporate Governance Mechanisms

SUMMARY We synthesize academic literature related to fraudulent financial reporting with dual purposes: (1) to better understand the nature and extent of the existing literature on financial reporting fraud, and (2) to highlight areas where there is need for future research. This project extends the work of Hogan et al. (2008), who completed a similar synthesis project, also sponsored by the Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association, in 2005. We synthesize the literature related to fraud by examining accounting and auditing literature post-Hogan et al. (2008) and by summarizing relevant fraud literature from outside of accounting. We review publications in accounting and related disciplines including criminology, ethics, finance, organizational behavior, psychology, and sociology. We synthesize the research around a model that illustrates the auditor's approach to fraud. The model incorporates auditors' use of the fraud triangle (i.e., management's incentive, attitude, and opportunity to commit fraud), their assessment of the existence and effectiveness of the client's anti-fraud measures (e.g., corporate governance mechanisms and internal controls), and their consideration of possible fraud schemes and concealment techniques when making an overall fraud risk assessment of the client. The model further illustrates how auditors can incorporate this assessment into an overall strategy to detect fraud by implementing appropriate fraud-detection procedures. We summarize the recent literature of each component of the model and suggest avenues for future research.

scholarly journals Professional Demographic Factors That Influence Iranian Auditors Perceptions Of The Fraud-Detecting Effectiveness Of Red Flags

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weifang Yang ◽  
Glen D. Moyes ◽  
Hamed Hamedian ◽  
Azar Rahdarian
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Demographic Factors ◽  
Red Flags ◽  
Fraudulent Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Auditors ◽  
Red Flag ◽  
The Relationship

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between professional demographic factors concerning external and internal auditors and the perceived level of effectiveness of the Statement of Auditing Standard (SAS) No. 99 red flags in detecting fraudulent financial reporting activities as perceived by external and internal auditors. The six hypotheses are: (1) the type of auditors using red flags to detect fraud, (2) highest degrees received by auditors, (3) areas that auditors majored in at universities, (4) auditors’ accumulated knowledge of red flags, (5) auditors who have or have not used red flags to detect fraud, and (6) auditors whohave or have not received in-house red flag training.  The six hypotheses explore how six professional demographic factors may influence the level of fraud-detecting effectiveness of the SAS No. 99 red flags as perceived by 227 external and internal auditors in Iran.  The results of this study indicate that all six hypotheses were accepted.   In conclusion, the level of fraud-detecting effectiveness of these red flags as perceived by the Iranian auditors may be influenced by the following factors: (1) the type of auditors, (2) the highest degrees received by auditors, (3) areas that auditors majored in at universities, (4) knowledge about red flags accumulated by auditors, (5) auditors whohave or have not previously used red flags to detect fraud, and (6) auditors whohave or have not previously received in-house red flag training.

scholarly journals Analysis of Fraudulent Financial Reporting With the Role of KAP Big Four as a Moderation Variable: Crowe's Fraud's Pentagon Theory

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 180
Author(s):  
Maylia Pramono Sari ◽  
Nindya Pramasheilla ◽  
Fachrurrozie ◽  
Trisni Suryarini ◽  
Imang Dapit Pamungkas
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Financial Stability ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Fraudulent Financial Reporting ◽  
Ceo Duality ◽  
Fraud Risk ◽  
Big Four

The purpose of this study is to provide empirical evidence of pentagon fraud risk factors sush as financial targets, financial stability, number of audit committee members, nature of industry, change in auditors, auditor opinion, change in director, proportion of the independent commissary, frequent number of CEO pictures, and CEO duality on fraudulent financial reporting with KAP big four as a moderating variable. The samples in this study were all state-owned companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2014-2018. The purposive sampling technique was used in sampling so that 55 companies were obtained. This study uses logistic regression analysis techniques with SPSS version 26. The results of the study indicate that financial stability and the auditor's opinion influence the fraudulent financial reporting. However, financial targets, number of audit committee members, nature of industry, change in auditors, change in director, proportion of the independent commissary, frequent number of CEO pictures, and CEO duality not effect on fraudulent financial reporting.

Using Nonfinancial Measures to Improve Fraud Risk Assessments

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. C28-C34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Ames ◽  
Joseph F. Brazel ◽  
Keith L. Jones ◽  
Jay S. Rich ◽  
Mark F. Zimbelman
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
Teaching Tool ◽  
Financial Measures ◽  
Fraud Risk ◽  
Hard Time ◽  
Nonfinancial Measures ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Fraud Risk Assessments

SUMMARY Nonfinancial measures (e.g., number of employees, square feet of operations, independent customer satisfaction, number of customer accounts) can be helpful in assessing the risk of revenue frauds. Companies committing such frauds may have a hard time falsifying nonfinancial measures, especially those produced independently (e.g., customer satisfaction). Auditors can benefit from examining relationships between nonfinancial measures and financial measures to validate financial statement data. A recent study, “Using Nonfinancial Measures to Assess Fraud Risk” (Brazel et al. 2009), provides empirical evidence concerning the relationship between various nonfinancial measures and revenue frauds. This article may be useful as a reference for auditors, or as a teaching tool in the classroom, as it reviews and summarizes Brazel et al.'s (2009) study and provides specific actual examples.

The risk of financial fraud: a management perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 1143-1159
Author(s):  
Hafiza Aishah Hashim ◽  
Zalailah Salleh ◽  
Izzati Shuhaimi ◽  
Nurul Ain Najwa Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Fraud Triangle ◽  
Fraudulent Financial Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Fraud Risk ◽  
Management Perspective ◽  
Apparent Reason ◽  
Triangle Theory

Purpose A number of highly publicised scandals such as Enron, Lehman Brothers, Parmalat, Satyam, Toshiba and 1MDB (to name a few) have heightened the awareness of the effects of fraudulent financial reporting. While enormous measures have been taken to curb the fraudulent activities among large and small businesses, the issues are still alarming worldwide. Thus, this study aims to explore the extent to which the prevalence of fraud risk in state-controlled companies and to enhance understanding of the underlying reasons of the fraudulent activities. Design/methodology/approach As this study is a descriptive and exploratory in nature, an exploratory case study method was used in four state-controlled companies. Using the fraud triangle theory to underpin this study, the qualitative face-to-face interviews were carried out with top management of the companies. Findings The study reveals a high risk of fraud occurrence at state-controlled companies that involve dealing with various suppliers, governments, customers and shareholders, even when standard operating procedures and rules and regulation are in place. The apparent reason for this phenomenon is attributed to not only opportunities but also incentives and rationalisations in engaging fraudulent activities. Originality/value As there are relatively few qualitative studies conducted in this area specifically among Malaysian state-controlled companies, this study extends the fraud literature by examining risk exposure and reasons underlying the fraudulent activities. The findings demonstrate that to a certain extent, the fraud triangle theory explains the motivations behind the fraudulent activities. The finding from this study is relevant to regulators, investors, companies and academicians in understanding, preventing and combating fraud.

Predicting fraudulent financial reporting using artificial neural network

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 362-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Normah Omar ◽  
Zulaikha ‘Amirah Johari ◽  
Malcolm Smith
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Artificial Neural Network ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Risk Indicators ◽  
Fraudulent Financial Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Market Capitalization ◽  
Fraud Risk ◽  
Small Market ◽  
Artificial Neural

Purpose This paper aims to explore the effectiveness of an artificial neural network (ANN) in predicting fraudulent financial reporting in small market capitalization companies in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach Based on the concepts of ANN, a mathematical model was developed to compare non-fraud and fraud companies selected from among small market capitalization companies in Malaysia; the fraud companies had already been charged by the Securities Commission for falsification of financial statements. Ten financial ratios are used as fraud risk indicators to predict fraudulent financial reporting using ANN. Findings The findings indicate that the proposed ANN methodology outperforms other statistical techniques widely used for predicting fraudulent financial reporting. Originality/value The study is one of few to adopt the ANN approach for the prediction of financial reporting fraud.

Audit Committee Oversight of Fraud Risk: The Role of Social Ties, Professional Ties, and Governance Characteristics

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 21-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Wilbanks ◽  
Dana R. Hermanson ◽  
Vineeta D. Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Professional Experience ◽  
Fraudulent Financial Reporting ◽  
Fraud Risk ◽  
Public Company

SYNOPSIS This study examines audit committee (AC) oversight of fraudulent financial reporting (FFR) risk and management integrity, and how such oversight varies with AC social ties, professional ties, and governance characteristics. Specifically, based on a survey of 134 U.S. public company AC members, we find that AC participants with social ties (i.e., personal ties) to the CEO are negatively associated with AC actions to assess FFR risk and management integrity. Further, the AC appears to cut back on more observable FFR and MI actions when the responding AC member has a social tie to the CEO, consistent with socially connected ACs being reluctant to engage in observable monitoring actions that could jeopardize a social tie to the CEO. However, AC participants with professional ties to other independent directors and those with professional experience as corporate controllers are positively related to such actions. We also find that AC size is positively related to FFR risk assessment, while female AC participants and those serving on boards with greater independence are more likely to report engaging in AC activities to assess management integrity. Finally, when asked more broadly about who they rely on and who is responsible for assessing the risk of FFR, AC members mainly point to the external audit partner, CFO, and head of internal audit. We discuss implications and directions for future research.

A Decision Aid for Assessing the Likelihood of Fraudulent Financial Reporting

2000 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy B. Bell ◽  
Joseph V. Carcello
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Decision Aid ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Control Environment ◽  
Fraudulent Financial Reporting ◽  
Fraud Risk ◽  
Financial Statement Audit ◽  
Significant Difference

The auditor's responsibility for detecting fraudulent financial reporting is of continuing importance to both the profession and society. The Auditing Standards Board has recently issued SAS No. 82, Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit, which makes the auditor's responsibility for the detection of material fraud more explicit without increasing the level of responsibility. Using a sample of 77 fraud engagements and 305 nonfraud engagements, we develop and test a logistic regression model that estimates the likelihood of fraudulent financial reporting for an audit client, conditioned on the presence or absence of several fraud-risk factors. The significant risk factors included in the final model are: weak internal control environment, rapid company growth, inadequate or inconsistent relative profitability, management places undue emphasis on meeting earnings projections, management lied to the auditors or was overly evasive, the ownership status (public vs. private) of the entity, and an interaction term between a weak control environment and an aggressive management attitude toward financial reporting. The logistic model was significantly more accurate than practicing auditors in assessing risk for the 77 fraud observations. There was not a significant difference between model assessments and those of practicing auditors for the sample of nonfraud cases. These findings suggest that a relatively simple decision aid performs quite well in differentiating between fraud and nonfraud observations. Practitioners might consider using this model, or one developed using a similar procedure, in fulfilling the SAS No. 82 requirement to “assess the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud.”

scholarly journals A Task-Centered, Multiple Method Approach To Teaching Fraud Risk Assessment

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie W. Morris ◽  
Ann B. Pushkin ◽  
William E. Spangler
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Occurrence Rate ◽  
Fraudulent Financial Reporting ◽  
Fraud Risk ◽  
Financial Statement Audit ◽  
Multiple Method ◽  
Approach To Teaching ◽  
Research In Education

This manuscript provides an approach to teaching fraud risk assessment that is based on an analysis of the task and relevant research in education, cognitive psychology, and artificial intelligence. Fraud risk assessment (FRA) in financial reporting is an important and difficult task that must be performed in every financial statement audit. When auditors fail to detect fraudulent financial reporting (FFR), they are likely to become targets of shareholder and creditor litigation. Although FFR has a low occurrence rate considering the large number of financial statement audits conducted, it has a devastating impact on the investors, creditors and the profession.

scholarly journals Sight Beyond Sight: Foreseeing Fraudulent Financial Reporting through the Perspective of Islamic Legal Ethics

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dien Noviany Rahmatika ◽  
Achmad Irwan Hamzani ◽  
Havis Aravik ◽  
Nur Rohim Yunus
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Islamic Law ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Qualitative Description ◽  
Accounting Fraud ◽  
Fraudulent Financial Reporting ◽  
Ethical Perspective ◽  
Legal Ethics ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Red Flag

Abstract. In the financial sectors, fraud has become a world phenomenon, ranging from fraudulent financial reports, assets misappropriation and corruption. These three types of fraud are practices carried out deliberately against the law which harm many parties. This study aims to analyze fraudulent financial reporting, where the presentation of misstatements is presented to mislead financial reports. These are against the ethical perspective of Islamic law as stated in the Quran and Hadith. This research uses secondary data based on the principles of sharia accounting concepts and Islamic ethics. The analytical method used is a qualitative description method with literary and normative approaches by examining fraudulent financial reporting from the perspective of Islamic law. The results of this study strengthen the theory of fraud pentagon with the symptoms and red flags of fraud, namely pressure, opportunity, rationalization, competence, and arrogance of the perpetrators of fraud. The Quran as well as the hadith emphasize the values of honesty, justice, truth, responsibility, and belief in reporting. This research also overlooks the weak ethics of the accounting profession and also the value of religiosity held by weak accountants from the perspectives of Islam.Keywords: Accounting Fraud, Fraudulent Financial Reporting, Fraud Pentagon Theory, Islamic Legal Ethics Abstrak. Pada sektor keuangan, fraud (kecurangan) menjadi salah satu fenomena global, dengan kasus kecurangan laporan keuangan, penyelewengan aset dan korupsi. Ketiga bentuk kecurangan tersebut merupakan praktek yang dilakukan secara sengaja melawan hukum dan merugikan banyak pihak. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis kecurangan pelaporan keuangan, dimana informasi yang disajikan dalam laporan adalah hal yang tidak sesuai dengan kenyataan. Hal ini bertentangan dengan etika hukum Islam dalam Al-Qur'an dan Hadits. Penelitian ini adalah menggunakan data sekunder dengan mendasarkan pada prinsip-prinsip akuntansi syariah dan etika Islam. Metode analisis yang digunakan adalah metode deskripsikualitatif dengan pendekatan literatur dan kajian normatif. Hal ini dilakukan dengan memeriksa kecurangan pelaporan keuangan dari perspektif hukum Islam. Hasil dari penelitian ini memperkuat teori Fraud Pentagon tentang gejala dan Red Flag Fraud, yang terdiri dari tekanan, peluang, rasionalisasi, kompetensi, dan arogansi para pelaku penipuan. Hal ini bertentangan dengan prinsip hukum Islam yang menekankan pada nilai-nilai kejujuran, keadilan, kebenaran, tanggung jawab, dan kepercayaan dalam pelaporan. Penelitian ini juga menunjukkan lemahnya prinsip etis dalam profesi akuntansi dan jugai religiusitas yang dimiliki oleh akuntan.Kata kunci: Kecurangan akuntansi, Kecurangan Pelaporan Keuangan, Teori Fraud Pentagon, Etika Hukum Islam

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