Using Analytics to Detect Possible Fraud: Tools and Techniques

Preface

The concept of writing this book goes back to June 2012, when, as a presenter at the Annual Consultant's Conference, I was asked if I would consider writing a book over the content of the presentation. There have been many times since then that I questioned my sanity over the decision to continue this task while still working full time. However, even today, I still recognize the need for providing information to those who want to learn more about forensic accounting, since there is little information available about this “new field” in accounting. My purpose in writing this book is to provide information written in plain language, using case studies as the prime source for learning the material. I hope that I have succeeded in this task. I have used the term financial forensic examiner in the book to define anyone who wants to understand financial statement changes from year to year, so the tools and techniques are useful not only to practitioners, but also to investors, brokers, management, valuators, and attorneys.

This book is a practical overview of a “first stage” of forensic accounting in that it provides a common source of analytical tools and techniques that sort out and define anomalies in financial information. It is both impractical and ineffective to begin a forensic accounting investigation using a hunt-and-peck methodology in trying to find fraudulent information. Many practitioners use tools and techniques that they are familiar with but that may not be ...