Business Forensics and Fraud

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

ACCT10002 Accounting Transactions and Analysis

OR

Please refer to Prerequisites and Corequisites.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject considers business fraud and forensic processes from an accounting perspective. The subject introduces students to various types of fraud, considering recent trends in fraudulent business activities both within Australia and globally. Regulatory requirements and best practice procedures for the design of fraud management (prevention) programs are considered and the latest in fraud detection methods (with an emphasis on information technology tools) are evaluated. The subject also considers the role of accounting in fraud and other business forensic investigations in the context of the Australian legal framework including: methods for obtaining and controlling evidence; conducting investigations; quantifying loss and damage; and the presentation of evidence in court as an expert witness.

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
• Define fraud;
• Explain and describe different types of fraud and fraud schemes;
• Describe recent fraud trends in the Australian and broader international context;
• Recommend corporate governance measures and accountability frameworks that can be used in the prevention of fraud;
• Explain and apply fraud detection processes;
• Explain the law of evidence as it applies within the Australian corporate regulatory framework;
• Explain forensic processes for fraud investigation including the identification of relevant information and facts to be used to quantify loss and damage in cases involving a civil wrong or breach of contract; and
• Describe the key elements of an expert witness report.

A 3-hour end-of-semester examination (70%), a group assignment of not more than 2000 words due mid semester (20%) and seminar preparation and participation (10%). Successful completion of this subject requires a minimum 50% pass in the end-of-semester examination.

You will be advised of prescribed texts by your lecturer.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

• High level of development: written communication; oral communication; collaborative learning; team work; problem solving; application of theory to practice; critical thinking; interpretation and analysis;
• Moderate level of development: accessing data and other information from a range of sources; synthesis of data and other information; evaluation of data and other information.
• Some level of development: use of computer software; statistical reasoning; receptiveness to alternative ideas.