TUNKU PUTERI INTAN SAFINAZ SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA
SEM A222 (SECOND SEMESTER 2022/2022)

COURSE CODE : BKAB3013

COURSE : FORENSIC ACCOUNTING
PRE-REQUISITE : BKAA3023 AUDITING II
LECTURERS : DR MUDZAMIR MOHAMED (A&B)
PROF DR AYOIB CHE AHMAD (C)
PM DR NOR ZALINA MOHAMAD YUSOF (D)

1.0 SYNOPSIS

This course is aimed to introduce students to a new area in accounting, which is crucial in
view of recent highlighted cases of corporate scandals and frauds. The emphasis is on the
basic elements such as the understanding of financial reporting, accounting, audit, internal
control investigation, fraud and misconduct, law and regulation, computer crime and
other related issues, such as, corporate governance and investigation ethics. Besides,
exposure related to techniques of detection, prevention, and investigation will be
discussed through case studies.

2.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the course, students are expected to:

1. be aware of and gain a broad understanding of forensic accounting and the basic skills
needed to detect, prevent, and investigate fraud that happened in organisations.
2. acquire and apply the investigative skills needed to uncover financial fraud, to
measure the resulting damages and to provide litigation support to organisations.

3.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the course, students are able to:
1. Explain the fundamental elements of fraud and forensic accounting (C2, P2, A3)
2. Explain how fraud could be prevented (C2, P2, A3)
3. Identify and apply the techniques of fraud detection and investigation (C3)
4. Differentiate the management, employee, and other types of fraud (C4, P1)
5. Explain possible actions and legal follow-up of fraud cases (C5, A3)

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4.0 COURSE CONTENT

WEEK TOPIC & SUB TOPICS REFERENCES HOURS

/DATE
1-2 1.0 INTRODUCTION TO Books: 6
FORENSIC ACCOUNTING Albrecht et. al (2019) C.1,2 & 3
Hopwood et. al. (2012) C. 1 & 4
1. Definition & Taxonomy of
fraud Articles
2. Fundamentals to forensic Bologna (1992)
accounting Thompson(1992)
3. Importance of forensic Vanasco (1998)
accounting Watts (2002)
4. Nature of fraud
5. Who commit frauds and why
6. Fighting fraud: An overview
3 2.0 FRAUD PREVENTION Books: 3
Albrecht et. al (2019) C.4
1. Preventing fraud Hopwood et. al. (2012) C. 5
Bologna & Lindquist (1995, C.
5)
4-5 3.0 FRAUD DETECTION Books: 6
Albrecht et. al (2019) C.5 & 6
1. Recognizing the symptoms of Hopwood et. al. (2012) C. 6
fraud Zimbelman ,
2. Pro-active approaches to Bintliff (1993, C. 17)
detecting fraud Bologna & Lindquist (1995, C.
3. Fraud risk assessment 5 & 6)
Knapp(2001)
Articles
Spathis (2002)
Hooks, Kaplan & Schultz
(1994)
Hackenbrack (1993)
Matsumura & Tucker (1992)

6-8 4.0 FRAUD INVESTIGATION Books: 9

1. Investigating theft and Albrecht et. al (2019) C.7, 8 9
concealment & 10
2. Conversion investigation Hopwood et. al. (2012) C. 7, 8,
methods 9, 10 & 11
3. Inquiry methods and frauds Bintliff (1993, C. 17)
reports
4. Financial statement analysis
5. Net-worth analysis
6. Interviewing
9-10 5.0 MANAGEMENT FRAUD Books: 6
1. Financial statement fraud Albrecht et. al (2019) C.11, 12
2. Revenue and inventory frauds & 13

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 3. Liability, assets, and inadequate Hopwood et. al. (2012) C. 14,
disclosure fraud 13

WEEK/ TOPIC & SUB TOPIC REFERENCES HOUR

DAY
11-12 6.0 OTHER TYPES OF FRAUD Books: 6
Albrecht et. al (2019)
1. Fraud against organisations C.14, 15 16 & 17
2. Bankruptcy and divorce fraud Hopwood et. al. (2012) C. 16,
3. Fraud in E-commerce & 17, 18
computer related fraud Bologna & Lindquist (1995, C.
8)
13 7.0 LEGAL ENVIRONMENT & Books & Articles 3
RELATED ORGANISATION Albrecht et. al (2019) C.18
Hopwood et. al. (2012) C. 2 &
1. Acts & Legislation 15
2. Bodies & organization
Standards & Acts
ISA 240
Contract Act 1950
(S17,29,56,68,69,70,71,72,73,
133,134,187,188,189,190,191)
Relevant acts
14 8.0 RESOLUTION OF FRAUDS 3
Books:
1. Legal follow-up
2. Auditor as expert witness Hopwood et. al. (2012) C. 12,
3. General criteria and standards 19 & 20
for evaluating an expert’s Bologna & Lindquist (1995, C.
qualification 9 & 10)
Article:
Selected articles ( will be
provided)

5.0 REFERENCES

Main reference

Albrecht, W.S., Albrecht, C.O., Albrecht, C.C., & Zimbelman, M.F. (2019). Fraud
Examination. 6th Edition. Cengage Learning: Boston, USA.

Additional references

Crumbley, D.L., Fenton, E.D., Smith, G.S., Heitger, L.E. (2021) .Forensic and Investigative
Accounting. 10th Edition. Walters Kluwer, US

Kranacher, M. & Riley, R. (2019). Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination. 2nd Edition.
A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. US.

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Beecken, W.H. & Beecken, C.A, (2017). Fraud Examination Casebook with Documents: A
Hands-on Approach. 1st Edition. A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. US.

Bragg, S. M. (2019). Fraud Examination: Prevention, Detection, and Investigation. 2nd

Edition. Amazon Digital Services LLC, US.

Button, M. & Gee, J. (2013). Countering Fraud for Competitive Advantage: The Professional
Approach to Reducing rhe Last Great Hidden Cost. 1st Edition. A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
UK.

Hopwood, W.S., Leiner, J.J, & Young G.R., (2012). Forensic Accounting and Fraud
Examination. 2nd Edition. McGraw Hill.

Coenen, T. L. (2008). Essentials of Corporate Fraud. 1st Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Beigelman, M. T. & Bartow, J. T. (2006). Executive Roadmap to Fraud: Prevention and

Internal Control. 1st Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Bologna, G. J. and Lindquist, R. J. (1995), Fraud Auditing and Forensic Accounting, 2nd
Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Related articles from the Journal of Forensic Accounting,

http://www.rtedwards.com/journals/JFA/ on topics discussed.

Related articles on the topic discussed from any relevant journals.

6.0 TEACHING METHODS

The course will be conducted in the forms of lectures and student-centred activities
including class discussions, group presentations, group projects based on case studies,
short-cases, and review of articles. The coursework will be given from time to time
throughout the semester. It is the students’ responsibility to observe the deadlines for each
assignment and project. Students’ participation in class is strongly encouraged. To help
them contribute in class discussion, students are encouraged to make necessary
preparation by reading through the chapters and other relevant materials prior to attending
lectures.
7.0 ASSESSMENT
(%) (%)
Coursework: 40
Case presentation (group) 15
Chapter presentation (group) 5
Individual Case Study (individual) 10
Quizzes (individual) 5
Class participation (individual) 5

Comprehensive Final Examination: 60

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TOTAL 100
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 Attendance to lectures is compulsory. Students who do not fulfill the 80%
attendance requirement will be barred from sitting for the final examination.

8.0 ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

Disciplinary actions will be enforced to students who are caught and found guilty for
academic misconduct. Academic misconduct is referring to various unethical behaviour
including plagiarism in coursework, cheating in the examination, copying, or taking
others’ work without proper acknowledgement, and taking examination on behalf of other
student as well as other misconducts that will determined by the University.