FVC2214. Conducting a Large-Scale Investigation During a Pandemic

This large internal fraud investigation commenced upon receipt of an anonymous complaint indicating that senior management of the company was inappropriately involved with a number of vendors and asking that accountants look into how much money had been paid to these undisclosed related parties. This letter triggered the initiation of a large international investigation involving the creation and utilization of a multitude of related party companies, which had received huge payments from the company. This ongoing investigation was made more complex because the company and its publicly traded parent were audited by separate big accounting firms.

Learning Objectives:

• Apply the skills used to conduct large-scale internal investigations.
• Determine the process for gathering the necessary documents.
• Identify interviewing techniques, made more difficult due to the pandemic restrictions.
• Analyze the challenges related to “shadow audits” by audit firms during investigations.