The Vital Role of Seamless Internal Communications When occupational fraud occurs within an organization, it is not a surprise that the root cause of the fraud was due to deficient internal controls. However, what does “internal controls” mean to all parties involved at an organization? Accountants should know what “internal controls” are, but does this concept resonate with the personnel within the sales or operations departments? Perhaps not. This article discusses the importance of having all members of the organization involved in the internal control process. Internal Communication and its Impact on Fraud Prevention When occupational fraud occurs within an…
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Business Revolution, Ethical Implications, Strategies for Business, and the Path Forward In this article, the authors examine the fine line between the unparalleled benefits of AI and its potential pitfalls. The authors advocate for a future where humans and AI work together harmoniously, driving innovation, productivity, and long-term success in an increasingly competitive global landscape. As professionals continue to develop and utilize AI, it is essential to remember that it is a human creation, designed to enhance humanity. AI should remain a tool for human betterment, augmenting our capabilities rather than replacing them entirely. This said, there are risks and…
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A Risk Reduction Strategy? Being self-employed is no longer code for “recently laid-off” or “fired”. The self-employed professional diversifies risk. It is a privilege for the talented, but it also requires motivation and continual sharpening of the saw. How ready are you to assess your talents? Level of risk tolerance? As a practice development coach for our industry, I get a ton of questions asking what it’s like to be a sole practitioner and why did I choose to be one. Well, I’ve been practicing on my own since July 2000, so I have some insight. But I want…
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Knowing the Business is Critical to Effective Risk Oversight In this article, the author shares excerpts of a speech he presented to board members regarding the importance of managing risk and sources of risk.
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This article briefly discusses the current trends in the practice management industry, as these trends may directly and indirectly affect both the management company and the healthcare entity. This overview of the services provided by practice management groups, is followed by a discussion of the competitive, reimbursement, regulatory, and technological environments in which practice management groups operate.
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How well do you understand the foundational principles of an effective fraud risk management program? Take this quiz and find out. To read the full article in Journal of Accountancy, click: What’s Your Fraud IQ?
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Electronic Communication can be Fraught with Peril for the Unwary CPA Electronic communication can be fraught with peril for the unwary professional. CPAs who become over-reliant on this form of communication confront increased professional liability risk. This column explores some of the more common risks CPAs may encounter with electronic communication and discusses how a professional can make appropriate use of the media while avoiding potential liability exposure.
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Modeling Uncertainty to Gain Better Insight and Create Value Gary Lynch, founder and CEO of The Risk Management Project, proposes that uncertainty is the new normal and that firms that espouse risk management can create and preserve value. In this article, Lynch describes how his firm used quantitative models to assist a manufacturer assess how it should respond to a competitor’s price-reduction strategy and how the strategy would impact the supply chain. The analysis enabled the manufacturer to share the insight with suppliers that challenged the sustainability of the competitor’s strategy.
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According to a recent report from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac continue to fail to properly analyze data collected from the Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCDP) and take considerable risks when purchasing and guaranteeing single-family residential mortgages. The report charged both Freddie and Fannie with not considering all the appraisal data provided to them through the UCDP, which was created in 2010 to improve loan quality and risk management. Indications were made that 56,000 loans purchased by Freddie and Fannie between January and June of 2013…
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It is far broader than forensic accounting While financial forensics may share some common ground with forensic accounting, these professions are far from identical twins. D. Larry Crumbley, CPA, MAFF lays out the differences between these often misunderstood professions and explores the academic factors that may be contributing to the confusion.
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Testing the high risk waters in today’s business environment The absence of a fraud risk management (FRM) program exposes a company to financial losses and legal liability if a fraud investigation is not properly handled and the employee is wrongfully discharged, or his or her privacy rights are violated. A FRM program addresses the above concerns and establishes controls every company should have to identify risk factors.
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Held at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC, the Annual Consultants’ Conference Will Feature 57 Sessions Covering the Highest-Demand Specialty Areas in Financial Consulting The National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA) and the Consultants’ Training Institute (CTI) will collaborate to host the 2013 Annual Consultants’ Conference, June 5–8, 2013, in Washington, DC. Themed “Innovate. Collaborate. Succeed.,” the four-day conference will serve as a forum where ideas, marketplaces, and professionals from around the globe intersect to expand their networks, explore concepts, and share ideas on how to meet the demands of the dynamic and unpredictable world economy. Find out…
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The Definition of Risk is Standard Deviation of Returns; Here’s What it Means, and What it Has to Do with “Total Beta” Is the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) superior as a valuation modeling tool to Total Beta? Peter J. Butler and Gary Schurman think not. Here’s why:
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Owners Can Improve Cash Flow, Reduce Risk, and Generate Growth Successful exit plans require building long-term value, and Ron Stacey explains how business owners can begin to do that today by improving cash flow, reducing risk, and accelerating growth.
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New Operational Risk Thinking Can Help Predict and Prevent Disasters of a Global Scale and Improve Bottom Lines as Well In an interview with Renee Boucher Ferguson of the MIT Sloan Management Review, Kathleen Long discusses some of the threats operational risk can pose to a company and how her company, Montage Analytics, is helping businesses combat these dangers.
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Taxes on S-Corporations are Hotly Discussed by Legislators and May Change. Here’s the History, Standing Precedents, and Current Law. S Corporations have been much in the news lately, as we’ve noted on the QuickRead blog. In this piece, Peter Agrapides provides a comprehensive chronological account of valuation cases where the issue of tax affecting S-Corporations has taken center stage.
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Few Companies with Under 100 Employees Have Fraud Controls in Place Small businesses are significantly more likely than their larger counterparts to neglect instituting basic antifraud controls that could save them from costly losses, a recent worldwide survey shows. The Journal of Accountancy reports in the August issue:
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A Smart Approach to Board Level Risk Management As the economy recovers, companies that cut costs or deferred spending at the bottom of the recession are now looking to reinvest: in hiring, new debt, facilities or equipment, or business acquisitions. How much risk is too much? This presentation details critical internal and external factors to examine.
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How to graphically illustrate ratio analysis as a way to enhance and simplify summary findings. A key to providing clients with effective valuation reports—and persuading jurors as an expert witness—is the ability to provide quantitative analysis in a compelling visual fashion. Here, Greg Gadawski and Darrell Dorrell provide an example of how to graphically illustrate ratio analysis as a way to enhance and simplify summary findings.
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Nerd’s Eye View, which provides commentary on financial planning news and developments, points out that a growing body of research shows our brains are not quite the logical, rational decision-making machines we think they are – or at least, wish they could be. Instead, our brains take shortcuts; we substitute easier questions for difficult ones, often without realizing it, and respond accordingly with our words and our actions. This can be especially problematic in the world of financial planning, where we often ask clients to make difficult decisions with limited information. As a result, questions like “what is…