Holding Accountants Accountable offers a detailed review of Jeffrey Matthews' remarkable (and often hair-raising) journey as a forensic accountant and contains hard-won, practical advice to help accountants avoid being caught in unethical practices. During the course of his career, Matthews faced death threats, retaliation, and family hardships while working on various fraud investigations. While challenged on many occasions, he never deviated from upholding professional standards.
Holding Accountant Accountable is filled with real-life stories that clearly illustrate the common tendencies that so often hinder an accountant's ability to detect, deter, and prevent fraud and misconduct that could violate the standards and ethics of the accounting profession. Drawing on his years of experience, Matthews explains how accountants can avoid being subject to unethical and fraudulent practices, such as:
Forgetting the Present: Many practitioners feel it could never happen to them or to their clients. Professionals must stay on top of emerging trends to identify new areas of weakness.
Relying on Others: A work environment that is not conducive to collaboration, relies on inexperienced staff, and/or combined with an over-extended supervisor with limited time (or budget) can lead to a disaster.
Accepting Not Testing: Practitioners must maintain a healthy dose of skepticism in discharging their duties.
Underestimating the Effort and Qualifications: Often practitioners are presented with assignments but have little time, budget, or direction. Some firms push examiners to accept engagements they are not fully qualified to perform.
Determining the Outcome Prior to Performing the Assignment: Examiners can become close to their clients and establish biases. Sometimes, the examiner may not realize there is a bias at all.
In addition to the author's many colorful examples, Matthews clarifies his points by including the standards from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Written for accountants that want to maintain the highest ethical standards of their profession, Holding Accountants Accountable is a readable resource written by an acclaimed accountant, lecturer, and college professor.
