A word from Thomas Golden, CPA, CFE, PricewaterhouseCoopers investigations & forensic services partner, and lead author:
Because this book conveys current best practices and at the same time advocates change it is both a manual for today and a push toward a better future. On the one hand, its aim is to improve the knowledge and practical skills of today's financial statement auditors, so that they become far more capable of planning and executing audits designed to detect material fraud. On the other hand, the authors often warn us that forensic accounting is a specialized discipline: at the first sign of serious fraud, the investigation should be handed over to these specialists.
We believe this book will assist auditors in surfacing more indications of fraud. Once that occurs, they will team with forensic accountants to conduct more investigations for the express purpose of resolving these indicators quickly and professionally. This book identifies the "bright line" separating a standard audit from a fraud investigation. It will enable auditors to become more knowledgeable and skilled in surfacing suspicions of fraud and working with forensic accountants and others whose training, skills, knowledge, and experience should be called upon when an investigation is warranted.
Regardless of what auditors do, fraud will never completely disappear. However, as auditors improve their skills, fraud should diminish. And as the suspicion and reality of fraud diminish across the corporate world, investors will regain confidence in the integrity of corporate information. This book will help to get us there.
