ACFE Updated CFE-Fraud-Prevention-and-Deterrence Exam Questions and Answers by fallon

Treadway Commission Recommendations:

Establishing an independent audit committee is essential for oversight and reducing fraud risk in financial reporting.

Audit committees play a critical role in ensuring the integrity of financial statements.

Analysis of Other Options:

A. Shareholder oversight of hotlines: Not a Treadway Commission recommendation.

B. Compensation committee resources: Not directly related to fraud prevention.

C. Management charter: Unrelated to the recommendations.

Conclusion:Mandatory independent audit committees are a key recommendation to reduce fraud risk.

References:Treadway Commission’s Report on Fraudulent Financial Reporting​​.

Detective controls are designed to identify fraud or errors that have already occurred. Continuous audit techniques serve as a detective control by automatically monitoring transactions and flagging anomalies or irregularities for further investigation. On the other hand, preventive controls such as separation of duties, background checks, and hiring policies aim to stop fraud before it happens.

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Responsibilities of an External Auditor:

When significant internal control deficiencies are discovered, the auditor is required to report them to senior management and, where appropriate, the audit committee.

The purpose is to ensure that the organization is informed of the risks and can take corrective actions.

Analysis of Other Options:

A. Suspend the audit: Not required under auditing standards.

B. Report to law enforcement: Only if fraud or illegal activities are confirmed, which is not implied here.

D. Correct deficiencies independently: This is beyond the auditor's scope of responsibilities.

Conclusion:The correct response is to provide a written communication about the findings to senior management.

References:International Standards on Auditing (ISA) 265: Communicating Deficiencies in Internal Control​​.

Findings from the 2020 Report to the Nations:

A. Complaints about management: Not the most common red flag; lifestyle changes, such as living beyond means, are more common.

B. Gender of fraudsters: The report consistently shows that men commit more occupational frauds than women.

C. Median losses by executives vs. staff: Losses caused by executives are significantly higher.

D. Past offenses: Most fraudsters do not have a prior fraud-related disciplinary history.

Conclusion:Option B aligns with the findings of the 2020 Report to the Nations.

References:2020 ACFE Report to the Nations​​.