Critical Anti-Fraud Audits under Procurement and Accounts Payable

The Purchasing and Accounts Payable cycles create a multitude of data that can be analyzed and tested for certain elements of possible fraud. Accounts Payable is considered the “checkbook” of the organization and therefore creates an area that without the proper control environment can be ripe for fraud. 

Internal Audit organizations have the ability to spend resources to analyze the data that comes out of the process to enable the organization to feel comfortable that controls are in place and functioning properly or that there may be fraud occurring. 

There are simple ways to analyze large volumes of data that come from paying invoices.  Understanding the data is the first step toward knowing what to look for.  The course will spend some time discussing the use of Audit Control Language (ACL) and how this tool and other tools like it (IDEA) are helpful in the analysis of Accounts Payable and Purchasing data.

With an increased awareness of fraud and the ongoing cost to organizations, taking a proactive stance on performing anti-fraud audits in Purchasing and Accounts Payable is imperative to most organizations. According to the 2022 Report to the Nations by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners ("ACFE"), it is estimated that on average, organizations experience a loss of 5% of their annual revenue due to fraud annually, resulting in a median loss of $117,000 before detection.

This course will provide you with a basic understanding of fraud, different data analyses that can be utilized, proactive accounts payable Anti-Fraud examples of reviews that can be conducted, and different data analysis tests that can be performed. Some knowledge and use of ACL or IDEA is suggested but not required.

• The fraud triangle and statistics from the ACFE
• A basic understanding of fraud and the different types of fraud that can occur
• Understanding the data that A/P or IT can provide for analysis
• Different data analysis tools that can be utilized (ACL vs. IDEA or just Excel)
• Examples of proactive accounts payable anti-fraud reviews
• Different data analysis tests that can be performed on accounts payable data
• Different data analysis tests that can be performed on purchasing data

• Internal Audit Personnel involved in Fraud Related Activities
• Professionals Responsible for or Interested in Performing Anti-Fraud Audits
• Risk Officer
• Compliance Officer
• Internal Audit Management interested in Performing Anti-Fraud Audits of Accounts Payable and Purchasing Cycles