ACCOUNTING 525 – FORENSIC ACCOUNTING

 

Prerequisites:  Completion of ACC 301 and ACC 322 with minimum grades of C- and junior standing.

 

Required Text:  Forensic and Investigative Accounting, 2nd edition, Crumbley, Heitger & Smith, CCH Incorporated (Chicago 2005).  [ISBN 0-8080-1365-3]

 

Required Journal Readings: Journal of Accountancy, articles listed under “The Fraud Beat.”  Various other articles included in Blackboard.  These will be assigned during the semester.  This is available free online.

 

Required Newspaper: Wall Street Journal.

 

Internet Access:  Internet access is a requirement for this course.  The study of some course material and the taking of class quizzes and possibly exams will be performed via the internet.  Students must obtain and use an e-mail account on a regular basis.  Also, there are resources available for the text that are online.

 

Blackboard:  Students must use the Blackboard system.  Class announcements, assignments, changes to the syllabus, and online quizzes and/or tests will be posted on Blackboard.  Blackboard should be checked on a daily basis for updates.  To learn about using Blackboard go to this link: http://learn.eku.edu/?bbatt=Y.  Other information about using Blackboard can be found at this link: Blackboard instructions.

 

Submitting Work Online:  The option may be given to submit papers and projects online.  When this is done, please send the file as an attachment and use the following format to name your file:  yourlastname_assignmenttitle.doc

                   

Library Research Required:  Forensic and fraud related journals and professional accounting journals, CCH Online Tax Database, and Lexis-Nexis.

                 

Course Description:

A study of investigative accounting procedures and techniques used in litigation support.  Topics to be covered include financial reporting fraud, employee fraud, income reconstruction methods, testifying as an expert witness, evidence management, cybercrime, and business valuations.

 

Class Format and Attendance: Class will consist of discussion of chapter material and outside readings.  The student must be well prepared for the discussion each day.  Preparation for class includes chapter reading, professional journal reading, case studies, and end-of chapter homework assignments.  You should anticipate spending a minimum of 10 hours outside of class each week in preparation.  There is no short cut.  What you get from the course depends on what you are willing to put into it.  Class attendance is critical to the learning process and is a course requirement.  The attendance policy for his class is: a student with three or more unexcused absences will be assigned a failing grade for the course.  This policy will be observed.  Arriving more than fifteen minutes late or leaving early from class will constitute an absence. The reason for an excused absence must be submitted in writing or by e-mail.