Fraud

1. Fraud Management’s Responsibility Auditor’s Consideration

2. Management’s Responsibility To design and implement programs and controls that prevent, deter and/or detectFRAUD

3. Auditor’sConsideration When and how does the auditor look for fraud indicators? Statement on Auditing Standards Number 99 (Codification AU §316) (Guidelines for Management)

4. We will cover the auditor’s considerations first • Sets the tone for the audit • Readily available guidelines • Directs management’s behavior

5. What is fraud? • An intentional act that results in a material misstatement in the financial statements that are the subject of an audit. (Note: Fraud is a legal concept; auditors do not make legal determinations.) (Note: the auditor should plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement – intentional or unintentional.) • Two types • fraudulent financial reporting • misappropriation of assets

6. What is fraud? (cont’d) Fraudulent reporting may result from: • a misstatement or omission of amounts or disclosures designed to deceive FS users because GAAP was not followed • an indefensible interpretation of complex accounting rules • temporary misstatements expected to be corrected later

7. What is fraud? (cont’d) Misappropriation of assets (theft or defalcation) may involve a theft resulting in non-GAAP, such as embezzling receipts, stealing assets, causing payment for goods or services not received This section is only concerned with those misappropriations that cause the FS not to be fairly presented, in all material resects, in conformity with GAAP

8. What is fraud? (cont’d) Conditions usually present when fraud occurs: • incentive or pressure • opportunity due to weak controls • ability to rationalize following questionable ethical values

9. What is fraud? (cont’d) Other considerations: • Management has a unique ability to perpetuate fraud by overriding controls. • Fraud may be concealed by withholding evidence, misrepresenting information in response to inquiries, or falsifying documentation. • Fraud may be concealed through collusion. • Some evidence may look like fraud when in fact it results from unexpected or unusual conditions.

10. What is fraud? (cont’d) Keys for school personnel and auditors: • Consider where incentives and opportunities for fraud exist • Design controls to prevent or detect it.

11. Audit engagement personnel discussions re: fraud risk • Engagement personnel should “brainstorm” • how and where FSs are susceptible to material misstatement due to fraud • how management could perpetrate and conceal fraudulent financial reporting • how assets could be misappropriated • Consider incentive, opportunity, and environment (attitudes and rationaliza-tions). • Communication about the possibility of fraud should continue throughout the audit. (Professional Skepticism)

12. Obtaining info identifying risks of material misstatement due to fraud • Make inquiries of management and others about their views of the risk of fraud and how the risks are addressed. • Consider unusual or unexpected relationships in performing analytical procedures in planning the audit. • Consider the existence of one or more fraud risk factors.

13. Obtaining info re risks (cont’d) -- Inquiries • Inquiries of management about: • knowledge of fraud or suspected fraud, allegations of fraud, understanding of risks of fraud, anti-fraud programs and controls, monitoring at campuses, views on ethical behavior. • reports to the audit committee re fraud • Inquiries of the audit committee about exercise of oversight in mitigation of fraud risks • Inquiries of the internal audit personnel about: • views of the risk of fraud, procedures to detect fraud, and management’s responses

14. Obtaining info re risks (cont’d) -- Inquiries • Inquiries of others • Federal programs coordinator, Special education director, State comp ed director • Student attendance accounting personnel • PEIMS coordinator • Principals, campus secretaries, bookkeepers, etc. • Transportation and plant maintenance personnel • Legal counsel • Food service personnel

15. Obtaining info re risks (cont’d) – Analytical Procedures • Consider using FEISTIER • Consider trends and interim measurements • enrollment • property values • employment in the area • AEIS scores • federal grants • Consider academic standing • TAKS Scores • Dropout rate

16. Obtaining info re risks (cont’d) – Risk Factors and Other Information • Incentive pressure • Administrative cost ratio • DIP/CIP • TAKS, Special Education, At Risk • 85% rules • Opportunity • Goal congruency • Attitude/rationalizations • Aggressive accounting interpretation • Interim measures or scores adjust

17. Identifying risks that may result in material misstatement due to fraud • With each risk identified, consider: • the type – i.e. fraudulent reporting vs. misappropriation of assets • its significance – i.e. magnitude • the likelihood it will result in material misstatement in the financial statements • whether it is pervasive or specifically related to an account or type of transaction • Presume that improper revenue recognition is a fraud risk • Consider the risk of management override of controls

18. Assessing risks in re evaluation of entity’s programs and controls • Understand the five components of internal control of the client’s system. • Identify types of potential misstatements and consider factors that affect the risk of material misstatement. • Design tests of controls and substantive tests. • Consider that controls can be circumvented by collusion or management override. • Evaluate whether client’s controls address identified risks and are in operation.

19. Responding to the results of the assessment • Are additional or different audit procedures needed? • Is additional corroborating evidence needed? • If additional procedures designed to address the risks of material misstatement due to fraud are not practicable, consider withdrawing from the engagement with communication to appropriate parties.

20. Responding to the results of the assessment (cont’d) • Overall response to the risk of material misstatement: • assignment of personnel and supervision (IT personnel, special education consultants, etc.) • accounting principles (federal programs, state funding, attendance records, etc.) • predictability of auditing procedures

21. Responding to the results of the assessment (cont’d) • Nature, timing, and extend of procedures to address the identified risks from fraudulent financial reporting • Additional examples of responses to identified risks of misstatement • revenue recognition tests • activity fund tests • inventory tests • administrative actions such as “at risk” designations, ARD results, attendance accounting • Risks for misappropriations of assets

22. Responding to the results of the assessment (cont’d) • Consider the risk of management override of controls • regular entries, adjusting entries, consolidating entries, closing entries • adjustments directly to the financial statements • Controls over automated entries • Evaluate the rationale for significant unusual transactions.

23. Evaluating Audit Evidence • Assessing risks of material misstatement due to fraud throughout the audit • discrepancies in accounting records • conflicting or missing evidential matter • problematic or unusual relationships between the auditor and management • Evaluating whether analytical procedures (substantive tests or overall review) indicate previously unrecognized risk of material misstatement due to fraud

24. Evaluating Audit Evidence (cont’d) • Evaluating risks at or near completion of fieldwork • Responding to misstatements that may be the result of fraud • Not material – evaluate the implications, especially those dealing with the organizational position of those involved • Material – gather more evidence, extend the engagement scope, suggest conference with legal counsel

25. Communicating about fraud to mgmt, audit committee, and others • Communicate findings to appropriate level of management, even if inconsequential. • If senior management is involved, report to the audit committee. • When the risks involve continuing controls, consider whether they are reportable conditions that should be communicated to senior management and the audit committee.

26. Communicating about fraud to mgmt, aud com, and others (cont’d) • The auditor may report to parties outside the school district when: • related to compliance with certain legal or regulatory requirements • to successor auditor • due to subpoena • required by a funding agency

27. Documenting the auditor’s consideration of fraud • Documentation of discussion among engagement personnel • Procedures performed to obtain information necessary to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement due to fraud • Specific risks identified • If improper recognition of revenue has not been identified, support for the auditor’s conclusions • Considerations of management overrides • Reasons for additional procedures or other responses • The nature of communications about fraud made to management, the audit committee, and others

28. Part of the Overall Audit Process • Integrated in the planning and supervision considerations • Considered when • determining audit risk and setting materiality thresholds • evaluating internal controls • Management’s responsibility

29. Management’s Responsibility Considering the Potential for Fraud Designing and Implementing Programs and Controls

30. Considering the Potential for Fraud • Financial statement misstatements • Revenues – attendance, taxes, grants • Expenses – supplies, payroll, consulting, equipment, travel • Fund balances – adjustments, evaluation • Misappropriation of assets • Cash disbursements • Cash receipts • Equipment • Reimbursements

31. Designing/ImplementingPrograms/Controls • Control environment • Ethics seminars • Other training • Risk assessment • Special review of the auditor • Reviews by TEA • Control activities • Organizational structure (segregation of duties) • Performance reviews • Information processing

32. Designing/ImplementingPrograms/Controls • Information and communication • Financial accounting system • PEIMS • Student accounting system • Other systems • Documentation • Monitoring • Periodic management reviews • Audit • TEA reviews