Two tools for fraud detection are discussed in this course; Benford’s Law and the Beneish M Score.  Benford’s Law predicts the probability of the distribution of first digits in a set of accounting numbers.   For the first digit, one is the most likely occurrence, followed by two, etc.  In a large population of accounting transactions, by comparing the actual occurrence of first digits in accounting numbers to the Benford distribution, areas of concern are highlighted for further analysis and evaluation. 

The Beneish M Score quantifies the possibility of financial manipulation occurring in financial statements.  If the M Score is greater than (or less negative than) -2.22, it is likely that there is some manipulation of the financial results. 

Both of these are powerful tools in the detection of fraud.  Benford’s Law assists in the detection of transactional fraud while the Beneish M Score assists in the detection of fraud in financial reporting.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

·         Describe how to use Benford’s Law to detect potential fraud

·         Define situations where Benford’s Law is and is not applicable

·         Describe the Beneish M Score and its components

Prerequisites: None

Level: Overview

Revision Date: 1/2021

Additional Contents : Complete, no additional material needed
Advance Preparation : None
Intended Participants : Any CPA looking to maintain or enhance their professional competence
Course Declaration : Participants must complete the final examination within one year of purchase. A minimum passing grade of 70% or better is required to receive CPE
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