Literature Review: Forensic Accounting

This literature review discusses the meaning and definitions of forensic accounting, the activities of forensic accountants, why forensic accounting is required in companies, the significance of forensic accounting, and the limitations and problems in financial accounting. The review emphasizes the commercial domain of Australia.

Running head: LITRATURE REVIEW: FORENSIC ACCOUNTING
Literature Review: Forensic Accounting
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1LITERATURE REVIEW: FORENSIC ACCOUNTING
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Forensic Accounting: Meaning and Definitions........................................................................2
Activities of Forensic Accountants............................................................................................2
Why Forensic Accounting is required in companies.................................................................3
Significance of Forensic Accounting.........................................................................................4
Limitations and Problems in Financial Accounting...................................................................4
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................5
References..................................................................................................................................6

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Introduction
Accounting, as a separate discipline, has emerged as one of the significant
components in the global commercial framework, over the decades. With the international
business scenario becoming more integrated, inclusive and dynamics in the contemporary
period, considerably owing to phenomena like that of Globalisation, commercial
liberalisations, technological innovations and others, the importance of proper accounting
methods and tools are felt significantly in the operational framework of any kind of business
across the globe. This is because much of a company’s efficiency, cost-effectiveness,
profitability and sustainability depends on the presence of suitable and efficient accounting
methods.
However, in the recent period, with the increase in the commercial activities across
the globe and with the increasing technological developments and implementations (like that
of usage of internet), the financial security of the businesses has been becoming one of the
primary issues of concern. With time, the number of accounting scandals, frauds and unfair
activities can also be seen to be increasing in these scenarios. This is turn, has led to the
evolution of forensic accounting and the increased implementation of the same in the
business activities.
Keeping this into consideration, the following section of the report consists of an
extensive review of the existing literary and scholarly work in the domain of evolution,
importance, implication and limitations of forensic accounting, especially emphasizing on the
commercial domain of Australia.
Forensic Accounting: Meaning and Definitions
There exist various perceptions and definitons of the notion of “Forensic Accounting”
as a separate and independent genre in the accouning framework in general international
scenrio. In this context, Pedneault, et al. (2012), describes forensic accounting as an
amalgamation of accounting frameworks and principles, especially in the corporate scenario
with that of the techniliques and activities related to investigation and detection og any kind
of fraudulent or suspicious activities especially in the domians of finanical statements,
records and other financial activities of the companeis, in the contemproary global
commercial scenario. The assertions of the authors, can be seen to be augmented by the
argument put forward by Bhasin (2015), according to whom, the genre of forensic accounting
provides an analysis of accounting which is suitable to the court and which, in case of
contingencies, can help in forming the basis for debates, discussions and resolution of
disputes regarding the financial aspects of the different companies in the contemporary global
scenario.
Thus, from the assertions of the different literary works it is evident that the genre of
forensic accounting holds immense relevance in the financial activities and also in the overall
operational framework of the businesses, especially in the contemporary period of creation of
a global market for businesses, with increasing activities and dynamics in both the demand
side as well as supply side.
Activities of Forensic Accountants
In their elaborate literary work, regarding the development of the genre of forensic
accounting and the increasing implementation of the practices in this domain, increasingly, in
the contemporary business frameworks, Özkul and Pamukçu (2012), highlight the different
activities which are priamrily performed by the forensic accountants, especially in the domain

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of corporate activities. As per the assertions of the authors, the primary roles played by the
forensic accountants, in the corporate scenario are as follows:
 Analysis of various financial activities and records as well as statements of the
different companies and investigation of the financial evidences of the companies, so
as to examine the presence of any kind of fraudulent or unfair activities in this domain
 Development of various computerised tools and applications for the purpose of easier
and more comprehensive as well as efficient ways of analysing the financial
evidences and also for more effective presentation of the financial evidences and any
kind of discrepancies (if any) present in the same (Bhasin, 2015)
 Communication of the findings of their analysis to the relevant authorities, in the
forms of exhibits, proper documentations and reports and also organization and
collection of the relevant financial documents to empirically and statistically support
their assertions
 Helping the companies their work for, in different legal proceedings in different
circumstances, which include testifying in the courts as expert witnesses on behalf of
their organizations and also preparing aids and evidences to support the companies’
case in the trial proceedings when contingency situations arise (Pedneault. et al.,
2012)
Why Forensic Accounting is required in companies
As highlighted by Miller and Power (2013), with the development of the corporate
frameowrk across the globe and with the increasing dynamics and activities as well as
complexities in the operational framework of the businesses, in the contemporary period, the
instances of fraudulent or unethical activities as well as suspicious transactions can be seen to
be increasing in the business organizations, which have been the primary reasons behing most
of the major finanical scams and scandals in the global as well as Australian corporate
scandals (like the recent banking scandals), in the contemporary period.
In this context, Özkul and Pamukçu (2012), discuss in their work, the notion of the
“Fraud Triangle” and the deterrence and prevention of such financial frauds in the
organizations. According to the authors, to detect and deter financial frauds, it is of immense
importance for the forensic accountants to identify the causal factors leading to such kinds of
frauds. The Fraud Triangle, as argued by the authors, help in identifying the three main
factors behind any kind of fraud:

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Figure 1: The Fraud Triangle
(Source: Algaonline.org, 2018)
The main factors of the Fraud Triangle can also be seen to be elaborated by Miller and
Power (2013), to be as follows:
Pressure- This shows the motive or need behind committing any kind of fraud
Rationalization- This indicates towards the mindset and thought processes of the person
committing the frauds, which justify their actions from their perspectives and from them
Opportunity- This refers to the situations or the circumstances which enables the concerned
people to commit the frauds
According to Özkul and Pamukçu (2012), the aspects and activities of forensic
accounting, mainly helps in identifying and preventing the third factor of the fraud triangle,
that is, the forensic accounting actitivies primarily try to identify the opporunities which
enable fraudulent activities in an organization and try to diminish or eradicate the same.
However, their assertions are also seen to be countered by Bhasin (2015), according to
whom, the forensic accounting activities not only detect the opportunities but also analyse the
presence or occurrence of any kind of fraudulent activities in the business organizations.
Significance of Forensic Accounting
With the number and magnitudes of corporated scandals and fraudulent activities in
the contemporary global commerical organizations, the significance of forensic accounting
practices in the operational frameworks of the business organizations can also be seen to be
increasing considerably. In this context, the primary importance of the roles played by the
forensic accounting and forensic accountants can be seen to be highlighted by Özkul and
Pamukçu (2012), to be as follows:
Financial Fraud Investigations- The primary crucial role played by the forensic accountants
in the business organizations, as highlighted by the authors, is that of investigation of the
various financial fraudulent activities by the different stakeholders of the companies,
including that of the employees, clients, other related companeis, etc., which in turn helps the
companies to stay efficient in their operations and contribute positively in their profitability
and competitiveness.
Legal Enforcements- Another importance of forensic accounting practices, can be seen to be
put forward by Bhasin (2015), as that of the facilitation of the enforcements of the different
regulatory policies and requirements by the government of the concerned countries, which in
turn help the governments of the countries to reduce the possibilities of corporate scandals,
thereby increasing not only the welfare of the individual companies and their stakeholders,
but also the overall welfare of the society.
Financial Activities- As asserted by Özkul and Pamukçu (2012), the forensic accountants
working for different companies, not only help in detection, prevention and reduction of
different types of frauds but also help in different crucial financial activities of the
companeis, like that of fixation of prices, manipulations of the stock market dynamics and
presentation of proper and authentic financial reports which in turn help the companeis to
take efficient and far-sighted financial as well as other production and operational decisions.

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Limitations and Problems in Financial Accounting
Pedneault, et al. (2012) in their work, along with identifications of the benefits and
significances of forensic accounting in the contemporary global commerical scenario, also
highlight the major limitations of such practices to be as follows:
Confidentiality Concern- As per the arguments of the authors, as in general, external forensic
accountants scrutinise the financial records of different companies, the same in turn leads to
leakage and compromise of the confidential financial aspects of the concerned companies. In
spite of the presence of strict ethical norms in this regard, disclosure of financial aspects of
the companies frequently take place, thereby compromising the financial security of the
same.
Negative Publicity- The detection of frauds and ordeals like that of court trials also lead to
immesne negative publicity of the companies, which in turn hampers their reputation,
sustainability and profitability.
Costs- Bhasin (2015), also points out that forensic accounting is a highly expensive activity
involving costly and high-end softwares, expensive experts and the costs increase manifold in
cases of trials in the courts.
Conclusion
From the above discussion and review of the existing literary works, it is evident that
in spite of the presence of several limtations and bottlenecks, forensic accounting, has over
the years, gained immense importance and popularity in the global commercial framework
and the same plays several crucial roles in ensuring profitability, prospects, competitiveness
and long-term sustainability of the businesses across the globe.

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References
Algaonline.org, 2018. Association Of Local Government Auditors, KY - The Fraud Triangle.
[online] Algaonline.org. Available at: <https://algaonline.org/index.aspx?NID=417>
[Accessed 31 August 2018].
Bhasin, M.L., 2015. Contribution of Forensic Accounting to Corporate Governance: An
Exploratory Study of an Asian Country.
Miller, P. and Power, M., 2013. Accounting, organizing, and economizing: Connecting
accounting research and organization theory. The Academy of Management Annals, 7(1),
pp.557-605.
Özkul, F.U. and Pamukçu, A., 2012. Fraud detection and forensic accounting. In Emerging
fraud (pp. 19-41). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Pedneault, S., Silverstone, H., Rudewicz, F. and Sheetz, M., 2012. Forensic accounting and
fraud investigation for non-experts. John Wiley & Sons.