AC322: Forensic Accounting

Module code: AC322

Module provider: Business Informatics, Systems and Accounting; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: 6

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Richard Tawiah, email: r.k.tawiah@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE AC206 (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 19 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is intended to provide a critical understanding of financial fraud. The module aims to set out the context in which financial fraud is perpetuated as well as describe the conditions necessary for financial fraud to occur. It explains how such frauds are detected and investigated with a view to understanding how suitable preventative and detective control mechanisms can be designed and implemented.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Evaluate the causes and consequences of financial statement fraud
2. Critically appraise the historical and contemporary perspectives and forms of serious financial crime investigated by forensic accountants
3. Critically evaluate the nature and possible reasons for fraud, defalcation, and misrepresentation in both paper and electronic forms
4. Appraise and critically review different methods of detecting, preventing and controlling frauds, defalcation and misrepresentation
5. Critically evaluate the special characteristics of financial crime investigated by forensic accountants, such as the difficulties of measuring it and morally assessing it
6. To demonstrate the ethical position and duties of an accountant acting as an investigator of criminal activities

Module content

• Introduction to Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation
• History and Typologies of Fraud
• Fraud Sociology and Psychology
• Psychology and Mindset of a Fraudster
• Financial Crimes and Risks in Corporate Organisations
• Fraud Management, Detection, Prevention and Investigation Techniques
• Trends and Challenges in Modern Forensic and Fraud Investigations

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is delivered through a combination of interactive lectures which will introduce students to topic areas and practical workshops where students will consolidate their understanding through guided question practice and discussion.

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students must achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

An investigation plan to be submitted and then peer-assessed through group discussion.

Reassessment

Additional costs