In today’s fast-paced financial markets, the timely and accurate disclosure of material information is crucial for investors to make informed decisions. However, some managers may seek to exploit investors‘ cognitive constraints and processing capacity to strategically hide negative news. In this blog post, we explore a recent research study conducted by Caleb Rawson, Brady J. […]

Audit regulation is primarily focused on enhancing the quality of external financial reporting and protecting the interests of external stakeholders. However, there is growing recognition that such regulation can also have spillover effects on the internal information environment of organizations, benefiting managers in their decision-making processes. A recent study by Brant Christensen, Lijun (Gillian) Lei, […]

The adoption of advanced language models, such as ChatGPT, in the accounting field has sparked considerable interest and discussion in recent times. In this blog post, we dive into a recent paper that talks about how Uniper, a multinational energy company, has harnessed ChatGPT to enhance its internal audit function (IAF) and revolutionize its auditing […]

In a press release published on May 18, 2023 the Institute of Internal Auditors (The IIA) and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) presented their report: “Building a Best-in-Class Whistleblower Hotline Program”. The report includes benchmarking data, evaluates the factors contributing to program effectiveness, explores reasons for not having a hotline program, and examines […]

It is not an uncommon occurrence for companies to face operational and accounting failures at some point in their journey. When such events occur, these companies often find themselves seeking ways to salvage their reputations and regain the trust of their stakeholders. According to a recent study published in The Accounting Review by Matthew S. […]

The Auditing Standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s (PCAOB) provide authoritative guidance to auditors of U.S. public companies during their audits. However, these standards predominantly employ masculine generic pronouns instead of gender-specific or gender-neutral pronouns. Reflecting the audit profession’s and the PCAOB’s emphasis on equity and inclusion, as well as the significance to […]

The “ Fraud Risk Management Guide – second edition “ article from the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) is an updated guidance for organizations to follow in addressing the specific fraud risk. This Guide updates the first edition of the Fraud Risk Management […]

ESG factors have rapidly become as important as financial metrics for corporations, leading to increased pressure and potential for exploitation. Organizations must evaluate their ESG programs, update reporting standards, strengthen controls, and address fraud risks. However, the lack of consistent standards in the regulatory and reporting frameworks poses challenges, giving anti-fraud practitioners a critical role […]

The increasing interconnectivity of our world creates new opportunities as well as new risks. Deployment of digital technologies, exponential growth in data volumes, and changing business needs are expanding targets for cyber threats, making effective collaboration between cyber and risk management a strategic priority. Deloitte’s Global Future of Cyber Survey 2023 examines the current state […]

ChatGPT, an advanced language model, has been making waves in the media, with many speculating about its potential for massive disruption, particularly in the fields of accounting and auditing. However, prior research has raised concerns about ChatGPT’s performance on student assessment questions. In order to shed light on this issue, a recent research project aimed […]

Recent changes in regulations in Germany about the Financial Market Integrity Strengthening Act (FISG) highlight the importance of audit committee effectiveness in ensuring the reliability and transparency of financial reporting. The FISG was enacted in response to high-profile accounting scandals and corporate failures, including the collapse of Wirecard, which shook the confidence of investors in […]

The audit expectation gap describes the difference between what auditors do and what the public thinks they do. It has been a problem for the audit profession for decades, particularly with regard to auditors’ responsibilities for preventing and detecting fraud and maintaining internal controls. However, there has been a recent paradigm shift towards digital audits […]

Algorithms are becoming increasingly prevalent in our lives, from the ads we see on social media to the decisions made by banks and other institutions. However, as algorithms become more widespread, it is crucial to ensure they are not biased or discriminatory through appropriate auditing approaches. In a recent Harvard Business Review article, the importance […]

The use of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) language model from OpenAI, is currently causing „office drama“ with large debates over its appropriate use, productivity hacks, and the evaluation of human performance. While some workers embrace it to create professional-sounding emails and automate tasks, others push back on machine-created work. JPMorgan Chase and Verizon Communications […]

The expenses for both companies and their investors due to cybersecurity incidents are increasing, and the rate of increase is also going up. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is suggesting changes to its rules to make public companies provide better information about their cybersecurity risk management and incident reporting. In the current form, the […]

The International Internal Audit Standards Board just announced the next stage in the IPPF evolution (IIA, 2023): Public comment on the proposed Standards is now open! The IIA started its IPPF Evolution project in 2020, with the goal of modernizing and transforming the IIA Standards to ensure their continued relevance and applicability. Research and benchmarking […]