Skip to main content
 This program is not active.
Live Webcast Replay

Benford's Law: A Valuable Audit Tool


Total Credits: 2 including 1 Accounting (Governmental) - Technical, 1 Auditing (Governmental) - Technical

Average Rating:
   124
Categories:
Accounting and Auditing |  ACPEN Industry Institute |  Industry
Speaker:
David L. Cotton, CPA, CFE, CGFM
Course Levels:
Update
Duration:
2 Hours
Product Type:
Live Webcast Replay
License:

Dates


Description

Numbers—and especially the digits within those numbers—can conceal a lot of information. Benford's Law is the key to unlocking that information. This session will explain what Benford's Law is, how it works, and how it can be used to reveal bogus information and made-up data. Accountants and auditors should understand how to use this valuable audit tool.  The session will also describe other digital analysis techniques that can be used to reveal evidence of fraud.  But, if you take this course, you must promise not to reveal the secrets behind these techniques to any fraud perpetrators.

Basic Course Information

Learning Objectives

*Understand what digital analysis is, how it works, and why it works

*Understand Benford’s Law, when it works, and how it works

*Understand other digital analysis techniques

*Understand how to apply digital analysis techniques to detect fraudulent transactions


Major Subjects

*Fraud

*Fraud detection

*Data analysis

*Digital analysis

*Benford’s Law


Course Materials

Speaker

David L. Cotton, CPA, CFE, CGFM's Profile

David L. Cotton, CPA, CFE, CGFM Related Seminars and Products


Dave Cotton is chairman of Cotton & Company LLP, Certified Public Accoun­tants, headquartered in Alexan­dria, Virginia.  The firm was founded in 1981 and has a practice concentration in assist­ing Federal and State government agencies, inspectors general, and government grantees and contractors with a variety of govern­ment program-related assurance and advisory services.  Cotton & Company has performed grant and contract, indirect cost rate, financial statement, financial related, and performance audits for more than two dozen Federal inspectors general as well as numer­ous other Federal and State organizations, programs, activities, and functions. 

Cotton & Company’s Federal agency audit clients have included the U.S. Government Accountability Office, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Transportation Command, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Millennium Challenge Corporation, U.S. Marshals Service, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Cotton & Company also assists numerous Federal agencies in preparing financial statements and improving financial management, accounting, and internal control systems.

Dave received a BS in me­chanical engineering (1971) and an MBA in management science and labor rela­tions (1972) from Lehigh University in Bethle­hem, PA.  He also pursued gradu­ate studies in accounting and auditing at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business (1977 to 1978).  He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM).

Dave served on the Advisory Council on Government Auditing Standards (the Council advises the United States Comptroller General on promulgation of Government Auditing Standards—GAO’s yellow book) from 2006 to 2009.  He served on the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Anti-Fraud Programs and Controls Task Force and co-authored Managing the Business Risk of Fraud: A Practical Guide.  He served on the American Institute of CPAs Anti-Fraud Task Force and co-authored Management Override: The Achilles Heel of Fraud Prevention. Dave is the past-chair of the AICPA Federal Accounting and Auditing Subcommittee and has served on the AICPA Gov­ernmental Accounting and Auditing Com­mit­tee and the Government Technical Standards Subcom­mittee of the AICPA Profes­sional Ethics Execu­tive Commit­tee.  Dave chaired the Fraud Risk Management Task Force, sponsored by COSO and ACFE and is a principal author of the COSO-ACFE Fraud Risk Management Guide. 

Dave served on the board of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) and on the VSCPA Litigation Services, Professional Ethics, Quality Review, and Governmental Accounting and Auditing Committees.  He is a member of the Association of Government Accountants (AGA) and past-advisory board chairman and past-president of the AGA Northern Virginia Chapter and currently serves on the AGA Professional Ethics Board.  He is also a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).

Dave has testified as an expert in governmental accounting, auditing, and fraud issues before the United States Court of Federal Claims and other administrative and judicial bodies. 

Dave has spoken frequently on cost accounting, professional ethics, and auditor fraud detection responsibilities under SAS 99, Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit.  He has been an instructor for the George Washington University masters of accountancy program (Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting), and has instructed for the George Mason University Small Business Development Center (Fundamentals of Accounting for Government Contracts). 

Dave was the recipient of the ACFE 2018 Certified Fraud Examiner of the Year Award (“presented to a CFE who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of fraud examination …  based on their contributions to the ACFE, to the profession, and to the community”); AGA’s 2012 Educator Award (“to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the education and training of government financial managers”); and AGA’s 2006 Barr Award (“to recognize the cumulative achievements of private sector individuals who throughout their careers have served as a role model for others and who have consistently exhibited the highest personal and professional standards”).


Additional Info

Basic Course Information

Prerequisites

None


Advanced Preparation

None


Designed For

Internal and external auditors at all levels; risk management and compliance specialists at all levels


Original Recording Date

01/08/2018


Yellow Book

Yes


Course Developer

David L. Cotton, CPA, CFE, CGFM


Date Added to Catalog

01/03/2018


Additional Information

Complaint Resolution Policy Please contact Anne Taylor for any complaints. anne.taylor@acpen.com, (972-377-8199).
Official Registry Statement

Business Professionals' Network, Inc. is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org


Instructional Delivery Method Group Internet Based
Course Registration Requirements Online Registration
Refund/Cancellation Policy Please contact the ACPEN help desk 1-877-602-9877 or help@acpen.com if you wish to cancel your attendance for a previously purchased webcast and are requesting a refund or transfer.

Reviews

5
4
3
2
1

Overall:      4.6

Total Reviews: 124

Comments

Timothy M. J - Kalispell, Montana

" "

Sandra I

"Interesting topic. Great presenter."

Danielle S

"Fascinating"

Stacy B - Bartow, Florida

"I love the subject matter, very relevant to current environment"

Diane D - Corpus Christi, Texas

"This is probably the most interesting course I have done. Very good examples, great explanations. Worth my time."

Raymond F

" "

Susan S - Winter Haven, Florida

"In both this course and the Balance sheet course, I like the 2 person conversation. Holds interest."

Brad F

" "

Gary B

"Great analysis, with very good examples."

Sheila G - Gainesville, Florida

"I'm a retired State Auditor and found this very interesting and informative. Note: I appreciate this course being offered at this time. There is more to life than what we are going thru right now! "