Fraud and Forensics Classroom Materials
Forensic accounting services generally involve the application of specialized knowledge and investigative skills possessed by CPAs to collect, analyze, and evaluate evidential matter and to interpret and communicate findings in the courtroom, boardroom, or other legal or administrative venue.
The below are supplemental curriculum resources that the AICPA Academics team has reviewed and can be used in the classroom.
Award-Winning Curricula
The Academics team is proud to offer award-winning curricula designed to encourage faculty and expand the knowledge of accounting students. The curricula below is from the Accounting Professors Curriculum Resource tool and has been recognized for excellence with the Bea Sanders/AICPA Innovation and Teaching Award, the George Krull/Grant Thornton AAA Innovation in Junior and Senior-Level Teaching Award, or the Mark Chain/FSA Innovation in Graduate Teaching Award.- Early Detection of Fraud: Evidence from Restatements
This case will introduce a simplified version of an early fraud prediction model created by Churyk, Lee, and Clinton. The fraud prediction model is based on the concept of content analysis and deception literature and was built and validated by using samples of MD&A of fraud companies and non-fraud companies. - How to Develop a Forensic Accounting Class that Investigates Local Cases of White Collar Crime
This resource provides guidance on creating a class where students investigate actual cases of suspected financial fraud that are referred to the class by local law enforcement. - The Original Forensics: Using Debate to Teach Critical Thinking Skills
This resource uses debates, specifically a style called Public Form Debates, to develop students' critical thinking. The goal of this exercise is to prepare students for future business meetings and interactions where people possess different opinions, different agendas and various levels of self-interest. - Second Chance Homeless Shelter: A Fraud Case for Introductory and Survey Courses in Accounting
This fraud case is useful as an active learning tool to increase student engagement in intro level accounting courses where students are likely to have only a minimal understand of accounting and internal controls. - Crossing the Line: Ordinary People Committing Extraordinary Crimes
This resource provides a digital media project that can be shown to students. The one-hour documentary includes the development of thirty 30-minute teaching modules covering various fraud topics such as revenue recognition, financial statement fraud, whistle-blowing and insider trading.
Additional Materials
Here are additional materials we reviewed and think are useful to incorporate into the classroom.
Related AICPA Sections and Credentials
The Forensic and Valuation Services Section
The Forensic and Valuation Services Center provide CPAs with a vast array of resources, tools and information about forensic accounting and business valuation services in one convenient location. The FVS Center also provides special member benefits to FVS Section and CFF and ABV credential holders.
Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) Credential
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) established the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) credential in 2008 for CPAs who specialize in forensic accounting. The CFF credential is granted exclusively to CPAs who demonstrate considerable expertise in forensic accounting through their knowledge, skills, and experience. The CFF encompasses fundamental and specialized forensic accounting skills that CPA practitioners apply in a variety of service areas, including: bankruptcy; electronic data analysis; family law; valuations; fraud prevention, detection, and response; financial statement misrepresentation; and damages calculations.
