When going into this class, I was not sure exactly what to expect. I thought the concept of forensic
accounting was something I had never experienced. However, a lot of the concepts in this class are
ones previously covered in various classes over the course of this and my undergrad degree. One
topic that always stands out is the fraud triangle. The fraud triangle essentially says "individuals are
motivated to commit fraud when three elements come together: (1) some kind of perceived
pressure, (2) some perceived opportunity, and (3) some way to rationalize the fraud as not being
inconsistent with one’s values.” (NWC, n.d.) I liked applying that theory to the WorldCom fraud
scheme. Additionally, I watch a lot of crime dramas and learning about the fraud triangle helps me
better understand the detective’s perspective when trying to determine who is committing the
crime (whether it be fraud or any other crime.) I like being able to take concepts and applying them
to different areas of life.
The course titled ‘ACC 646: Intro to Forensic Accounting/Fraud Exam’ has been extremely
informative as it has broadened my insight on forensic accounting and how the learned concepts
can be adopted in the real-life setting. The course helps me learn about characteristics that can help
in the detection of fraud and criminal activities involving accounting. One of the chief elements of
the course that I found most interesting was the use of information technology in the forensic
accounting context. As the course has been designed in an in-depth manner, I got the opportunity to
learn and identify how an individual might be motivated to engage in fraudulent accounting
practices within an organization. As instances of accounting fraud and malpractices have become
extremely common in the contemporary business landscape, the course can help me to use my
learned knowledge and skills in the practical setting to investigate.
The course helped me to strengthen my skills relating to performing analysis and problem-solving. I
can use these skills in the forensic accounting domain to uncover fraudulent activities or
malpractices. By using these skills, I will be able to design robust and effective antifraud techniques
and control measures in my organizational setting and play a constructive role in preventing
fraudulent activities from taking place. For excelling in the specific area, I need to make sure that I
use my accounting knowledge along with critical-thinking skills to evaluate issues in a detailed
manner. The adoption of ethical principles such as transparency, honesty and integrity and
responsibility are also necessary for professionals in the domain to promote the adoption of
responsible and genuine accounting practices. After taking up the course, I have realized that I also
need to develop appropriate digital skills so that I can carefully assess financial data and identify
manipulations or discrepancies.
Fraud triangle. National Whistleblower Centre. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2023, from
https://www.whistleblowers.org/fraud-triangle/
