Detecting Fraud in the Organization : An Internal Audit Perspective

Fraud constitutes a significant problem for many organizations. Its effects range from monetary costs to reputational loss. With the added impetus of recent regulations, the implementation of an effective anti-fraud program is a priority for most companies. To establish the basis for the effectiveness of controls and procedures designed in the anti-fraud program, a comprehensive fraud risk assessment should be performed and the program should be periodically reassessed. The Institute of Internal Auditors’ (IIA) Practice Guide, IPPF – Internal Auditing and Fraud states that the organization’s internal audit activity is often called upon to play a pivotal role in the development and evaluation of anti-fraud programs. This study examined the perceptions of internal auditors based on a survey instrument that collected data on the top fraud risks that internal auditors believed threaten their organizations and the procedures they perceived to be most effective in detecting those frauds. In response to The IIAs’ Global Technology Audit Guide, Fraud Prevention and the Detection in an Automated World, the study also examined internal auditors’ use of various business intelligence tools. The survey participants also shared the skills that they considered to be most important for detecting fraud. These skills were mapped to The IIA’s Internal Auditor Competency Framework