AGA Boston Chapter Winter Seminar
The Winter Seminar is on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at the Thomas O’Neill Federal Building on Causeway Street in Boston. Please remember to leave time to go through security.
Our speaker is David L. Cotton, CPA, CGFM, CFE, Chairman of Cotton & Company LLP. The sessions are:
Using Computer Assisted Audit Techniques to Detect Fraud – This session explores recent developments in Computer Assisted Audit Techniques (CAATs) and how CAATs can be used to find potentially fraudulent transactions. Data mining, data analysis, and expert systems software programs are explained. Examples are used to show how these programs have been used to find contract and purchasing fraud. Case studies show how data mining software has been used to solve violent crimes and insurance fraud; how data analysis software has been used to identify false claims; and how Benford’s Law (digital analysis) software has been used to uncover schemes designed to circumvent competition requirements.
Benford’s Law–A Valuable Audit Tool – 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. But, if you attend this session, you must promise not to reveal the secret behind the technique to any fraud perpetrators.
Resolving Ethical Dilemmas – Professional ethics rules are numerous, detailed and complex. Navigating through them can be a challenge--especially when the rules themselves create additional conflicts. This session will examine some frameworks for resolving ethical dilemmas and explore the newly-enacted Conceptual Framework within the AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct.
Psychology of Fraud – We all know that Fraud Happens. But why? Why do people we think we can trust let us down? This session will explore the minds of white-collar criminals and examine some recent high-profile fraud cases. Why did they do it? How did they do it? What were the warning signs? If you think that fraud cannot happen to your organization, this session might give you pause.
Fundamentals of Accounting for Governmental Contracts and Grants - Getting a large government grant or contract is exciting and can mean very positive things for both the procuring party and the performing party to the exchange transaction. Tragedy can result, however, if proper accountability rules are not followed. This session will cover the following fundamental topics:
Ø Financial Accounting vs. Cost Accounting
Ø Job or Process Costing
Ø Charts of Accounts
Ø Direct vs. Indirect Costs
Ø Contract Types and Contract Cost Principles
Ø Accounting for Particular Costs
Ø Cost Allocations, Indirect Cost Pools and Rates
Ø Costing vs. Pricing and Cost and Pricing Data Requirements
Ø Internal Controls
Ø Common Problems Areas
Procurements can be win-win transactions for both parties if the rules are known and followed.
Registration and continental breakfast is from 8:00 to 8:30AM. The seminar runs 8:45AM to 4:15 PM and attendees will earn 7 CPEs. Lunch is on your own from 11:45AM to 12:45PM. The cost is $75 for members and $100 for non-members. Visit www.bostonaga.org for more information or to register by January 19, 2015.