Internal auditors in fraud fear
More pressure to distort earnings in current economic climate
Nine out of ten internal auditors believe there is more pressure to distort
earnings figures since the onset of the recession, an industry survey has found.
A KPMG study of more than 1,000 audit committee members from 25 countries
found widespread concern for fraud, especially the manipulation of earnings
data, since the recession took hold.
The distortion of earnings data can create a biased view of a company’s
financial position. Management can manipulate the timing of announcements or
other basic reporting conditions behind closed doors in order to speed up or
delay the release of earnings information.
The report found 86% of committee members said the risk of inappropriate
earnings management and other misconduct had grown due to the recession.
Committee members felt powerless to challenge the practice.
Temptation to manipulate the earnings information can be particularly strong
when times are tough, according to KPMG partner Tim Copnell. ‘I wouldn’t be able
to point you to any statistics that prove it, but I think most people would
accept the fact that this happens when organisations are stretched,’ he said.
‘I certainly think that good whistle blowing procedures would catch a lot of
accounting fraud.’
