Speaking and Training on Fraud, Compliance, Ethics, and More...
Welcome to my site. I have spoken and been the keynote speaker for many conferences, including the ABA, ACC, ACFE, IIA, and IMA to name a few. I have designed customized training for the board, senior leadership, legal, compliance, internal audit, and others for some of the world's largest organizations.
Fraud: Department of Justice (DOJ) Announces Procurement Collusion Strike Force
On November 5th, the Department of Justice announced the formation of the new Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) “focusing on deterring, detecting, investigating and prosecuting antitrust crimes, such as bid-rigging conspiracies and related fraudulent schemes, which undermine competition in government procurement, grant and program funding”.The Strike Force is an inter-agency partnership comprised of prosecutors from the Antitrust Division, and prosecutors from thirteen (13) U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. Aiding in the prosecutors’ efforts are investigation partners such as the Offices of Inspector Generals from the Department of Justice, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Service, and General Services Administration Office. The Department of Justice’s announcement proclaimed that investigating and prosecuting those who “cheat, collude and seek to undermine the integrity of government procurement” will have more to concern themselves with when executing their crimes. Prosecutors and investigators alike expressed enthusiasm to be working as a part of this new team.
Reputation Risk Management Doesn’t Have a Start or End Date!
How can we protect our brand? What are we doing to protect our brand? Questions all board members should be constantly asking. Reputational risks can damage the most well-crafted business strategies and is a growing challenge that companies around the world are still learning how to manage.By definition, reputational risk refers to the potential for negative publicity, public perception, or uncontrollable events to adversely impact a company's reputation, thereby affecting its revenue.Board directors covet their company’s reputation because it’s their most valuable asset. A study by Deloitte and Forbes affirmed this conviction, but should not surprise anyone. Senior-level executives also agreed that their company’s reputation presented the greatest risk to the company’s ability to achieve business strategies.
FCPA: CEO Overriding/Circumventing and Exploiting Internal Controls, and Issuing False Certifications
Skepticism - A Key Tool in the Fight Against Fraud
“Trust but verify” could be a downright dangerous approach when applied to audit procedures in particular. A much better slogan for fraud deterrence would be, “Trust is a professional hazard.”The implication is that because financial management plays a leading role in detecting financial fraud, it is incumbent on executives – not just auditors – to exercise appropriate levels of professional skepticism. Board members and particularly audit committee members also must take care to exercise a skeptical approach to financial reports and supporting information.
Slush Funds and the Juniper Networks FCPA Settlement
Niki A. den Nieuwenboer will be kicking off the 2020 IIA Philly Fraud Symposium sponsored by Baker Tilly - Mark your calendars for March 20th!
Jonathan T. Marks, Baker Tilly Partner, is Speaking Today at the First Chair Event in Chicago on Triaging Whistleblower Allegations
e-Guide for Chief Compliance Officers
This e-book is intended as a guide for Chief Compliance Officers (CCOs) and those responsible for developing and implementing compliance policies and procedures for an organization. Compliance, when done properly and embraced fully, should be seen as a necessary business process. It is our vision that companies have more than a best-in-class compliance program going forward. The time is now for companies to take the next step up to make compliance a part of the business process of the organization. This would not only allow companies to meet the Department of Justice’s requirement that compliance programs be more fully operationalized, but it is our firm belief that a more effective compliance program will make the company’s internal controls operate more efficiently and enable it to operate more profitably. With the increased efficiencies for compliance offered by data analytics and AI, a robust compliance program can demonstrate internal commercial inefficiencies which can be remediated for greater return from assets.
Crisis Management - Lights, Camera, Action!
Some of the biggest mistakes made when handling a crisis are not dealing with the problem head on, thoughtless or insincere comments, lack of communication with stakeholders, unprepared spokespeople, getting defensive after receiving backlash, or, sitting back and letting the problem grow. Domino's, Sony, Samsung, BP, United Airlines, Equifax, KFC, are all good examples of companies who stumbled with crisis management. Organizations should study these crises and learn from the mistakes!
Theranos: Too Good to Be True!
False Claims Act: Supreme Court Recognizes Extended Statute of Limitations For Relators
Cochise settles a circuit split and effectively lengthens the potential period of a company’s vulnerability to qui tam suits over alleged False Claims Act violations.
New DOJ Guidance Addresses ‘Effectiveness’ of Compliance Programs
DOJ Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs
SEC Challenged Over Delay on Whistleblower Award Decision
Tipsters have grown frustrated with the length of time it has taken the the SEC ("Commission") to determine whether a tip warrants a reward.
PHorensically Speaking Podcast Feed is Live!
With the help from a true friend, Tom Fox, I am entering the world of Podcasting. I will be developing at least three Podcasts per
Baker Tilly’s 2019 Effective Governance and Compliance Roundtable Series - May 1, 2019 - CPE Event in Philadelphia -Using Continuous Auditing and Monitoring in the Fight Against Fraud
Organizations are under increasing scrutiny regarding ethical lapses and allegations of fraud. Fiscal year 2018 was a record-breaking year for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s whistleblower program, as more and more individuals have been coming forward with allegations of impropriety. Come learn how to use continuous auditing and monitoring in the fight against fraud - or help improve your compliance program!
Baker Tilly is proudly is Speaking at 2 Presentations during the 14th Annual Fraud Summit on campus at the University of Texas at Dallas on March 29th, 2019
Fraud Tip Friday: Investigation Planning - Preserving Evidence
Fraud Training - The Investigative Interview: Assessing Subject Credibility
This one day Fraud Symposium, hosted by the Institute of Internal Auditors - Philadelphia Chapter, will include other topics such as: Fraud hotlines, Current trends in white-collar crime (FCPA, FCA, etc.), Investigation pitfalls, Third-party risk management, and Compliance and Internal Audit issues.