Catch fraud, not feelings: Exploring the paradoxical role of external accountants in the detection of fraud
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2019-08-26
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en
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Occasionally the economic world is hit by a financial scandal. Society has a tendency to identify accountants as scapegoats, however to what extent is this justified? This thesis analyzes the interplay between organizations, external accountants and society regarding fraud detection from an accountant’s point of view. The differing expectations between society and accountants are explored using a literature review and interviews with accountants at the Nederlandse Beroepsorganisatie van Accountants (NBA) and an accounting firm. The main cause of the expectation gap is a difference in the expectation society has of accountants in fraud detection and the demands of regulations in fraud detection. Dutch regulators do not demand an active role in fraud detection from accountants, while society do expect accountants to take on an active role in fraud detection. However, the expectation gap is the result of a combination of many different causes. Some of them are highlighted in this thesis and suggestions are made to reduce the expectation gap.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen