To effectively test for fraud, all relevant transactions must be tested across all applicable business systems and applications. Analyzing business transactions at the source level helps auditors provide better insight and a more complete view as to the likelihood of fraud occurring. It helps focus investigative action to those transactions that are suspicious or illustrate control weaknesses that could be exploited by fraudsters. Follow-on tests should be performed to further that auditor’s understanding of the data and to search for symptoms of fraud in the data.1
There is a spectrum of analysis that can be deployed to detect fraud. It ranges from point-in-time analysis conducted in an ad hoc context for one-off fraud investigation or exploration, through to repetitive analysis of business processes where fraudulent activity is likely to more likely to occur. Ultimately, where the risk of fraud is high and the likelihood is as well, organizations can employ an “always on” or continuous approach to fraud detection – especially in those areas where preventative controls are not possible or effective.
Once an organization gets started with data analysis, they usually find that they want to do more and dig deeper into the data. Modern organizations have increased management demands for information and the audit paradigm is shifting from the traditional cyclical approach to a continuous and risk-based model. Technology therefore offers a range of solutions, varying by the size and sophistication of the audit organization. From ad hoc analysis, through to repeatable automated procedures, and continuous auditing and monitoring, analytics provide insight into the integrity of financial and business operations through transactional analysis. Technology provides more accurate audit reports and better insight into the internal controls framework, and improves the ability to access and manage business risk.
I know you have done your exhaustive analysis, do you have any theories? Have you tested your theories? Questioned accounts, have you sent anyone with knowledge on gathering intelligence to these accounts posing as representatives. Ask the questions, these accounts will tell you the truth. All former Shiel representatives, and of course some current ones, have taken from Quest. The covenants are apparently meaningless. I assure you the commonalities are far to many to be a shear coincidence. When you are able to find these commonalities, test your theories by questioning accounts. You will have your answers.