This study provides a test of the market valuation impact of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement actions for foreign firms. I examine the SEC enforcement policy towards foreign firms under its jurisdiction. In contrast to Siegel (2005) who examines earlier years, I find that the SEC's current (post-2002) enforcement intensity is considerable and has increased dramatically by comparison. I construct a novel test using the burgeoning series SEC enforcement events as changes to the legal environment that circumvents the issues associated with firm-level exchange-listing events (e.g. self-selection and simultaneous changes to firm traits). The tests focus on stock returns of foreign firms not targeted by the SEC during event windows surrounding SEC announcements of enforcements against foreign firms. This isolates the effect of a changing enforcement environment. I find that when the SEC takes action against a foreign firm, non-target foreign firms experience positive stock returns. Returns are amplified for firms from weaker home legal environments, suggesting that the returns are due to a perceived increase in SEC scrutiny. Finally, consistent with the market adjusting to the new enforcement regime, the magnitude of non-target firm returns declines with each sequential SEC enforcement action. The overall results provide evidence that SEC oversight plays a significant role in increasing the value of foreign firms, which supports the legal bonding hypothesis discussed in prior literature.

Diante dos escândalos contábeis e fraudes corporativas reportadas nas últimas décadas em diversos países do mundo, incluindo o Brasil, aprovou-se, em agosto de 2013, a lei anticorrupção brasileira 12.846, com o objetivo de responsabilizar administrativa e civilmente pessoas jurídicas que pratiquem atos contra a administração pública, nacional ou estrangeira. Embora seja notório o esforço do governo federal brasileiro no combate à corrupção, a legislação carecia de orientações sobre mecanismos e procedimentos internos de integridade, auditoria e incentivo à denúncia de irregularidades, demandando o preparo de documento complementar, publicado em março de 2015, através do Decreto 8.420. O presente estudo investiga o grau de conhecimento sobre o programa de integridade da lei anticorrupção, bem como sua existência e aplicabilidade, por meio da análise da percepção dos respondentes de uma amostra de empresas nacionais e multinacionais. Avaliam-se também os efeitos do programa de integridade estabelecido na lei anticorrupção sobre os controles internos das organizações e a opinião de auditores independentes sobre o monitoramento destes controles, com o advento da nova legislação. A amostra contempla 32 empresas de capital aberto associadas à ABRASCA (Associação Brasileira de Companhias Abertas) e 25 firmas de auditoria vinculadas ao IBRACON (Instituto dos Auditores Independentes do Brasil). Para coletar as respostas, utiliza-se o método survey, operacionalizado através de um formulário comercializado pela empresa Vroman Systems Inc (Form site) e enviado eletronicamente para o grupo de empresas selecionado. Em relação aos achados, destaca-se a confirmação de que a função do compliance officer foi criada após a regulamentação da lei anticorrupção, indicando que a legislação impactou o número de funcionários das organizações. Também se constata que as empresas respondentes, associadas à ABRASCA, têm alto grau de conhecimento e aderência aos parâmetros do programa de integridade da lei anticorrupção. Além disso, as firmas de auditoria associadas ao IBRACON confirmam que o programa de integridade da lei anticorrupção afetou o modelo de trabalho das auditorias independentes no Brasil. Dentre as recomendações para aprofundamento da pesquisa, sugere-se expandir a amostra para empresas de capital fechado, independentes de associações, e buscar entender se o programa de integridade da lei anticorrupção beneficia a performance financeira das empresas estabelecidas no Brasil. / In the face of corporate accounting scandals and frauds reported in the last decades in several countries, including Brazil, the Brazilian anti-corruption law 12,846 was approved in August 2013, with the purpose of charging administratively and civilly persons who commit acts against public, national or foreign administrations. Although the efforts of the Brazilian federal government to combat corruption are notable, the legislation lacked guidance on mechanisms, internal integrity procedures, audit and incentives to whistleblowing, resulting in the preparation of a supplementary document published in March 2015, through Decree 8,420. This study investigates the extent of knowledge about the anti-corruption integrity program law, as well as its existence and applicability, through the analysis of a sample of national and multinational companies. The effects of the integrity program, established in the anti-corruption law, on internal controls of organizations and the opinion of independent auditors on the monitoring of these controls, with the advent of new legislation, are also evaluated. The final sample includes 32 public companies associated with ABRASCA (Brazilian Association of Listed Companies) and 25 audit firms linked to IBRACON (Institute of Independent Auditors of Brazil). In order to collect the answers, the survey method is used, and conducted through a form marketed by Vroman Systems Inc (Form website) and sent electronically to the selected population. Regarding the results, the analysis shows that the function of the compliance officer was created after the regulation of the anti-corruption law, and indicates that the legislation affected the number of resources at these organizations. It also notes that the surveyed companies, associated with ABRASCA, have a high degree of knowledge and adherence to the parameters of the anti-corruption integrity program law. In addition, audit firms associated with IBRACON confirm that the anti-corruption integrity program law has affected the working model of independent audits in Brazil. For further research, it is recommended that the sample be expanded to include private companies and independent associations, and that the analysis should seek to understand if the anti-corruption integrity program law benefits the financial performance of the corporations in Brazil.

Diante dos escândalos contábeis e fraudes corporativas reportadas nas últimas décadas em diversos países do mundo, incluindo o Brasil, aprovou-se, em agosto de 2013, a lei anticorrupção brasileira 12.846, com o objetivo de responsabilizar administrativa e civilmente pessoas jurídicas que pratiquem atos contra a administração pública, nacional ou estrangeira. Embora seja notório o esforço do governo federal brasileiro no combate à corrupção, a legislação carecia de orientações sobre mecanismos e procedimentos internos de integridade, auditoria e incentivo à denúncia de irregularidades, demandando o preparo de documento complementar, publicado em março de 2015, através do Decreto 8.420. O presente estudo investiga o grau de conhecimento sobre o programa de integridade da lei anticorrupção, bem como sua existência e aplicabilidade, por meio da análise da percepção dos respondentes de uma amostra de empresas nacionais e multinacionais. Avaliam-se também os efeitos do programa de integridade estabelecido na lei anticorrupção sobre os controles internos das organizações e a opinião de auditores independentes sobre o monitoramento destes controles, com o advento da nova legislação. A amostra contempla 32 empresas de capital aberto associadas à ABRASCA (Associação Brasileira de Companhias Abertas) e 25 firmas de auditoria vinculadas ao IBRACON (Instituto dos Auditores Independentes do Brasil). Para coletar as respostas, utiliza-se o método survey, operacionalizado através de um formulário comercializado pela empresa Vroman Systems Inc (Form site) e enviado eletronicamente para o grupo de empresas selecionado. Em relação aos achados, destaca-se a confirmação de que a função do compliance officer foi criada após a regulamentação da lei anticorrupção, indicando que a legislação impactou o número de funcionários das organizações. Também se constata que as empresas respondentes, associadas à ABRASCA, têm alto grau de conhecimento e aderência aos parâmetros do programa de integridade da lei anticorrupção. Além disso, as firmas de auditoria associadas ao IBRACON confirmam que o programa de integridade da lei anticorrupção afetou o modelo de trabalho das auditorias independentes no Brasil. Dentre as recomendações para aprofundamento da pesquisa, sugere-se expandir a amostra para empresas de capital fechado, independentes de associações, e buscar entender se o programa de integridade da lei anticorrupção beneficia a performance financeira das empresas estabelecidas no Brasil. / In the face of corporate accounting scandals and frauds reported in the last decades in several countries, including Brazil, the Brazilian anti-corruption law 12,846 was approved in August 2013, with the purpose of charging administratively and civilly persons who commit acts against public, national or foreign administrations. Although the efforts of the Brazilian federal government to combat corruption are notable, the legislation lacked guidance on mechanisms, internal integrity procedures, audit and incentives to whistleblowing, resulting in the preparation of a supplementary document published in March 2015, through Decree 8,420. This study investigates the extent of knowledge about the anti-corruption integrity program law, as well as its existence and applicability, through the analysis of a sample of national and multinational companies. The effects of the integrity program, established in the anti-corruption law, on internal controls of organizations and the opinion of independent auditors on the monitoring of these controls, with the advent of new legislation, are also evaluated. The final sample includes 32 public companies associated with ABRASCA (Brazilian Association of Listed Companies) and 25 audit firms linked to IBRACON (Institute of Independent Auditors of Brazil). In order to collect the answers, the survey method is used, and conducted through a form marketed by Vroman Systems Inc (Form website) and sent electronically to the selected population. Regarding the results, the analysis shows that the function of the compliance officer was created after the regulation of the anti-corruption law, and indicates that the legislation affected the number of resources at these organizations. It also notes that the surveyed companies, associated with ABRASCA, have a high degree of knowledge and adherence to the parameters of the anti-corruption integrity program law. In addition, audit firms associated with IBRACON confirm that the anti-corruption integrity program law has affected the working model of independent audits in Brazil. For further research, it is recommended that the sample be expanded to include private companies and independent associations, and that the analysis should seek to understand if the anti-corruption integrity program law benefits the financial performance of the corporations in Brazil.

This paper deals with the subject of fraud investigation. Fraud investigation and forensic audit as such are defined in the first part of the paper. Requirements to become a fraud investigator are described in the next part. A theory surrounding frauds is also presented (incl. most common fraud schemes, fraud triangle etc.). The author also describes foreign anti-corruption legislation which has power to punish corruption which took place on the soil of Czech Republic. An example of how breach of FCPA in the Czech Republic has been investigated is presented by the end of the paper.

This dissertation examines the impact and determinants of government enforcement action related to compliance and corruption. Study I assesses whether Health Care Compliance (HCC) related government enforcement actions are effective at improving firms’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) scores. In a study of 37 enforcement actions, I find that the corporate social responsibility (CSR) score significantly increases during the three years after the enforcement settlement, compared to the period before the enforcement action. In particular, I find that the Diversity and Community CSR sub-scores improve following the enforcement settlement. However, there is little evidence that firms with poorer CSR ratings are more likely subject to enforcement action. Study II expands the reach of enforcement actions beyond the healthcare industry to all firms subject to Foreign Corrupt Practice Act (FCPA) enforcement actions. Based on 88 cases of such enforcement actions, I document increases of the overall CSR scores as well as several sub-scores post enforcement settlement, which is consistent with the results in Study I. I also find that firms start to improve their CSR ratings as soon as the identification of the misconduct occurs, which is on average four years prior to the settlement of the enforcement action. Furthermore, the improvement in CSR rating post misconduct year tends to be greater and more significant among firms that face larger monetary sanctions. This implies that the materiality of enforcement monetary penalties plays a significant role in shaping a firm’s timely response to government investigation of misconduct. Although I find that CSR ratings in Employee Relations and Product are significantly negatively related to the chance of being subject to enforcement action investigation, there is little evidence that firms with poor CSR ratings are more likely to subject to enforcement actions. This finding is consistent with the results from Study I. / Business Administration/Interdisciplinary

U.S. aerospace companies are estimated to lose more than $25 billion in international contracts per year due to bribery. These losses create Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) compliance strategy challenges for U.S. aerospace companies' management. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies that U.S. aerospace small business leaders use to comply with the FCPA. The conceptual framework for this study was the regulatory compliance conceptual model, which suggests that small business leaders must gain deeper insight into how corporate compliance policies address the FCPA requirements. The target population for this study was leaders of a small U.S. aerospace company in California. Data collection included semistructured, face-to-face interviews with 7 business managers and an archival exploration of internal company documents related to FCPA compliance. The data analysis process used thematic analysis, including methodological triangulation, to identify 4 themes: continuous FCPA compliance training, interactive management, compliance with cultural norms, and qualifying opportunities for FCPA compliance. These themes highlighted practical strategies for compliance with the FCPA, which are essential in achieving international business contracts. Small U.S. aerospace businesses must consider these 4 themes when developing corporate compliance directives with the FCPA. Better international business ethics through compliance with the FCPA will facilitate positive social change by reducing corporate operational costs and creating jobs, which improve the quality of life and well-being of people in the local communities.

This diploma thesis is a practical excursion into the organization of controls in a particular shared service centre. The work deals with the company relation to the section 302 and 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act and describes the company's internal control system according to the COSO "Integrated framework - Internal control" issued in 1992. More detailed description is provided within the company's fraud risk assessment process and within yearly testing process of control activities in order to meet section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The specifics of external audit when performing audit in shared service centre, the shared service centre influence to foreign accounting entities from internal control system perspective are the other topics taken in consideration. Finally, there are highlighted benefits of automated system for processing travelling expenses in relation to the COSO "Integrated framework - Internal control" issued in 1992 and in relation to necessary assurances requested by U.S. SEC for the purpose of preparing financial statements under U.S. GAAP. The company's relation to anti-corruption laws (such as the FCPA) intersect in the analytical section, whose purpose is to find internal control gaps in the department processing travel reports in terms of their content and process.