none

The goal of this diploma thesis "Aggressive earnings management in publicly traded companies and its impact on share prices" is to connect an interesting topic of earnings management, which is part of a wider group -- financial fraud, with specific impact on the capital market. This thesis includes identification and quantification of the impact on a well known case of corporate fraud -- Enron. First part of the thesis describes and discusses the topic earnings management including its definition, motivation, tests, connected risk and legislation. Second part discusses share valuation techniques -- relative and absolute methods, which will be used in the last part. Last part of the thesis, using the well known case of earnings management -- Enron, quantifies the extent of earnings management, its impact on share prices and total damages caused to investors.

More .crimes of fraud make more . people who receive the messages lose money and felt great fear, which is a huge damage to Taiwan. There are many kind of fraud, included telemarketing fraud, lottery fraud and Automated Teller Machine fraud, etc. Message receivers are not understand the difference is between truth and fraud, and many message receivers reject all the messages they receive than believing racketeers and lose their money and time. There are many common cases of fraud, and related analysis is included in the study. There are four keypoints why message receivers were victims after asking for experts¡¦ opinions, including extra-environmental factors, forms of fraud, message receivers who do not have enough knowledge about fraud and message receivers¡¦ personal factors. Finally, the study designed a questionnaire to investigate what cognition, experience and attitude subjects had. The population of study is the citizens in Kaohsiung. The research uses the elaboration likelihood model as the research method and the situation stimulated to design the questionnaire. The research result is shown as following: the difference between receptions of subjects in the case of common fraud and the case of non-common fraud is significant, and the personal factors gender, age, education level and monthly homehold income level significant to receptions of the subjects.

The topic of this diploma thesis is the Forensic Accounting, which is related to the accounting fraud. Literature review is a chapter devoted to the characteristics of accounting fraud, damage caused by fraudulent behavior and punishment. There is also an information from global economic fraud surveys performed by top consulting company. In this diploma work is a chapter about internal control system, with prerequisites for its functioning and used tools. The last part of literature review is about method of forensic accounting. These methods are used in the practical part a tested on financial statements, processed according to Czech accounting standards, of chosen company. Then in the practical part is an evaluation of internal control system, which is described in detail. Another part is dedicated to the accounting crime committed in the chosen company. Even though that accounting crime was committed, current state of internal control system of chosen company is very good. The analysis which was retroactively done indicates a possible risk of accounting fraud just in this period. These forensic methods were applied also for another years and it has been shown that accounting gives a true and fair view.

Financial fraud in church organizations is increasing rapidly, which can affect the reputation, donation appeal, future funding, and ability of church organizations to meet their planned organizational goals. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies for preventing financial fraud in church organizations. The conceptual framework for the study was Cressey’s fraud triangle theory. Twenty participants who utilize strategies for preventing financial fraud in their organizations were purposively selected from 5 church organizations in Ghana. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analysis of organizational financial policy documents. Interview data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed with Saldaña’s coding guidelines. Data analysis followed recommendations from Yin, including examining the data, grouping data into categories, regrouping data in themes, interpreting the data, and producing empirically based findings that answered the central research question of the study. Three significant themes emerged from the data analysis: effective administration, good stewardship and accountability, and caliber of employees. Implementation of the findings may lead to positive social change by enhancing the donation appeal of church organizations, improving their finances, and enabling them to optimize their operations to benefit individuals, families, communities, and society.

La presente investigación busca entender la importancia de la aplicación de la Auditoría Forense como herramienta de apoyo en empresas del sector transporte. Para tal fin se analizó conceptos, métodos y herramientas que son utilizados para la reducción del fraude financiero y tributario, además se revisaron los conceptos de Control, Fraude Financiero y Tributario del sector de transporte de carga terrestre. Para el plan de investigación, se plantea la hipótesis del Impacto de la Auditoría Forense como herramienta de apoyo, para detectar y reducir el fraude financiero y tributario en las empresas del sector transporte. Dicha hipótesis alternativa es rechazada con un 5% de significancia. En la metodología de investigación, se ejecutó un estudio de tipo documental, el cual fue llevado a cabo por entrevistas a tres expertos del tema. Para ello, se elaboró un cuestionario con el propósito de identificar si se tenía conocimiento sobre Auditoría Forense, y conocer sobre los procesos de control con los que cuentan las empresas del rubro. Como resultado de la aplicación del instrumento cualitativo y cuantitativo, se puede establecer que mediante la aplicación de la Auditoría Forense como herramienta de apoyo se logra detectar y prevenir fraudes. De esta forma, se demuestra que la Auditoría Forense brinda ventajas y que al implementarla como herramienta de apoyo se obtienen grandes resultados. Luego del respectivo análisis de interpretación de los resultados de dicha investigación, se puede concluir que la aplicación de la Auditoría Forense como herramienta de apoyo no reducirá los casos de robos y fraude intencionales: a mayor control en los procesos se disminuirá las posibilidades de cometer fraude y se incrementará un mayor control en las áreas más sensibles del rubro. / This research seeks to understand the importance of the application of Forensic Audit as a support tool in companies in the transport sector. For this purpose, concepts, methods and tools that are used for the reduction of financial and tax fraud were analyzed, and the concepts of Control, Financial and Tax Fraud of the land freight transport sector were also reviewed. For the research plan, the hypothesis of the Impact of Forensic Audit is presented as a support tool, to detect and reduce financial and tax fraud in companies in the transport sector. This alternative hypothesis is rejected with a 5% significance. In the research methodology, a documentary study was executed, which was carried out by interviews with three experts on the subject. For this, a questionnaire was prepared with the purpose of identifying if there was knowledge about Forensic Audit, and knowing about the control processes that the companies in the field have. As a result of the application of the qualitative and quantitative instrument, it can be established that through the application of Forensic Audit as a tool to support internal auditing, fraud can be detected and prevented. In this way, it is demonstrated that Forensic Audit offers advantages and that when implementing it as a support tool, great results are obtained. After the respective analysis of interpretation of the results of said investigation, it can be concluded that the application of Forensic Audit as a support tool will not reduce cases of intentional theft and fraud: greater control in the processes will reduce the chances of committing fraud and greater control will be increased in the most sensitive areas of the item. / Tesis

The thesis deals with the issue of currently most frequent cyber attacks apperaring in the financial sector, that do not aim to fraud financial institutions, but particularly target their clients, average Internet users. The highest attention is deserved to fraud emails -- as known as phishing. The other types of internet frauds and scams, such as Nigerian email scams or the Zeus virus, are not omitted. In the document is presented textual and pictorial guide, which contents a list of warning signs, that helps common Internet user identify and reveal email fraud. The multicriterial analysis evaluates the level of education and awareness, that selected financial institutions provide to their clients using the official web sites. In the last chapter are suggested recommendations and advices leading to increase availability, clearness and quality of information regarding internet frauds and financial threats.

International loan is a very important business for Taiwan commercial banks, and China is the largest credit market for Taiwan banks. However, when doing due diligence or credit risk research for Chinese companies, Taiwan commercial banks are facing difficulties and risks such as difficulty to monitor the company, a decelerating Chinese economy growth and other risk factors. Because of these difficulties, the common method used for international loan due diligence in Taiwan is not adequate to cope with the current credit risk situation. There were two famous Chinese default cases in Taiwan during 2014, in which the thesis picks the Ultrasonic AG financial fraud case as an example. The Ultrasonic AG case shows that it is possible to use public information to detect and prevent financial frauds. Based on the case study, the thesis suggests Taiwan commercial banks could use a more comprehensive method of due diligence, to increase the accuracy of credit research. In the end, the thesis also suggests a KL credit scoring system, based on past financial frauds, to assist in credit research. By utilizing a more comprehensive method of due diligence and KL score system with traditional models, Taiwan commercial banks could better detect and prevent international financial frauds, especially financial frauds in China.

In this thesis I try to clarify the concept of "creative accounting ". First I define the difference between error and fraud. Then I try to compare two different accounting systems (IFRS and Czech accounting standards). I specify the major differences between these two systems (the valuation of assets, the principle of revenue recognition etc.) and I compare their impact on the financial statements. In the end I consider the role of adoption of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in relation to the creative accounting.

L’objectif de cette thèse est d’étudier les effets de pairs en finance d’entreprise. Trois essais portant sur les entreprises américaines sont proposés. La thèse est organisée en quatre chapitres. Le premier chapitre présente une revue de la littérature financière des théories et des modèles qui motivent les effets de pairs et le comportement de conformité. Plus précisément, nous définissons les effets de pairs et nous proposons une synthèse des études théoriques et empiriques identifiant les effets de pairs et leurs implications sur la psychologie humaine. Ensuite, nous résumons les théories les plus critiques dans la littérature financière qui se sont intéressées à l'impact du comportement des pairs sur les politiques financières de l'entreprise. Enfin, nous discutons les principales questions que pose la mesure des effets de pairs. Nous soulignons en conclusion de ce chapitre l’intérêt de ce sujet et nous présentons les axes d’orientation des recherches futures. Dans les chapitres suivants, nous examinons empiriquement ces effets de pairs dans trois domaines, non encore explorés, dans le contexte du marché américain. Il s'agit notamment de la « mauvaise conduite » des entreprises, du « bien-être » des employés et de l’investissement en recherche et développement.Le deuxième chapitre étudie la présence ou non d’un effet de pairs dans l’explication du comportement frauduleux des entreprises. En utilisant un échantillon de 3 034 entreprises américaines et couvrant la période de 1999 à 2014, nous montrons que les entreprises dont le siège social se situe dans les zones ayant le taux de fraude des « cols blancs » le plus élevé, ont une plus grande probabilité d’avoir un comportement frauduleux. Ce résultat suggère que l'interaction sociale au niveau régional encourage les entreprises à adopter une mauvaise conduite. Des tests complémentaires montrent que ces effets de pairs prévalent dans le cas des entreprises en difficulté alors que nous ne trouvons pas les mêmes résultats pour les entreprises en bonne situation financière. Nous constatons également que ces effets de pairs sont principalement présents dans les régions où le taux de criminalité est élevé, ce qui laisse supposer que les niveaux élevés de criminalité locale sont susceptibles de favoriser une culture de la fraude dans ces domaines.Le troisième chapitre explore les effets de pairs dans les politiques de « bien-être » des employés de l'entreprise. Nous montrons que les entreprises de pairs jouent un rôle important dans la définition des politiques de bien-être des employés d'une entreprise. En utilisant les données d’un échantillon américain de 9 062 observations année/entreprise couvrant la période de 1996 à 2013, nous constatons que les décisions de l'entreprise sur le bien-être des employés sont principalement des réponses aux politiques sociales de leurs pairs. En outre, nos résultats montrent que ce comportement est répandu chez les suiveurs, qui adoptent le comportement des « leaders », mais nous ne trouvons pas ce genre de comportement de la part des entreprises « leaders » du secteur d’activité.Le quatrième et dernier chapitre de la thèse étudie les effets de pairs dans la politique de recherche et développement (R&D) des entreprises. Nous montrons que les entreprises ne décident pas de leurs politiques en R&D d’une manière isolée puisque les entreprises pairs jouent un rôle essentiel dans la définition de ces dernières. En utilisant des données américaines pour un échantillon large de 54 393 observations entreprise/année sur la période de 1991 à 2015, nous constatons que les décisions R&D de l'entreprise sont principalement des réponses aux politiques R&D de leurs pairs. De plus, nous constatons que les effets de pairs en R&D ne sont significatifs qu'en présence d'une forte concurrence sur le marché des produits, alors que ces résultats ne sont pas vérifiés sur les marchés à faible concurrence. / This thesis explores the peer effects in corporate finance. The first chapter provides a review of literature on the theories and models that motivate peer effects and conformity behavior. Specifically, we emphasize on what precisely is meant by peer effects, how existing studies in the literature identify peer effects and its implications on human behavior. Next, we summarize the most critical theories in finance literature that encourage peer effects and the impact of peer behavior on firm financial policies. Last but not least, we discuss the main challenges in measuring peer effects and conclude the chapter by highlighting potential areas of future work in this field. The next chapters empirically examine these peer effects in three important, yet not explored areas of finance in the context of the US market. These include corporate misbehavior, employee welfare, and, research and development.The second chapter examines the presence of peer effects in corporate misbehavior. Using a sample of 3,034 US-listed firms covering 1999‒2014, we show that firms headquartered in areas with the higher white-collar fraud have a higher probability of corporate misbehavior, suggesting that area level social interaction encourages corporate misconduct. Additional analyses show that these peer effects prevail in distressed firms while we do not find such evidence for non-distressed firms. We also find that these peer effects are mainly present in areas with a high crime rate, suggesting that the high levels of local criminality are likely to favor a culture of fraud in these areas.The third chapter explores the peer effects in the firm’s employee welfare policies. We show that peer firms play a significant role in defining employee welfare policies of a firm. Using US panel data for a sample of 9,062 firm-year observations from 1996 to 2013, we find that firm’s employee welfare decisions are responses to their peers’ employee welfare policies. This impact is much higher than any other peer characteristics. Moreover, our additional analysis shows that this behavior is prevalent in followers, who mimic the behavior of leaders but we do not find any such relationship for industry leaders.The fourth and last chapter of the thesis empirically investigates firm peer effects in research and development (R&D) policies. We show that firms do not make their R&D decisions in isolation and peer firms play an essential role in defining the R&D intensity of a given firm. Using US panel data for a sample of 54,393 firm-year observations from 1991 to 2015, we find that firm’s R&D decisions are responses to their peers’ R&D policies. Further, we find that R&D peer effects are significant only in the presence of strong product market competition, while these results do not hold for markets with lower product market competition.