A requirement for fraud investigation professionals

Abstract

In developing countries, fraud and corruption are seen as a way of life, a norm of public service or a culture that cannot hope to disappear. Auditors specialize in error detection and treat fraud and corruption as secondary tasks in a particular business. The primary responsibility of a Forensic Investigation Professional (FIP) or forensic accountant is to investigate fraud in financial records. A certified public accountant is a witness of fact, while a forensic investigator or forensic accountant is an expert witness, not a witness of fact. They can testify in court as experts for either the prosecution or the defence. This paper aims to critically examine the requirements for fraud investigation professionals who need to be obtained by a forensic accountant in investigating fraud as one of the most serious financial crimes in any company. The findings suggest that forensic investigative professionals play a complementary role with government anti-fraud and anti-corruption agencies in strategies and policies to reduce the risk of systemic corruption. Findings also show that Forensic Investigation Professionals (FIPs) play an important role in reducing fraud and corruption risks in developing countries.