A New Kind of Training
FBI Logo. Auditors are the investigators of the business world. www.fbi.gov.
There are many ways auditors and companies can improve audit practices. Auditors may struggle with the idea of this because there are predetermined standards that all auditors must adhere to. The rules are straightforward and the work is typically monotonous. However, there are always ways to improve one’s work, even in auditing. In the article titled “Catch Them When You Can”, Michael Ramos offers an opportunity to help CPAs through a training course led by the man who trains investigators in the FBI. Ramos argues that the way to catch a fraudster is to think like one. He believes that auditors should be trained similar to investigators is in order to get in the mind of someone committing fraud. Ramos experienced a fraud case early in his career, but could not figure it out because he was looking at the surface information. Ramos begins the article by saying, “It seems that the corporate world is rife with fraud these days, and as CPAs on the financial front lines, it’s up to us to protect the public from these crimes.” (Ramos, 2012) Ramos’ point is that auditors are expected to catch instances of fraud. This is their job. Auditors not only protect the company from employees committing fraud internally, but also the public that invests their money in the company. Accounting firms offer numerous training for their auditors, but may fail to think of a training course like this one. However, auditors are the investigators of the financial world and should be trained like as such.