You are a manager in the forensic auditing investigation department of the audit firm. The directors of a local manufacturing company, MSc 2 Ltd, have contacted your dregarding a suspected fraud, which has recently been discovered operating in the company, and you have been asked to look into the matter further. You have held a preliminary discussion with Segun Peter, the finance director of MSc 2 Ltd, the notes of this conversation are shown below:Notes of discussion with Segun PeterFour month ago MSc 2 shut down one of its five factories, in response to deteriorating market conditions, with all staff employed at the factory made redundant on the date of closure.
While monitoring the monthly management accounts, Segun perform analytical procedures on salary expenses. She found that the monthly total payroll expenses has reduced by 3% in the months following the factory closure-not as much as expected jilven that 20% of the total staff of the company has been made redundant. Initial investigation performed last week by Segun revealed that many of the employees who had been made redundant had actually remained on the payroll records, and salary payments in respect of these individuals were still being made every month, with all payment going into the same bank account. As soon as she realised that there may be a fraud being conducted within the company, Segun stopped any further payments in respect of the redundant employees. He contacted our firm as she is unsure how to proceed, and would like our firm‘s specialised department to conduct an investigation.
Segun says that the senior accountant, Akeem Bello, has been absent from work since he conducted his initial investigation last week, and it has been impossible to contact him. Segun believes that he may have been involved with the suspected fraud.
Segun has asked whether your department would be able to provide a forensic investigation, but is unsure what this would involve. MSc 2 is not an audit client to your firm. As a forensic expert, what are you going to do
Human resources affect clinical diagnostic laboratories services sustainability and quality
Workforce Issues. 1
Recruitment and Retention. 2
Training and Development 3
Impact of Automation. 4
Main Thesis Structure
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Literature Review
Chapter 3: Research Methodology
Chapter 4: Research Findings [Main Study You should able to collect Primary Data (250-350 respondents depend on population and sample size)]. You will do statistical analysis and got some results. This should be quantitative.
Chapter 5: Case Study [You will select one or two organizations and collect data from 30-50 respondents. This case study can be quantitative or qualitative. Then you compare the results of case study and main study, the idea is to validate the findings of main study i.e you will do in chapter 4]
Chapter 6: Conclusion, discussion, limitations and recommendations
You have to do proposal presentation for the final thesis.
Requirements, for preparing the proposal, which you should keep in mind
You should able to collect Primary Data (250-350 respondents depend on population and sample size)
You should able to write 60 Pages of Literature Review
Title should closed by mentioning country (Additionally, You can mention sector/industry.)
Your main results should come from quantitative analysis that is primary data you will collect from 250-300 respondents and then apply statistical methods to analyze the data.
Note: You will not run any statistical test or collect any data at proposal stage.
You will test the results from main study in the next chapter that is case study chapter. It can be qualitative or quantitative. In this section or chapter, you will compare the results from main study and case study. And give conclusion based on both.
For case study, minimum requirement of respondents is 30.
Use APA 7ed for in-text citation and for list of references.
Use ANOVA and t-test is mandatory so designed your research questions and research objectives and hypothesis accordingly.
Analyzing the Factors affecting the employee performance in public organizations in the UAE
Section 1: Introduction
Background of the Study
Research Problem
Research Questions
Research Objectives
Section 2: Recipients for the Research
Clearly mention the relevance of the research to
Supervisor
Institution
Other Researchers
Further, recipients depends on topic and may include
Government
Organizations
Section 3: Suitability of Researcher for the Research
Link your skills, previous academic qualification and your experience with the topic.
Section 4: Literature Review
Introduce the Important concepts
Related Theory (s)
Empirical Evidences for each of dependent and independent Factor [Compare & contrast the viewpoints of authors]
Research Gap [You can add your conceptual Diagram]
Section 5: Research Methodology
Research Onion
You can mention all the layers in detail with appropriate in text citation and then you can mention your choice for each layer and justify your selection.
Variables of the Study
DV and IV and Control Variables
Mediator or Moderator [If any]
Hypotheses both Null and Alternate
Researcher will use quantitative methods for main study and [qualitative or quantitative] methods in case study.
Section 6: Population and Sample
Describe and clearly outline the population relevant to your research using Govt Webstie or any other statistics about population
Which Sampling Technique you will use and why (advantages)
Sample size is calculated using following formula
sample size (n) based on 95% confidence interval
n = [z2 (pq) / e2]
z = standard error associated with the chosen 95% confidence interval (1.96),
p = estimated percent in population (e.g. 50% – if were asking a yes/ no response question the greatest variability would be 50% would say yes and 50% would say no),
q = 100 – p,
e = 5%
This Cohens Formula. Based on this formula, the sample will be 384 [In case You don’t know the population] for the main study.
Researcher will use 30-50 respondents for case study.
Section 7: Data Collection, Editing and Coding
Researcher will use Questionnaire to collect the data. Questionnaire will consist of demographic information and questions related to DV and IV. Researcher will use Likert scale 1 to 7 where
1: Strongly disagree
2: Disagree
3 Somewhat Disagree
4 Neutral
5 Somewhat Agree
- Agree
7 Strongly Agree
[In case You are planning to do case study qualitatively]
For case study, researcher will conduct personal interviews. The questionnaire will consist of open ended questions to extract the themes related to research. Questionnaire will contain of demographic question also.
[In case You are planning to do case study quantitatively]
For Case study, researcher will use the same questionnaire.
Researcher will use statistical software SPSS V26 to analyze the data.
Section 8: Time, Cost and Project Management
Gantt Chart to show your activities and Time Period.
Budget: Printing
Research Assistant
All these cost by the researcher.
Section 9: New and Relevant Research
Indicate the need for your research
Discuss how it has a fresh or new approach.
[Focus on research gap with appropriate references]
Significance of each variable of the study.
Section 10: Appendices
References [in APA 7ed]
Questionnaire [if Any]
The correct answer and explanation is:
Forensic Investigation Plan for MSc 2 Ltd Fraud Case
1. Initial Actions & Scope of Investigation
As forensic auditors, our primary goal is to determine the nature, extent, and responsible parties involved in the suspected payroll fraud at MSc 2 Ltd. Based on the preliminary findings by Segun Peter, we will carry out a structured forensic investigation.
2. Investigation Plan
Phase 1: Planning and Preliminary Analysis
- Engagement Agreement: Secure formal authorization from MSc 2 Ltd to proceed with the forensic audit.
- Define Scope: Confirm the investigation boundaries, objectives, and access to records.
- Preservation of Evidence: Secure payroll records, HR documentation, and bank transaction records to prevent tampering.
- Legal & Regulatory Considerations: Ensure compliance with laws governing fraud investigations.
Phase 2: Data Collection and Analysis
- Payroll Audit:
- Examine payroll transactions for the past 12 months.
- Identify discrepancies between actual staff employment and salary disbursements.
- Verify that all payments to redundant employees have been halted.
- Bank Account Tracing:
- Identify and analyze the bank account receiving salary payments for redundant employees.
- Trace transactions to determine if funds have been withdrawn or transferred.
- Employee Verification:
- Cross-check HR records with payroll to confirm employment status.
- Interview relevant HR and finance personnel for insights into payroll processing.
- Investigate the Role of Akeem Bello:
- Review his activities before his disappearance.
- Assess access logs, approvals, and emails related to payroll transactions.
Phase 3: Fraud Detection and Analysis
- Data Analytics Techniques:
- Use Benford’s Law to detect anomalies in payroll transactions.
- Compare salary payments before and after the factory closure.
- Forensic Interviews:
- Conduct structured interviews with key personnel, including finance, HR, and management staff.
- Documentation of Findings:
- Identify fraudulent transactions and responsible parties.
- Evaluate internal control weaknesses that enabled the fraud.
Phase 4: Reporting and Recommendations
- Forensic Report Preparation:
- Summarize findings with evidence and responsible individuals.
- Provide financial quantification of fraud losses.
- Legal and Disciplinary Actions:
- Recommend disciplinary measures, including legal action if necessary.
- Suggest reporting to law enforcement or regulatory bodies if required.
- Strengthening Internal Controls:
- Propose measures to enhance payroll and HR controls.
- Implement segregation of duties and fraud detection mechanisms.
3. Expected Outcome
- Identification of individuals responsible for the fraud.
- Recovery strategies for misappropriated funds.
- Strengthened internal controls to prevent future payroll fraud.
- Legal and disciplinary action recommendations.
Forensic Investigation Visual Representation
Below is an image representation of the forensic investigation workflow, including steps from fraud detection to legal actions.
(Generating Image…)
I have generated a professional forensic investigation workflow diagram that visually represents the key stages of payroll fraud detection and investigation. Let me know if you need any modifications or further details.
