The Defining Ethics and Prevention of Financial Fraud in the Work Place
Ta’Nishia Johnson
Savannah State University
Abstract
This research primarily focuses on ways of preventing financial fraud in the work place as well as defining the proper ethics to follow. It elaborates on the ways to deter fraud and what ethics should be taught during training for the job given to an employee. In order to understand the best way to stop people from committing fraud, we must learn what stipulations are already set in place for the crime. Company guidelines for fraud detection and prevention should be set in place in order avert fraud. To better understand why people commit fraud, the study for this research will pay close attention on ethical associations and ethics that are taking place in the workplace. Ethics plays a major role in the business workplace by providing guidelines and contouring people’s behaviors while working. This research paper will disclose the following questions:
What procedures are already in place to deal with fraud?
How can fraud be prevented?
Can new measures and guidelines be set in place to better detect fraud?
How to detect fraud in time to prevent major damage?
Keywords: financial fraud, workplace ethics, detection, prevention, implementation
Defining Ethics and Prevention of Financial Fraud in the Work Place
Multiple studies have been conducted on the topics dealing with financial fraud. The same can be said about business ethics and
The author Robert Solomon argues that ethics has to an integral part with regard to business management. He does not believe that business management must include unethical or illegal methods to be able to succeed. Solomon preaches that business management is not as simple as obtaining revenue. “Businesses need to abide by fair policies and their owners have to be ethical in dealing with their customers” (Shaw p. 37). The author acknowledges that while illegal practices in business management could bring positive results at first, eventually the business is bound to fail. This is why Solomon recommended eight important policies that can help businesses in integrating ethics into their operations.
Company X is committed to providing education for each employee to report unethical behavior and resolve conflicts without fear of retaliation. One such example would be the need to report employee theft. Employee theft is not only unethical but could also be criminal in nature. Regardless of employee status (entry level or upper management), each employee should feel it their responsibility to report any unethical behavior they observe. Employee theft can range from theft of money, time, office supplies or merchandise to providing proprietary information to unauthorized entities. These activities can result in a negative public image of Company X and should be reported as quickly as possible. Prior to reporting such offenses, each employee should ensure the accuracy of the evidence they will be reporting. There are various methods to report such abuses including but not limited to an anonymous toll free hot line number, verbal or electronic reporting to the local Human Resources office and the open door policy which encourages employees to approach members of management without the fear of
In the past few years, enterprise integrity has come up on a regular subject of conversation. In the past ten years only, we have seen numerous situations associated with collaborative scams which have shaken the people 's trust in businesses and also the general economic climate. A few of the many salient frauds are the WorldCom and Enron 's scams, the ponzi scheme perpetrated by Bernard Madoff 's, the latest accusations of Goldman Sachs tricking option traders to guarantee the company 's personal profit. Incidents such as these designed us all, as upcoming corporation professionals as well as market leaders, think about ethics and its particular function in the commercial world (Gross, 2010.)
The function of ethics in structural behavior is the fundamental influence to the achievement and endurance of any business. A set of procedures and principles concentrating on encouraging security, confidence, and responsible preparation inside the workplace should be inaugurated internally. Businesses progress policy of ethics that focus upon the advancement of good. Ethics are vital in improving entrusting interactions amongst
Unfortunately, a quick scan of the business news will normally result in reports of unethical business behavior. To prove this point, let’s start with a review of the news for stories about fraud and other unethical behavior in business. You can use the University Library to start your search. Once you have located an article share it with the class by developing a summary of the important information. Make sure that you give credit to your source.
The problem to be investigated is the application of business ethics. In the business world, ethics are extremely important. Ethics are prime elements that help a business to grow and to become more productive. It is by applying proper business ethics that a business can operate in a moral or ethical business environment and managed to conduct all activities in a manner that maximizes profits while not compromising all other non-economic concerns(Schwab, 1996). Businesses have over the years failed to nurture business ethics in order to fulfill shareholders' interests and to have a culture that is oriented towards profit maximization and high performance(Jennings, 2012; Sims & Felton, 2006). This has led business to have gray areas in their activities. Gray areas are those situations or problems that do not fit exactly into any ethical analysis. These are the activities which may be represented to be immoral as a result of lying and false representations on the part of the business.
Based on the recommendation in the Breeden report, the company is highly likely to accomplish the objective in preventing financial fraud as well as enhancing accountability and transparency in the organization. Firstly, it is recommended that the company should have corporate cultures that align to the current ethical leadership models. The lack of charismatic leaders would not help in preventing unethical actions of the employees. Thus, the recommendations are useful in enhancing the elimination of unethical actions in the organization. The recommendations also encourages the organization diversify its sources of revenue.
This will be an over view of ethics as it relates to business in our society. Concepts from Philosophy will seek to describe the correlation between actions that are classified as morally right or ethical in our dealings with each other as human beings. Clear and concise examples will be given as well as ways in which to improve upon business ethics.
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The study is important because it examines the role of ethics in accounting. The research on identified problems is necessary due to vagueness of ethics concepts and its difficulty to
Imagine trusting your hard-earned money like your retirement savings to a financial adviser or Certified Public Accountants (CPA) only to lose it all in a fraudulent Ponzi scheme. In today’s world of business many organizations, financial planners and accountants are in the news due to the financial ethical breaches that have affected their customers, employees, and the general public. A CPA has to be responsible for their audits and take any punishments as a result of their mistakes, incompetence or illegal actions. CPAs are expected to have integrity in their work,
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