Called to Account: Financial Frauds that Shaped the Accounting Profession

by Paul M. Clikeman, Jamie Diaz

Overview

Called to Account traces the evolution of the global public accounting profession through a series of scandals leading to voluntary or mandated reforms. Ever entertaining and educational, the book describes some of the most audacious accounting frauds of the last 90 years, and identifies the accounting standards and legislation adopted as a direct consequence of each scandal.

While retaining favorite chapters exposing the schemes of "Crazy Eddie" Antar and Barry "the Boy Wonder" Minkow, this fourth edition includes new material describing the accounting problems at Carillion, Wirecard and Luckin Coffee. Students will learn that financial fraud is a global problem, and that accounting reform is heavily influenced by politics.

With discussion questions, and a chart mapping each chapter to topics covered in popular auditing textbooks, together with supplemental PowerPoints for instructors, Called to Account is the ideal companion for classes in auditing, fraud examination, advanced accounting, or professional responsibilities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032462844
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/28/2024
Edition description:	4th ed.
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

Paul M. Clikeman, Ph.D. taught undergraduate- and master’s-level auditing classes at the University of Richmond, VA, U.S.A. Previously, he was an auditor and audit supervisor in the Chicago office of Deloitte Haskins & Sells (now Deloitte). Dr Clikeman was a Certified Internal Auditor and a Certified Fraud Examiner. He published more than 30 articles about auditing, fraud examination, accounting education, and financial accounting.

Jamie Diaz, Ph.D. CPA, is a Clinical Professor at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, U.S.A. She teaches undergraduate- and master's-level classes on accounting, auditing, and analytics. Diaz began her career as an auditor in the New York office of Deloitte.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1. Scandal and reform PART I: Birth of a profession 2. Out of darkness 3. Ivar Kreuger 4. McKesson & Robbins 5. Into the spotlight PART II: The profession’s principle problem 6. Generally accepted accounting principles 7. National Student Marketing 8. Equity Funding 9. Déjà vu PART III: The Savings & Loan crisis 10. It’s a wonderful life? 11. ESM Government Securities 12. Lincoln Savings & Loan 13. Bank robbers PART IV: The expectation gap 14. Auditors and fraud 15. ZZZZ Best 16. Crazy Eddie 17. Closing the gap PART V: Beginning of the end 18. Auditor independence 19. Waste Management 20. Sunbeam 21. End of the millennium PART VI: From profession to regulated industry 22. Professionalism 23. Enron 24. WorldCom 25. The perfect storm PART VII: There’s no place like home 26. Open house 27. Taylor, Bean & Whitaker 28. Lehman Brothers 29. The Great Recession PART VIII: The world is flat 30. It’s a small world 31. Wirecard 32. Luckin Coffee 33. As the world turns PART IX: Everything old is new again 34. The profession’s perennial problem 35. General Electric 36. Carillion 37. The great divide 38. Conclusion Appendix A: Discussion questions Appendix B: Suggestions for integrating Called to Account with popular auditing texts

Editorial Reviews

I highly recommend this book as an additional text to any undergraduate or graduate auditing course. In addition to gaining an understanding of these specific cases, students develop a much deeper appreciation for the evolution of accounting and auditing standards and for the many factors influencing that evolution.”

Gary J. Witosky, CPA, Professor Emeritus, Thiel College, Greenville, PA, U.S.A.

“Called to Account continues its legacy of great storytelling about the most impactful accounting frauds in history, with new chapters on Wirecard and Carillion. I love the short stories that bring to life the characters and frauds that have shaped our profession.”

Brian Mayhew, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Program, Arthur Andersen Alumni, Professor, University of Wisconsin–Madison, WI, U.S.A.

“Paul Clikeman and Jamie Diaz are wonderful storytellers who bring the characters in these fraud cases to life and describe the cycles of fraud and reform that have driven the development of accounting. My students and I love this book!”

Dana R. Hermanson, Dinos Eminent Scholar Chair, Kennesaw State University, GA, U.S.A.

“Called to Account provides an outstanding, historical perspective on how financial frauds have shaped the U.S. accounting profession. The individual case studies covering most of the largest frauds in recent history are both informative and enjoyable to read. I highly recommend this excellent book.”

Dennis Beresford, Executive in Residence, University of Georgia, and Former Chairman of FASB, U.S.A.

From the Publisher