Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of various internal controls (i.e. hotlines, regular ethics (fraud) training, surprise audits, internal and external audits and background checks) on reducing occupational fraud losses by victim organizations. Design/methodology/approach – The paper, based on data from an occupational fraud report co-authored by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and Peltier-Rivest (2007), uses a multivariate regression analysis to analyze the effect of various internal controls on preventing fraud losses. Findings – The authors’ analyses demonstrate that hotlines, regular ethics (fraud) training, surprise audits and internal audits all decrease fraud losses when used separately. However, hotlines and surprise audits are the only statistically significant controls when controlling for the potential correlation among all internal controls. Hotlines are associated with a reduction of 54 per cent in median fraud losses, while surprise audits cut median losses by 69 per cent. Research limitations/implications – This study contributes to academia and the anti-fraud profession by assessing the statistical effect of six internal controls on preventing fraud losses, while controlling for the potential correlation among these controls. Practical implications – This study discusses the relative benefits (loss savings) of various internal controls to organizations, governments, managers and anti-fraud professionals. This information may help determine investment priorities in the context of scarce resources. Originality/value – This paper is based on proprietary data owned by the ACFE and is the first to analyze the statistical significance of various internal controls on the reduction of fraud losses in Canada.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the characteristics of perpetrators of occupational fraud and their effects on organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on a 2006 occupational fraud web survey conducted in Canada by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) using a multivariate regression analysis to explain the effect of perpetrators' characteristics on fraud losses.FindingsThe authors' analyses show that the perpetrator's position (i.e. employee, manager, executive/owner), gender, education level and the presence of accomplices (i.e. collusion) appear to affect fraud losses when analyzed separately. However, only the perpetrator's position and collusion are statistically significant when controlling for the potential correlation among explanatory factors.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to academia and the anti‐fraud profession by measuring the statistical effect of perpetrators' characteristics on fraud losses while controlling for the potential correlation among these characteristics.Practical implicationsThis study is useful to regulatory agencies and anti‐fraud professionals because it provides information about the characteristics of perpetrators of occupational fraud, who are more likely to be associated with larger frauds, thus pinpointing where prevention and detection efforts may be most effective.Originality/valueThis paper is based on proprietary data owned by the ACFE and is the first to analyze the statistical significance of the characteristics of perpetrators of occupational fraud in Canada.

Cet article des Editions Lavoisier est disponible en acces libre et gratuit sur archives-rfg.revuesonline.com 34 Revue française de gestion -N°175/2007 1. Merton et al. (2003).Cet article des Editions Lavoisier est disponible en acces libre et gratuit sur archives-rfg.revuesonline.com

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L'objectif de cette recherche consiste à examiner l'hypothèse de la manipulation des bénéfices avant d'effectuer un rachat d'actions, dans le secteur pétrolier et gazier. Nos résultats montrent que les accruals discrétionnaires totaux ayant pour effet de réduire les bénéfices dans l'année précédant celle du rachat d'actions sont associés de façon significative au rachat d'actions. Ceci permettra à l'entreprise de racheter des actions à un prix moins élevé étant donné l'impact négatif que des bénéfices moindres auront sur le cours des actions. Cette étude permet de mieux interpréter l'information présentée aux états financiers dans le contexte d'un rachat d'actions.