Dates and location
Pricing
Hours
Dates and location
Pricing
Hours
Description
CPAs have always been processing information to enlighten an audience, but the raw material we use to achieve our goals has changed for good: gone is the Paper Era. We now seek information in electronic format, which offers us new ways to think about our work. This session will introduce Data & Analytics in the context of Fraud Risk Management, and aims at providing a framework, a mindset and some data-driven techniques to maximize the insights we extract from financial information. Along the way, we’ll discuss common anomalies which are likely to trigger interesting discussions – and perhaps some clues linked to possible cases of fraud.
Topics Include:
- Why is it important to discuss Data & Analytics as CPAs
- Data basics: develop a common language and engage with… IT!
- Getting the right data in the right format (it can be 90% of the work)
- Approach to a data-driven project: people, process, technology… and compassion.
- Getting our hands dirty: data manipulations in action, finding anomalies and potential frauds
- Delivering your results: the importance of data visualization in the process
NOTE: This course description has been revised and reflects updates for 2025. If you have any questions, please contact pdevents@cpaontario.ca.
Key Takeaways
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Gain basic knowledge of data-related language and key characteristics.
- Identify the key factors which make Data & Analytics techniques relevant in certain situations, as well as the expecting benefits of doing so.
- Develop a broad method framework, from data extractions to delivery of results.
- Identify the common mistakes and pitfalls which can jeopardize a data-oriented approach.
- Gain a basic understanding of key data manipulation applied to the context of fraud risk management.
Who Will Benefit
Accountants who seek efficiencies in their analytical workflows, who face potential fraudulent situations or seek to identify accounting anomalies quickly and without large resources involved.
Prerequisite(s)
Good understanding of key accounting cycles (procurement, payroll), basic knowledge of accounting software and/or Excel-like tools.
How to Access the Course
This course is a live webinar. You must attend the live course to receive verifiable CPD hours. We recommend you join five minutes prior to the scheduled starting time. To get the full experience of this interactive course, use a computer that has video and microphone capabilities.
Electronic material can be accessed one week prior to the course and should be downloaded in advance.
Registration, cancellation, withdrawal and all other CPA Ontario PD policies can be found here.
Speaker(s)
Mark Grenon, CPA, CA, IFA, CFF, CFE is a forensic accounting specialist working with the Federal Government’s Forensic Accounting Management Group (“FAMG”). Since joining FAMG in 2003, Mark has been assigned to work with the RCMP, CBSA, DND, and other government departments providing expert witness reports and testimony on criminal cases involving money laundering, proceeds of crime, fraud, ponzi schemes, and bribery of foreign government officials. Mark obtained his Chartered Accountant designation in 2002, and prior to his career as a forensic accounting he worked with Ernst and Young’s bankruptcy, taxation and public accounting groups. Mark is a regular instructor at the Canadian Police College and has testified as a forensic accounting expert witness in the Ontario Court of Justice, the Ontario Superior Court, Immigration and Refugee Board, and the Quebec Courts.