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Designed to inform members and others of news, views, comments, concerns & upcoming events related to the ACFI & other non-profit Canadian organizations. Your comments are welcomed & also encouraged.
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The May issue of the ACFI News Flash features an article that provides Internal Auditors and others with food for thought as well as a reason for keeping abreast of the changes in law. The article, authored by Howard Levitt and titled "If your HR Department Overlooks the Importance Of This Key Role, It Could Cost You", supplies the reader with a reason for keeping current as well could form a check list when reviewing the Human Resource environment.
A post mortem on the ACFI 2015 Fraud Conference and Workshop provides our 2015 delegates with some memories as well as affords those, who were unable to attend, with a glimpse of what they missed.
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If Your HR Department Overlooks The Importance Of This Key Role, It Could Cost You
by
Howard Levitt
As any practitioner will tell you, the field of human resources has undergone a sea change. Gone are the days of its role as merely an administrative-payroll arm. Now, HR has become a key part of management with expertise in a variety of specialties related to managing people.
To achieve vocational prestige (and concomitant, rising remuneration), HR successfully conducted a major rebranding campaign to demonstrate its importance to Canadian businesses, and rightly so. Business success depends on your employees and strong HR programs provide an edge in hiring the best. But in this rebirth, HR effectively dissociated itself, to the extent possible, with anything administrative in nature. And the lowliest aspect of that perceived administration is employment files.
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| 2015 ACFI Annual Fraud Conference & Workshop |
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POST MORTEM
CONFERENCE
Each year the ACFI Fraud Conference committee attempts to showcase the best the profession has to offer and to provide participants with an understanding of the latest developments in forensic investigations.
From all accounts this year's conference committee achieved their objective.
Delegates, some of who had been to quite a number of previous ACFI conferences, mentioned that they came to this year's conference because the ACFI always attempts to bring together engaging speakers and delegates to explore innovations and challenges facing Canadians.
Attendees were presented with a number of concurrent sessions on today's issues and trends, as well as the profession's best practices
In their development of this year's conference, the committee provided opportunities for delegates to network with speakers as well as other delegates. This allowed them to share knowledge and to seek to address common challenges.
A surprise hit, of this year's conference was the panel who tackled the topic of "Deals from the Dark Side". The panel, moderated by Courtenay Thompson, had Inspector Andrew Cowan, Dave Elzinga and Dave Ray as panelists. Comments received by delegates in this session, were that it was enjoyable; no training is better than experience; very well done and I took away some great ideas as a result.
The combined comments appeared to sum up what the majority of delegates thought of this year's ACFI workshop and conference: in general that the majority wished various sessions to go on longer; that the ACFI would invite certain speakers back again; and finally, experience is indeed the best teacher.
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WORKSHOP
This year the ACFI put on two concurrent workshops. One, with Nejolla Korris titled "Detecting Deception in Interviews and General Discussions", produced comments such as "all was very useful" and the most important thing delegates learned was "How To Read Statements".
The second workshop, "Corruption & Conflict of Interest", was led by Courtenay Thompson. Delegates to this workshop generally agreed that the workshop was "excellent", "interactive" and that the workshop leader "made great use of examples". |
| As mentioned previously, each year the ACFI Fraud Conference committee faces the challenging task of bringing us both topics and speakers that will not only provide us with information and knowledge but also will be presented in a thought-provoking manner, with an air of humour. The Fraud Conference Committee develops the ACFI Fraud Conference to allow us to:
- Learn firsthand from practitioners that have successfully implemented technology solutions
- Keep up to date on new and emerging technologies
- Take the opportunity to create or increase our professional networks
- Keep abreast of the changes in the Canadian laws related to fraud
- Learn from our presenters and our peer group as to new and improved ways in dealing effectively and efficiently with fraud risks
As well, the committee continually strives to meet the standards that delegates have come to expect from the Association of Certified Forensic Investigators, without increasing the price to delegates |
| ADOPTING A MORE
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE ATTITUDE |
| Several years ago the ACFI began this initiative by recognizing our conference speakers with a donation to the Cancer society on their behalf rather than presenting them with a gift which they may, or may not, have needed or perhaps ever used. The Association, continuing with the implementation of a more socially responsible attitude, is:
- Encouraging communications by email, and reading email messages onscreen to determine whether it's necessary to print them. If it's not needed we do not print it.
- Eliminating fax paper by eliminating our fax machine.
- Producing double-sided documents whenever possible. Delegates will have access to materials before and after the conference and thus be allowed to make that decision for them.
Instigating an ongoing search for "greener" products and services in the local community.
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| 2015 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE |
| The ACFI is also grateful to this year's unsung heroes of the conference and workshop without whom the 17th annual events would not have been as successful as it was. The 2015 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, who came from various parts of Canada, were: Peter Alexander, ACFI, Huntsville, Ontario Paula Delano-Walker, Ontario Internal Audit Division, St. Catharines, Ontario Mark Flewwelling, Risk Management Agency, Moncton, New Brunswick Gordon Gregus, Ontario Provincial Police, Orillia, Ontario Grace Lau, Froese Forensic Partners Ltd, Toronto, Ontario Sheree Mann, Froese Forensic Partners Ltd, Toronto, Ontario Ainsley Vaculuk, Froese Forensic Partners Ltd, Toronto, Ontario Elaine G. Vegotsky, E.V. Litigation & Financial Services Inc, Toronto, Ontario Branko Vranesh, Froese Forensic Partners Ltd, Toronto, Ontario Nancy Warden, Liberal Party of Canada, Gatineau, Quebec Nina Watson, Nina V. Watson & Associates, Toronto, Ontario
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| ACFI AWARD During the ACFI Monday luncheon one award was made:
Mr. Peter Alexander's name was added to the list of the ACFI Lifetime Achievement Award winners, since ACFI's inception. They are (in alphabetical order):
- Brian M. Crockatt
- Stuart Douglas
- Ken Froese
- Glen Harloff
- Donald Holmes
- Jacques Lapointe
- Robert Lindquist
- Pat McParland
- Gary Moulton
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| NAMES IN THE NEWS Alan M. Langley, the Executive Director of the ACFI for the past 17 years is retiring at the end of this month. The ACFI wishes him a long, healthy and happy retirement.
Luisa Ruby is the ACFI's new bookkeeper. She replaces Kent Rodway of Froese Forensic Partners Ltd.  The ACFI Board of Directors wishes to thank Kent Rodway, another unsung hero, for his time and energy over the past number of year as the association's volunteer bookkeeper and accountant. |
| "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
So is a lot."
-Albert Einstein
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| CONGRATULATIONS Congratulations to the following 30 individuals from Vancouver Island University who recently graduated from the Acct 350 Fraud Awareness, Prevention, and Detection course and who, as a result, were subsequently awarded the ACFI Certificate of Completion.
- Faisal Saleem Albalawi
- Mohammed Ali Aldoukhi
- Ziyad Mohammed AL-eid
- Ahmad Fahad Alhassany
- Ali Musaad Alotaibi
- Abdullah Saif Alqahtani
- Hamdi Aweys
- Maxwell Scott Barron
- William Brodie
- Nicolas D. Canellos
- Micheal Oluwadolapo Carzim
- Parke Chang
- Aaron Christopher Dame
- Alyssa C. Drummnd
- Nathanael Exner
- Nel Genzer
- Matthew David Haddad
- Aaron Roland Hagell
- Frances Kaminski
- Kevin Kwai Ping Leong
- Alicia Loewen
- Daisy Elizabeth Maniez
- Anish Jacob Mathew
- Mark W. O'Neil
- Kenechukwu Kaycee Odimega
- Elizabeth Walkus-Swain
- Victoria Thomas
- Brodie Samuel Douglas Virtanen
- Jesse Wilhelm
- Yujin Yeo
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Conference session material
If you attended the 2015 Annual Fraud Conference, some of the speaker's materials are available for you to download. You should have already received a notice on how to access them. Please contact the office if you have any questions.
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| Speaking of the conference committee...
The ACFI is currently looking for volunteers to assist with next year's conference and workshop.
This committee does not require a great deal of your time and provides members with the opportunity to make a difference.
It can also provide CFIs with CPD credits.
Please let the office know if you'd like to be involved.
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For more information, contact us:
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Tel: 416-226-3018
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Toll-free: 877-552-5585
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