Course Information
Addressing Corruption & Conflict of Interests
Parking for SAO, Professional Development courses is in Garage B (1511 San Jacinto Blvd.). The Garage signage may read 1511 San Jacinto or Garage B. The elevator in Garage B is not reliable. If you are unable to walk the stairs, please contact the professionaldevelopment@sao.texas.gov for alternate parking arrangements. Handicapped parking is free at the meters around the downtown area.
A course coordinator will Email you a parking permit prior to the course start date. A permit must be displayed or you will be ticketed.
Course Description
The news media is overflowing with tales of corruption. Matters often go unaddressed until they become too big and too obvious to be ignored or until embarrassing questions are asked. What is going on? How can our systems fail us? How can leaders fail to notice the obvious? How can stewards of government and corporate assets tolerate theft by their colleagues, or worse, enrich themselves improperly?
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
-
Assess their environment for exposures to corruption and conflicts of interests.
-
Handle the challenges associated with corruption.
-
Address exposures related to conflict of interest.
-
Understand corruption, how it happens and what it looks like.
-
Build identification of corruption into routine audits.
-
Identify indicators of corruption using data analysis.
-
Work with management to improve transparency.
Topics covered include:
-
A model for addressing fraud challenges.
-
What can go wrong in contracting.
-
Transparency and surfacing problems.
-
Case studies in kickbacks and pay to play.
-
Abuse of authority.
-
Conflict of interests.
-
Practical approaches to gifts and entertainment.
-
Building detection of procurement fraud into routine audits.
-
Using data analysis for kickbacks and conflict of interests.
-
Lessons from around the world related to construction, IT and other contracting.
- Suggestions and materials auditors can use to help managers change the culture.
Instructors
Courtenay Thompson is a recognized authority on training managers, auditors and investigators in fraud-related matters. He has designed and presented courses on fraud prevention, detection and investigation for business and government organizations worldwide. His courses are known for providing practical, proven approaches to real problems. These practical approaches have yielded dramatic results for class attendees.
In addition to fraud-related programs, Mr. Thompson provides training on audit interviewing, improving personal and professional effectiveness, behavior and communication skills, leadership and auditing contracts. For 13 years, Mr. Thompson was editor of "Fraud Findings" in The Internal Auditor magazine.
Prior to entering the consulting field, Mr. Thompson's experience in public accounting and internal auditing provided exposure to a number of types of impropriety including embezzlement, insurance fraud, loan fraud, stock fraud, kickbacks and bribery, misappropriation of funds and mail fraud. In additional to personally detecting and investigating suspected fraud cases, he established corporate policies for fraud and trained other auditors in fraud detection and investigation. Responsibilities included working with top management and reporting to the audit committee on the status of open cases. He has worked closely with legal counsel, law enforcement and prosecutors.
Additional Information
TAC Rule 523.142(g) requires the CPE Sponsor to monitor individual attendance and assign the correct number of CPE credits. Participants will be asked to document their time of arrival and departure in compliance with this Rule. Additionally, attendance will be monitored throughout the day and CPE certificates will reflect actual attendance of each participant.
If you are making travel plans to come to Austin, we recommend making "refundable" air and hotel reservations or waiting until 14 days before the class to actually book your reservations. Courses are occasionally canceled or rescheduled due to low enrollment. We determine whether a course has enough participants 16 days prior to the course date. If we cancel or reschedule, we will email the participant and his or her billing contact no later than 14 days before the original class date.
The course coordinator will contact you with parking information. Handicapped parking is free at the meters around the downtown area.
Vending machines with Coca-Cola products and various snack items are available. There is also a refrigerator and microwave in our coffee bar area. Feel free to bring in your own drinks and food if you prefer.
You might want to bring a light sweater or jacket, as room temperatures vary.
To see answers to our Frequently Asked Questions, visit http://www.sao.texas.gov/training/faq.html.