Application Of Forensic Accounting Skills And Detection Of Financial Crimes In Nigeria : A Study Of Quoted Manufacturing Firms

Abstract

Abstract Financial crimes have endangered the businesses of individuals, groups, institutions and even governments as a huge amount of money is lost as a result of these crimes. This had created a problem for the survival and successful operations in business organizations, which necessitates this study to examine the application of forensic accounting skills in the detection of financial crimes of quoted manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Data were collected from primary sources through the administering of forty-five (45) structured questionnaires to the staff within the accounting department of fifteen (15) manufacturing firms operating in Kano State. Multiple regression analyses were employed for analysis. The findings revealed that forensic level of skills by accountants and forensic financial crime investigation has a positive and significant relationship with the detection of financial crimes of quoted manufacturing firms in Nigeria. This suggests that an increase in the forensic level of skills by accountants and forensic financial crime investigation would lead to an increase in the detection of financial crimes. Similarly, there is insignificant association between forensic expert consultants and detection of financial crimes, implying outsourcing of forensic experts did not influence the detection of financial crimes of quoted manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Therefore, the study recommended among others that the management of the manufacturing firms in Nigeria should employ more forensic accountants who have the requisite knowledge, skills, competence, capability, experience and experts in forensic financial crimes investigation. This will go a long way in maintaining, minimizing and enhancing the detection of financial crimes of quoted manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Keywords: Forensic Accounting; Financial crime Investigation; and Financial Crime Detection.