Books you might enjoy

“Tragedy of Fraud” e-book now available at Amazon

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“Tragedy of Fraud – The Ripple Effects from Fraud and the Wages Earned” describes the tragic consequences from fraud.

There are ripple effects that spread out to harm innocent bystanders.  The perpetrator draws a wide range of well-deserved wages that will be paid in full.

The book looks at two fraud incidents to learn what happens after a fraud is discovered. One took place in a local megachurch and the other in the mayor’s office of a small city.

The book closes with a discussion of the fraud triangle. That’s the idea that three components need to be present for a fraud to take place – opportunity, motivation, and rationalization. There are steps an organization can take to reduce those factors.

You can find the book at Amazon here.

This book is a compilation of blogs posts that have been previously published at Nonprofit Update and Attestation Update. The posts have been edited slightly and reorganized for easier reading.

Major sections of the book: …

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‘Tragedy of Fraud’ in e-book format – soon to be released

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(Cross posted from my other blog, Nonprofit Update.)

Tragedy of Fraud – The Ripple Effects from Fraud and the Wages Earned will be released soon in Kindle format. This is a compilation of blog posts about the damage caused by fraud. It will also discuss the fraud triangle.

The sections of the book are: …

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To what purpose did Arthur Andersen die? Part 2

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Previous post discussed a March 14, 2012 editorial in the Chicago Tribune which ponders what greater cause may have existed behind the 2002 collapse of Big 5 accounting firm Arthur Andersen. The editorial concluded that Andersen died in vain.

Methinks the editorial’s content argues against the editorial’s conclusion.

Let’s look at the pattern of behavior

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Primer for CPAs on testing the functional allocation

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I discuss the e-book Lies, White Lies, and Accounting Practices; Why nonprofit overhead doesn’t mean what you think it means by Saundra Schimmelpfennig at my other blog, Nonprofit Update.

If you are a CPA working with NPOs, check out my description of the book in my post, Q: Are overhead ratios the perfect measure of NPO efficiency and effectiveness?   You ought to get the book.

I suggest you buy a copy of the book for all of your staff who work with NPOs. Would be a cheap and fast way to provide some education on testing the functional allocation.

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“Once Upon Internal Control” is available on Kindle platform

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My tale on internal control done well and poor at two churches is now available in Kindle format at Amazon.

Price is $0.99.

You can read the book on your Kindle device, on any smart phone with a Kindle app, or on your computer using the Kindle-for-PC application.

At Amazon, search for my name, Ulvog, or the book title, Once Upon Internal Control.

Or click here to go directly to the book.

If you are in business, you should be familiar with these writers

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A few weeks ago I attended the Dave Ramsey Live! event in Long Beach.  Here is just one of the many great comments he had:

If you are in business, you should be reading these three authors:

  • Jim Collins
  • Seth Godin
  • Malcolm Gladwell

I wholeheartedly agree.

I have read all of the following books and heartily endorse them. If you want to grow and learn and stretch your brain, dive in anywhere!  Here’s a few titles to check out: …

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New Audit Risk Alerts are available

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Just noticed today the new General Audit Risk Alert is available.  If you are an auditor this is something you should be reading every year.  (If your firm doesn’t provide you a copy, go get one yourself.  You are in charge of your professional growth.)

Here is a link and the full title: General Accounting and Auditing Developments – – 2011/2012 Audit Risk Alert.

Might be worth getting the hot-off-the-press risk alert.  Order it now and you could read it in November to incorporate into planning during December for audits in January and February.  …

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Getting naked – Not what you think. It’s a book. Wait. Still not what you think. It’s about transparency in business relationships.

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Subtitle of the book is A business fable… about shedding the three fears that sabotage client loyalty.  It’s a book by Patrick Lencioni which you can find here.  As with his other books, it is an entertaining fictional story that illustrates the points instead of making them directly.

Primary focus of the book is business consultants.  It applies to directly to anyone in business working with external clients.  It can also apply to many people in the ministry world.

He suggests there are three fears that get in the way of loyalty from your clients.  These fears tear down transparency and openness.  Getting past those fears in order to improve transparency is the way this book can help anyone in business or ministry. …

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What are Cliffs, Cul-de-sacs, and Dips? The Dip, by Seth Godin

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(cross-posted from my other blog, Nonprofit Update.)

When is it time to push through the obstacles and keep trying to achieve?

That is the topic of Seth Godin’s book, The Dip. Since the book was written in 2007, I am late to the party. Still want to write about it because most people I talk to are not familiar with his work.

We need to distinguish between cliffs, cul-de-sacs, and dips.

…

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Creative visualization – astounding use of a map to show statistical data

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A graph of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia shows the devastating losses suffered during the advance on Moscow and retreat.  It is the best illustration I’ve seen of creatively presenting a complex body of information.  Dare I say it is a beautiful graph?  Why is this of interest to us?  It shows a powerful way to communicate statistical data.

You can see the graph here at Cartographia.  Click on the map to enlarge.

One sentence of explanation allows you to interpret the entire view – …

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“Clergy Killer” – people who destroy pastors

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(duplicate of post from Nonprofit Update blog.)

While rare, clergy killers are real.  It would be wise to know of the concept and have a bit of knowledge on hand in case you should ever encounter one.

Clergy Killers, By G. Lloyd Rediger, ISBN 978-0664257538

From my review at Amazon:

You may wonder why there is a book tackling what seems to be an issue so severe that it must be extremely rare, if it even really exists.  The author is addressing the specific situation when a member of the congregation is truly focused on destroying a pastor.  Most people have never seen a clergy killer in operation.  I have.

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