In Spite of His Assertions That He Carried-Out Fraud Alone

question 65

Multiple Choice

In spite of his assertions that he carried-out fraud alone, convicted investment advisor Bernard Madoff's independent auditor is now under investigation. The auditor is accused of not doing his job. Rather than verify Madoff's company records, the F.B.I claims that he "rubber-stamped" the records. Knowing what you have learned about the importance of auditing, which of the following statements do you understand to be most accurate?

• A)Investment firms should always hire private accountants. Public accountants do not have enough information about the firm to prepare audits.
• B)Independent auditors only prepare audits for not-for-profit firms. Madoff hired the wrong professional for the job.
• C)Independent auditors must follow strict rules, including new rules put in place by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
• D)The Sarbanes-Oxley Act does not institute rules of practice for independent auditors. Independent auditors follow strict rules created by the AICPA, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

---

Definitions:

Justice Approach

A way to base decisions on the basis of fairness

Ethical Decision-Making

The procedure of scrutinizing and opting for alternatives that adhere to principles of ethics.

Rights Approach

A decision-making method based on using moral principles that least infringe on the entitlements of others.

Moral Principles

Fundamental beliefs about what is right and wrong that guide an individual's behavior and decision-making.