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Seminars
Nigrini: Brief
Bio with photos
Useful Mathematics for Accounting, Finance and Audit Professionals
Do you want:
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To be able
to look at a graph and make an intelligent guess at the function that
might describe the behavior of the data so that you could make a
reliable forecast for future periods? |
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To be able
to assess the impact of the time value of money on financial
decisions, especially for annuities and lease payments? |
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A review of
ratios and proportions, with an emphasis on working with phenomena
that are inversely proportional? |
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An overview
of calculus with a focus on how these optimization methods could
assist in minimizing costs or maximizing profits or revenues? |
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An overview
of how the options and futures are priced so that you could suggest
possible hedging strategies to minimize risk? |
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To review
some area and volume calculations that could be important for the
allocation of costs, or the verification of lease or rental payments
based on area, or verification of costs based on volume? |
Here is your opportunity to
learn more about:
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Functions and graphs.
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Area and volume calculations |
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Algebra with an emphasis on ratios and proportions, and time value of
money calculations.
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Optimization methods using calculus
®
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.com |
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The pricing of options and futures.
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Outline:
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Algebra: Emphasis on ratios and proportions (especially inverse
proportions).
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Algebra: Emphasis on time value of money calculations (especially recurring
cash flows such as annuities and lease payments).
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Functions and graphs: Emphasis on identifying what function might best
describe your data so that the data can be transformed and then used with
linear regression.
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Geometry: Emphasis on area and volume calculations and cost allocation
applications.
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Calculus: Emphasis on how calculus can be used to optimize financial
situations especially in the context of minimizing costs or maximizing
profits or revenues.
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Options and futures: Emphasis on how these markets work and how these
derivatives are priced. Discussion on how these derivatives can be used to
minimize risk.
Handouts:
Lecture notes, in-class problems, solutions, and suggestions for further
self-study (books, DVDs, and websites).
For a more detailed
outline in Word format, click
here.
For sample seminar problems, click
here.
Debut: Detroit, Michigan on March
14,
2007. |
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Using
the
Using Data Analysis and Data Interrogation for value-added audit
findings, & Continuous Monitoring techniques
One Day: Revised
March, 2007.
Outline
(1
day) This
seminar was first offered in mid-2001 and has undergone four major
updates. This version had its debut in Pittsburgh in
April, 2007. The inclusion of more material on time-series analysis,
mathematics in internal auditing, and some of my contemporary research is the
newest update. The seminar now has less focus on Microsoft Access
and caters to users of either Access, IDEA, or ACL.
Two-day: Revised March, 2007.
Outline
(second day of two day seminar)
This two-day seminar is essentially the
one day seminar plus a second day for hands-on work. This hands-on
work can be done in either of Access, Excel, IDEA, or ACL. The
afternoon has been completely revised and includes an excellent application
of time-series analysis programmed in Excel. Participants that are new
to their choice of data analysis programs will still benefit. The case
studies have two parts. The first part is for newcomers to the world
of data analysis and the second part is a challenge for experienced users.
The handouts are comprehensive and include data files, templates, and
solutions. The routine to scan for potentially fraudulent vendors
could be used on corporate data when participants return to their offices. |
Continuous
Monitoring: Techniques and Technologies for Internal Auditors
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This
seminar sets the stage for Continuous Monitoring by
auditors by
reviewing
the links between the elements of Internal Control, the Enterprise Risk
Management components, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and Continuous
Monitoring. Four
approaches to Continuous Monitoring are discussed by working through case
studies and each of my Four-D approaches, |
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Here
is your opportunity to learn more about:
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Continuous Monitoring in an ERP environment |
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Using Discriminant Analysis as a
Continuous Monitoring approach
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Using Detection Formulas as a
Continuous Monitoring approach
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Using Digit and Number patterns
(based on Benford’s Law) as a Continuous Monitoring approach
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Using Date-Sequenced
transactions (usually known as Time-Series analysis) as a CM
approach
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Using Microsoft Access, IDEA or ACL as your tool
to implement your chosen approach and to track audit issues |
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Topics related to Continuous Monitoring such as
monitoring information systems, tools available to the auditor,
reporting audit findings, tracking audit findings, and Continuous
Monitoring in an ERP environment.
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Seminar
overview
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The seminar comprises both lecture time and
hands-on time. The mix is
about 50 percent lecture and discussion, and 50 percent hands-on time.
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The instructor will provide a copy of his paper
titled Monitoring Techniques
Available to The Forensic Accountant (forthcoming in The
Journal of Forensic Accounting) to all participants.
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The instructor will provide a book of case
studies for participants.
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The instructor will provide data sets and excel
templates to participants. |
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The seminar topics can be tailored to corporate
needs for in-house presentations |
2005 Outline (2 days)
2006 Outline with new material on (a) monitoring divisional or
departmental monthly reports to assess the risk of fraudulent financial
reporting in an ERP environment, and (b) featuring a first day aimed at
the management of monitoring systems and the second day aimed at auditors
that will actually be programming the tests in Access, IDEA, or ACL.
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Access
to the Max:
Using
the Power of Access to Monitor, Manage, Manipulate & Interrogate
Information
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This
seminar focuses on Microsoft Access tasks and
functions relevant to accounting and auditing.
The seminar includes hands-on work and is
focused towards senior auditors and financial
managers that want to enhance their productivity potential.
Brief
outline:
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Review the
architecture of Access and the principles of good database design |
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Review and run
queries in Access on real data using advanced query functionality in
Access |
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Understand the
principles of, and develop a complete system to continuously monitor a
category of expense (or income) across hundreds of audit units using the
statistical principles of correlation and regression. |
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Create a form
and a report relevant to continuous monitoring (of medium complexity) |
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Review
miscellaneous functionalities of Access relevant to data management. |
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Outline
for 2004 Access
to the Max seminar (2 days). Revised
January, 2004. |
An
Introduction to Value-Added Data Analysis Techniques for Auditors
(using
Access or ACL or IDEA)
This seminar is an introduction to value-added data analysis techniques
for auditors. The topics and emphasis can be tailored to your
organization's needs.
Click here for seminar
outline (2 days)
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Data
Analysis with Benford's Law and Microsoft Excel/Access
All
of my IIA web-based seminars have been developed and posted as of September, 2003.
The above three
seminars are based on chapters 2, 4, and 5 of my Using Microsoft Access
for Data Analysis and Interrogation book.
Click
here to link to the site for web-based seminars from the Institute of
Internal Auditors. Feel free to send me an e-mail if you have
questions. |
Continuous
Monitoring: Techniques and Technologies for Internal Auditors
Conference
session, 1.5 hours:
The objective is to introduce
auditors to four techniques and technologies related to Continuous Monitoring.
Session draws from my paper titled Monitoring Techniques Available to
the Forensic Accountant forthcoming in The Journal of Forensic
Accounting. In summary the session covers:
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An
application of using Discriminant Analysis in
Continuous Monitoring and software available for this task.
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Three examples of Detection
formulas in Continuous Monitoring for fraud.
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Using
Benford’s Law and Digit and Number patterns in Continuous
Monitoring
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Use of Date-sequenced Analysis for Continuous Monitoring |
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A review of the links between monitoring and internal control
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The
elements of Microsoft Access designed specifically for data analysis |
This
session was first presented in Salt Lake City in December, 2003.
That presentation and subsequent presentations in McLean Virginia, Detroit
Michigan, and San Francisco California were very well-received. This
session was presented at the Annual ACFE Fraud Conference in Las Vegas in
July, 2004, and the General Audit Management Conference in Orlando in
March, 2005. The
most recent presentation was in Malaysia at the 14th
Annual IAAIA conference. |
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Fraud
Detection Using an Analysis of Transactional Data
Two-day seminar using Microsoft Access,
IDEA, or ACL.
This seminar is being updated and
improved for 2006. The focus will be on detection of patterns in
transactional data that suggests fraud or errors. Microsoft Access
is the preferred tool. A secondary focus would be the development of
a formal system to put suspicious vendors or other entities on a formal
watch list and to record the investigative and other steps taken on a
periodic basis.
Please contact me for further details.
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The
Benford's Law: The Facts, the Fun, and the Future
CONFERENCE
PLENARY SESSION, OR
LUNCHEON TALK, OR
AFTER-DINNER
TALK:
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Benford’s Law has been
my research passion for about 15 years. The talk will be an
enthusiastic delivery of a phenomenon that is both interesting and
informative. The talk will be tailored to the audience at hand. My
goal is for the audience to applaud for an encore.
In this talk I reveal
the newest theorem related to Benford's Law (called the second-order
tests in my as-yet unpublished work).
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Click here for a more
detailed outline (updated October 14, 2005) |
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| Dartmouth
College, December, 2000. Benford's Law presentation titled
"Benford's Law, Its a secret law of numbers."
RealVideo and slides. You need to click on my presentation title
to start the video. Title should be viewable when you go to the
page. |
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IAAIA presentation,
Bangkok, 11/1998 |
Ernst & Young,
Toronto, 1/97 |
Cargolux, Luxembourg |
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With Tim Bell, KPMG,
Montvale NJ |
Ministry of Finance,
The Hague |
Orange County, CA,
April, 1997 |
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Orange County, CA,
April, 1997 |
Cargolux, Luxembourg |
Baden Baden, Germany |
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Interview, CBC Toronto |
Lunch presentation,
ARCO, Pasadena |
Analysis Enron's
Financial Statements |
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Stardust Hotel, May
2002 |
Stardust Hotel, May
2002
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Microsoft Access
seminar, Boise, ID
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Number Games that people play Boise |
Houston - Sept 2002 |
Houston - Sept 2002 |
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Houston - Sept, 2002
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Dallas - October, 2003 |
Dallas - October, 2003 |
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Dallas
- October, 2003 |
Dallas - October, 2003 |
Dallas
- October, 2003 |
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Dallas - October, 2003 |
Dallas - October, 2003 |
Dallas - October, 2003 |
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Dallas - October, 2003 |
Dallas - October, 2003 |
Dallas - October, 2003 |
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Dallas
- October, 2003 |
Dallas
- October, 2003 |
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Princeton NJ - October '04 |
Princeton NJ - October '04 |
Princeton NJ - October '04 |
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Montpelier
VT - May 2005 |
Montpelier
VT - May 2005 |
Montpelier
VT - May 2005 |
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Montpelier
VT - May 2005 |
Montpelier
VT - May 2005 |
Montpelier
VT - May 2005 |
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Phoenix - Morning Break |
Phoenix - April, 2005 |
Phoenix - April, 2005 |
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California - June, 2005 |
California - June, 2005 |
California - June, 2005 |
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More photos to come! |
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