TAMUSA Accounting Students Assist at SA IIA Fraud Seminar

Thursday April 17, 2014

TAMUSA Accounting students were invited to help with the details of the 2014 CPE Day (4/16/14) for San Antonio Institute of Internal Auditors. This year the seminar focused on fraud issues. TAMUSA Students worked in shifts throughout the day helping in check-in and CPE sign in through the various sessions. HEre is a look at our students throughout the day.

Left to right, Eric Watkins, Edward Sanchez, and Beatrice Therwhanger took the first shift during registration sign in. The actual program started at 8 30 wiht most attendees arriving between 8 00 and 8 30. With 158 registered there was plenty to do in thirty minutes!

Here is a better heads up shot of the three early risers. Left to right

Edward Sanchez

Beatrice Therwhanger

Eric Watkins

There were four presentations. The first featured an FBI investigation into the San Antonio Housing Authority. The fraud was that contractors had to pay bribes to obtain work on the vaious projects.

Weaver CPAs then presented on Cybercrime, MItigating Wire Transfer Fraud

Resource Global Professional Antholny Cecil presented on Using Technology for Data Driven Investigations of Fraud.

Melissa Martin with Weaver CPAs discussed Coordinating Fraud Risk Assessment with Enterprise Risk Mnagement.

Evelyn Paris, left, and Denise Trejo assisted duriong the noon hour.

Adam Arevalos with Valero explains some internal audit concepts to Pauline Gleim and Claude Nchanji.

There was ample opportunity to both observe the sessions and visit with attending professional internal auditors.

And the officers of SA IIA had plenty to do, like Santa, keeping their list and checking it twice.

Some 158 Chapter Members wer on hand, I think 141 checked in the last ten minutes before the start time!

At left REmi Nei, Treasurer,

Cecilia Tankersley, Secretary

Camille Marbury, Vice President

look over the registration process.

Claude Nchanji had this to say about the event.

I was one of the student volunteers at the Fraud Seminar hosted by the San Antonio Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors. In the words of Dr. Elam, “There was simply no substitute for being there.” Dr. Elam was instrumental in our participation at that seminar with huge opportunities for learning and networking. That was my first time of attending any event organized by the IIA and I must say I am glad to have attended.

Prior to attending that seminar, I thought of internal auditing as a career with activities limited only to the control department of an organization. This notion changed after I attended this seminar. I learned a lot from my discussion with Adam Arevalos, President of the San Antonio Chapter of the IIA. The most outstanding take-home from my discussion with him was how IT can be done in synergy with the internal auditing function. Ms. Camille Marbury, Chapter Vice President of the San Antonio Chapter also offered advice and insights second to none. On the presentation about coordinating fraud risk assessment with Enterprise Risk Management, what I used to know as the Fraud Triangle, now evolved into the Fraud Diamond. The benefits (both intrinsic and extrinsic) which I derived from networking with a wide range of professionals in the auditing field, who were in attendance, simply cannot be overemphasized and I am immeasurably grateful to Dr. Elam and the IIA to have given me this opportunity.

I look forward to attending more events organized by the institute.

Pauline Glenn hd this to say.

What a great opportunity to attend and volunteer, at the Institute of Internal Auditors, San Antonio Chapter, 1-Day Fraud Seminar! We, as students, were able to participate in the seminar with members. We networked and learned more about internal audit (topic specific each month). Internal audit is a dynamic and growing field within our discipline. I experienced multiple introductions to internal auditors, and others. Attendees are energetic about their field, warm and welcoming of questions/conversation. I think they enjoy our presence as well. IIA's President, Adam Arevelos and Vice President, Camille Marbury made sure our student volunteers were very welcomed at their event.

-Thank you SanAntonio SA IIA for inviting us.

Denise Trejo contributed teh following comment -

Hello! My name is Denise Trejo. I had the honor to volunteer at the San Antonio IIA Fraud Seminar. It was a great experience for me. I also had the opportunity to meet some of the officers of the IIA – all of whom were very welcoming and encouraging.

As an accounting student, the career possibilities can be positively overwhelming. The seminar offered great insight into the world of audit by allowing us to attend the scheduled seminars and meet others already established in their field. The day was full of information, and I was lucky enough to hear Anthony Cecil of Resources Global Professionals speak.

I want to thank Dr. Elam for exposing us to such wonderful resources. Also, a very, grateful thank you to the San Antonio Chapter of Internal Auditors for welcoming students to enjoy the seminars and allowing us to feel like part of the group!

Yeret Bustons commented as follows

My experience was a positive one. I participated in the seminar that included ACH and online transactions. I was fairly familiar with all the concepts and procedures they encountered. I learned that liability rests on either party on a case by case basis; this makes sense as many are situations are unique.

This was both a learning and a participatory experience, Thanks for SA IIA for inviting us. In this manner we got to visit up close and personal with San Antonio accounting professionals.

Edward Sanchez found the FBI presentation interesting

I wanted to express my gratitude for allowing me the opportunity to volunteer at the SA IIA Fraud Seminar. I really enjoyed helping to register the Auditors because it gave me an opportunity to interact with Auditors from different companies across San Antonio. The session by FBI Agent Fred Olivares was very interesting. I took away one question that he kept asking, “Would your internal controls catch this?” I had not considered auditing as a career path until this session. It sparked an interest in auditing for me and I am seriously considering auditing for my career. If I did not have this opportunity to volunteer, I would not have realized the various opportunities auditing would allow. Thank you again for the opportunity.

Beatrice Therwhanger worked the 'early shift'

It was a great opportunity to be an early-bird helper at the SA IIA Fraud Seminar. I had fun working alongside various IIA board members while checking in seminar attendees. After the “morning rush” was over we were able to attend the presentations. I listened to FBI Special Agent Fred Olivares speak on the awareness of internal controls and public corruption.

Professor Elam has been instrumental in encouraging TAMU-SA student participation with the San Antonio Institute of Internal Auditors, giving us a chance to network within a wide range of companies and professionals. It’s exciting to see the opportunities available for accounting graduates. Thank you Professor Elam and SA IIA.

Professor Elam

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