One-Day Course to Offer Seven CPE or CLE Continuing Education Credits

The Professional Development Center within the Monte Ahuja College of Business will deliver an exclusive one-day course “Detection and Prevention of Organizational Fraud” on Friday, November 20, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the Cleveland State University campus. 

The course, will discuss the characteristics, types of fraud, how to identify financial reporting fraud through analytical procedures, spot red flags and explain the SEC’s new enforcement efforts related to financial statement fraud.  Participants will be able to compare/contrast fraud scenarios, understand the roles of attorneys, accountants and auditors in fraud matters, use data analysis to identify high-risk transactions, apply evidence-gathering techniques used to detect fraud, develop controls to mitigate fraud from within an organization and be able to advise executives on anti-fraud programs and controls.

Richard Molina, lecturer in the Accounting Department and Dennis Medica, Executive MBA alumnus and accounting lecturer have teamed with Jeffrey Close to deliver the course designed for certified public accountants (CPAs), attorneys and auditors.  Participants will receive up to seven Continuing Professional Education (CPE) or Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits, parking and lunch for $275.

Participants can register by phone (216-687-6957) or online at www.csuprodev.com/detection-and-prevention-organizational-fraud

“Every organization faces the risk of financial loss due to fraud, but maintaining a vigorous detection and prevention program can help mitigate that risk,” said Toni Paoletta, Manager of the Professional Development Center within the Monte Ahuja College of Business.

“This course, like all of the professional development courses we offer, is designed to provide competency-based continuing education – meaning that participants in the course will take an assessment and leave with real-world skills that they can apply to help detect and prevent fraud within their organization,” added Paoletta.

“We are proud that faculty, alumni and valued community partners with expertise partner with the Monte Ahuja College of Business and Cleveland State University,” said Dr. Richard Reed, Dean of the Monte Ahuja College of Business. “Overall, this particular course demonstrates Cleveland State University’s commitment to providing engaged learning opportunities that can impact Northeast Ohio as maintaining an in-depth knowledge of fraud, as well as how to detect and prevent it, is essential to maintaining the financial integrity of any organization.”

About Richard Molina, M.A., J.D., LLM

Richard Molina is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Accounting at Cleveland State where he teaches courses in tax, financial accounting, and fraud examination.  He previously taught at University of Akron and University of Houston.  Prior to teaching, he worked more than 28 years at Marathon Oil Company in a variety of tax and accounting positions and ultimately retired as General Tax Counsel in 2010.  He is a Certified Public Accountant and licensed attorney.  He earned a Master’s from Miami University, a JD from University of Toledo, and an LLM in tax law from University of Houston. Teaching areas include: taxation, fraud and forensics, financial accounting.

About Dennis Medica, EMBA, CPA, CFF, CGMA, CFE, CVA

With over 20 years of experience, Dennis provides consulting and forensic accounting services to senior executives, board of directors and legal counsel. He has extensive experience in forensic accounting investigations including SEC and other matters addressing issues of fraud and corruption. Dennis’ practice also includes financial analysis of complex commercial disputes involving intellectual property, business interruption, professional negligence, business valuation, acquisition and divestiture, employment and various other breach of contract matters. He has served as financial expert for Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., Dana Limited and many other well-known companies. In addition, Dennis assists clients with business valuations, turnarounds, complex tax structures and compliance, and financial statement and compliance audits. His experience spans various industries including transportation, insurance, manufacturing, professional services, banking, real estate, retail merchandising, construction, healthcare, pharmaceutical and others. Dennis is also an adjunct professor at Cleveland State University teaching fraud examination. Prior to establishing Medica, LLC, Dennis was Director of the Forensic Services practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP in Cleveland. He is a member of the Technical Advisory Board of the Forensic and Valuation Services Section of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and also the Advisory Council of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Dennis is a graduate of John Carroll University with a BSBA in Accountancy. He received his Executive MBA from Cleveland State University where he also received The John Baker EMBA Alumni award in recognition for his commitment to excellence and ethics in business and career development.

About Jeffrey L. Close, CPA

Jeff recently retired after a 38-year career with PricewaterhouseCoopers and is now affiliated with Medica, LLC. Jeff began his audit career with PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1977 in Cincinnati, where he served a number of clients, principally in the healthcare and retail industries. Jeff was an active partner for 25 years serving as an Office of the General Counsel Forensic Partner, where he provided consulting and technical support to the firm’s inside and outside attorneys on litigation, government investigations and other regulatory matters. In his role, Jeff reviewed audit working papers, assisted in witness preparation for testimony, and helped develop litigation strategy. Prior to transferring to the Cleveland office in 1999, Jeff was resident in New York City for nine years. Jeff served on the firm’s Ethics and Compliance Advisory Committee and was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant’s Fraud Task Force, responsible for drafting Statement on Auditing Standards No. 99 on the Auditor’s Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit. 

Jeff has been an active member in a number of civic, charitable and professional organizations, including the Boys/Girls Club of Greater Cleveland and Miami University Business Advisory Council. Jeff graduated from Miami University with a BS in Accountancy in 1977.