Duration 1 ½ years

Credit load                                          306

Minimum Credit Load 270

Maximum Credit Load 340

Maximum MBK’s Credit Load 216

ZNQF level 9

1. PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME

The programme explores investigation elements in forensic auditing and equips students with relevant critical thinking skills to collect and interpret Financial Fraud and Forensics Audit data in the contemporary world along with the legal mechanism to counter corporate fraud and understand Forensic Audit methods. The program will empower students to recognize the root causes of fraud and white-collar crime in the current economy, analyse the categories of fraud, equip them with methodologies of fraud detection and prevention, and heighten their ability to detect potential fraudulent situations.

2. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

2.1 Normal Entry

To qualify for normal entry into the Master of Commerce Degree in Forensic Auditing and Accounting programme, a candidate, in addition to satisfying the minimum requirements as prescribed under the General Regulations and the Faculty Regulations, for “O” level English and Mathematics, must be a holder of a first degree in Accounting, Forensic Accounting, Auditing, Banking and Finance or any other related degree.

3. PROGRAMME CHARACTERISTICS
   • Areas of study: Financial Analysis, Internal and External Fraud Investigation, Auditing, Communication Computer Skills, Asset Protection, Digital Forensics, Legal Evidence Methodologies, Expert Witnessing, Investigations and Criminal Law
   • Specialist focus: Forensic Auditing and Forensic Accounting
   • Orientation: Research and innovation-oriented. Teaching and learning are professionally oriented and focused on practical aspects.
   • Distinctive features: The programmebuilds the research-technology-innovation continuum and focuses on Forensic accounting which includes conducting investigations to uncover financial fraud, often acting as expert witnesses during trials. It will basically be advanced training in areas related to investigation and auditing using a student-centred approach.

 

4. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND FURTHER EDUCATION

The Master of Commerce Degree in Forensic Auditing and Accounting provides employment opportunities in Government or Private Firms. Institutions may include the following: Accounting Firms, Mining organisations, Consultancy Firms, Banks, Law Enforcement Agencies, Universities, and Telecommunication Companies. Roles will include conducting criminal and civil investigations into crimes such as illegal financial transactions and embezzlement. Forensic Auditors can also work as fraud examiners and certified public accountants (CPAs), reviewing financial documents to resolve civil disputes. There are also possibilities for entrepreneurship in the form of Forensic accounting and auditing Consultancy.

3. GENERAL PROVISIONS

7.1 A candidate is required to undertake a minimum of five (5) modules per semester excluding modules carried from the previous academic level or semester.

7.2 A student requires a minimum of 306 credits to complete this programme.

 

4. PROGRAMME ASSESSMENT

8.1 Normally evaluation shall be based on continuous assessment as well as University Examinations. Unless otherwise approved by the Senate, continuous assessment will contribute 40% of the overall assessment.

8.2 The department shall determine which items of continuous assessment and practical work will be included in the continuous assessment. The department will maintain written records of each student’s performance in these elements of continuous assessment items incorporated in continuous assessment may include assignments tests, essays, projects or any other as shall be determined by the department.

8.3 Students shall normally take examinations at the end of each semester as prescribed in the Faculty and or Departmental regulations

8.4 External examiners shall be appointed to moderate examinations.

8.5 For more detail refer to Section 6 of the General Regulations and Section 5 of the Faculty Regulations.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Level 1 Semester 1

Code	Module Description	Credits
MFA700	Forensic Accounting and Auditing	18
MFA701	Money Laundering and Asset Tracing	18
MFA702	Compliance and Governance	18
MFA703	Big Data Analytics in Forensic Accounting	18
MFA704	Professional Ethics in Forensic Auditing	18

Level 1 Semester 2

Code	Module Description	Credits
MFA707	Financial Crimes and the Law	18
MFA708	Cyber-crime and Digital Forensics	18
MFA705	Tax Audit and Investigation	18
MFA706	Fraud Risk Management	18
MFA709	Financial Statements and Analytical Techniques	18
MFA710	Research Methodology	18

Level 2 Semester 1

Code	Module Description	Credits
MFA800	Advanced Forensic Litigation and Expert Witnessing	18
MFA801	Dissertation	90

3. MODULE SYNOPSIS

 

MFA700 Forensic Accounting and Auditing

The module introduces students to investigative techniques for planning, gathering, interpreting, and documenting evidence in areas such as valuation of closely held businesses, lost profits analyses, and various types of litigation support services. Legal concepts governing expert witness testimony are also examined.

MFA701 Money Laundering and Asset Tracing

The module introduces students to money laundering, international controls and regulations to prevent and detect potential sources of money laundering, various methods and techniques of tracing assets

MFA702 Compliance and Governance

The module introduces students to the Zimbabwean regulatory environment, international regulatory environment (UK and USA), compliance framework, compliance function, compliance risk, corporate governance, professional ethical standards, professional conduct and integrity management.

MFA703 Big Data Analytics in Forensic Accounting

The module introduces students to data, methods of quantitative analysis, and concepts of data mining, data warehousing, predictive, descriptive and prescriptive analytics. Tools such R-Studio, F-sharp, Python, Open Source Toolkit – WEKA and Hadoop shall be used as hands on practical’s.

MFA704 Professional Ethics in Forensic Auditing

The module introduces students to the fundamental principles underlying the IFAC code of ethics, the ethical responsibilities of accountants in business in relation to Fraud, Money laundering, theft, over-exaggeration or suppression of information or values, unethical behaviour to individuals, the accountancy profession and the public.

MFA705 Tax Audit and Investigation

The module introduces students to civil and criminal tax fraud matters, methodologies of investigation, prosecution, and defence, as well as issues surrounding the resolution of certain types of cases. The module covers introduction to Tax Fraud, tax fraud patterns, offences, tax due diligence, tax audit and investigations, tax regulations, prosecution and defence.

MFA706 Fraud Risk Management

The module introduces students to risk identification, assessment & evaluation, fraud risk management, development and implementation of risk response strategy, risk monitoring and communication, development, measuring and monitoring of KRIs & KPIs, and designing and implementation of information systems controls.

MFA707 Financial Crimes

The module introduces students to financial crimes, motivations and typologies: the drivers of financial crime, offending and the types of financial crime commonly encountered, the laws and statutes governing financial crimes, financial crime investigation modelling, and managing a financial crime investigation.

MFA708 Cyber-crime and Digital Forensics

The module introduces students to database forensics, network forensics, computer forensics, investigative tools, digital evidence, evidence collection, forensic standards, search and seizure, e-discovery and network intelligence, types of cybercrimes, cybercrimes law, legal restrictions on the movement and use of cryptographic technology.

MFA709 Financial Statements and Analytical Techniques

The module focuses on Analysis of financial statements and audit reports, Horizontal and vertical analysis, Financial ratio analysis and Anomaly detection to identify nonconformities.

MFA710 Research Methodology

The module introduces students to advanced topics in research design and statistical analysis. The topics include underlying philosophies to research-based methods, observational and experimental research designs, strengths and weaknesses of each design, internal validity for different research designs, research proposal, advanced analysis and overall thesis writing.

MFA800 Advanced Forensic Litigation and Expert witnessing

This module introduces students to Dispute Resolution (DR) theory and practice, providing an overview of contemporary DR systems (including litigation, negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, and blended processes). Legal and professional issues arising out of DR developments are analysed.

MFA801 Dissertation

The dissertation is carried out by students in an area of their choice related to the discipline of forensic accounting and forensic auditing. Each student is required to apply their acquired knowledge and skills to a project that is motivated by a real-world challenge(s) in forensic accounting and fraud investigations.