Red Flags & Right Choices: Fraud Prevention and Ethics That Pay Off

Ever wondered how much money quietly slips through the cracks of small businesses each year due to fraud? Or how one ethical misstep can turn into a career-ending headline? This session takes the blindfold off. We’ll show you how fraud happens in real life (yes, even in small practices and SMEs), why ethics is your best armour, and how turning these two “headaches” into services can boost your revenue and reputation.

2 CPD units 13 October 2025 1 presenter

What will set you apart

By completing this course you will gain the following competencies

Learn to spot the red flags of fraud before they cost clients real money.
Discover how fraud prevention advice can become a billable service .
See how ethics protects your licence and your livelihood .
Understand practical steps to implement fraud controls in SMEs .
Get a decision-making toolkit for real-world ethical dilemmas .
Position themselves as the trusted advisor clients will actually pay more for .
Know when and how to escalate, report, and protect themselves from liability.

Event breakdown

Real-life fraud cases in South Africa (relatable, SME-scale)
The true cost of fraud for practices and clients
Pressure, opportunity, rationalisation explained with practical examples
Asset misappropriation, payroll fraud, supplier kickbacks, cyber scams
Segregation of duties, reconciliations, client education, digital controls
CIBA and IESBA Code of Ethics made practical
Case studies: tough ethical choices accountants face daily
Legal obligations, whistleblowing, liability avoidance
How to package fraud prevention and ethics as a client-facing, revenue-generating service
Key takeaways, toolkit for tomorrow

Category: EthicsType: CPD CourseCPD category: Ethics

Description

Fraud isn’t just a corporate issue—it’s happening in small practices, SMEs, and NPOs every day. The cost? Lost money, reputational damage, and sleepless nights for both clients and accountants. This high-energy CPD session combines real fraud stories, practical prevention tools, and ethical decision-making frameworks to give you an edge. You’ll walk away knowing how to spot fraud red flags, implement effective controls, and advise clients in ways that make you more valuable (and more billable). If you want to stand out as a trusted advisor and sleep easier at night, this session is for you.

Presenters

Leana van der Merwe — Leana van der Merwe is a Chartered Accountant and Registered Auditor with over 18 years of experience in business accounting, audit and corporate governance. A former Audit Director and professional-body Technical and Standards Executive, she has guided more than 14,000 professionals through complex regulatory matters. Leana also serves on the PAFA Technical Advisory Group, the IFAC Anti-Money Laundering Committee and the IFRS Foundation SME Implementation Group.

You will earn a certificate

On successful completion you will receive a certificate for 2 CPD units in Ethics.

Requirements

Laptop, desktop, or mobile device with internet access
Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, or Firefox browser