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Intermediate

Introduction to Forensic Audit Methodology

A concept course on the method behind a forensic audit: what makes it different from a statutory or internal audit, who commissions one in India and why, and the standards that govern the work. You will follow the full lifecycle, from predication and scoping to hypothesis-led planning, evidence gathering, analytics, interviews, fund flow tracing, loss quantification and the final report. Along the way you will learn how evidence must be handled to stand up under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, where ICAI's Forensic Accounting and Investigation Standards fit, what reporting duties arise under Section 143(12) of the Companies Act, SEBI LODR and the RBI Master Directions on Fraud Risk Management, and what Indian courts have said about forensic audit reports. Built for aspiring forensic auditors, compliance officers at banks and NBFCs, and finance professionals in risk and compliance roles. Pair it with the practice drills course on conducting a basic forensic audit walkthrough to apply each step.

Forensic AuditInvestigation MethodologyEvidence and Chain of CustodyForensic Data AnalyticsFund Flow TracingForensic Reporting

MODULES

5

DURATION

4 Hours

TRACK

Forensic Accounting & Compliance

What You'll Master

Distinguish a forensic audit from statutory audit, internal audit and a regulatory investigation

Explain who commissions forensic audits in India, including lenders, SEBI, boards and insolvency professionals

Move from predication to a scoped engagement and a hypothesis-led work plan

Classify evidence and preserve it with a defensible chain of custody, including electronic records

Place data analytics, interviews and fund flow tracing correctly within the methodology

Quantify loss or diversion with a method you can defend

Write findings that stay factual, meet Indian reporting obligations and survive legal challenge

Access Level

LEARNER

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Everything included

Full Text Playbooks

Actionable Exercises

Mobile Reading Mode

Lifetime Updates

Curriculum Breakdown

Chapter 1: What a Forensic Audit Is

3 Lessons

Forensic Audit, Statutory Audit, Internal Audit and Investigation Compared11 min read

Who Commissions Forensic Audits in India and Why12 min read

The Standards Behind the Work: ICAI FAIS and Global Practice12 min read

Chapter 2: Planning the Engagement

4 Lessons

The Forensic Audit Lifecycle From Predication to Report11 min read

Predication, Scoping and the Engagement Letter12 min read

Hypothesis-Led Investigation: Building and Testing Fraud Theories13 min read

Planning the Work: Risk, Look-Back Periods and Independence12 min read

Chapter 3: Gathering Evidence

4 Lessons

What Counts as Evidence: Documentary, Electronic and Testimonial12 min read

Chain of Custody and Electronic Evidence Under Indian Law13 min read

Where Data Analytics Fits in the Methodology13 min read

Interviews: Sequencing, Technique and Documentation12 min read

Chapter 4: Analysis and Conclusions

3 Lessons

Fund Flow and Transaction Tracing Methodology13 min read

Quantifying Loss and Diversion13 min read

Drawing Conclusions Without Overreaching11 min read

Chapter 5: Reporting and the Legal Landscape

3 Lessons

Writing the Forensic Audit Report12 min read

Reporting Duties Under the Companies Act, SEBI LODR and RBI Fraud Directions13 min read

When Forensic Audits Reach Court: Lessons From Indian Cases13 min read