How to Critically Analyse the Balance Sheet (Aug 25)
Category: Law & Regulation and Compliance | Duration: 1hr | Tag: VODIRE2551 | Type: Video | Course Level: Intermediate | Speaker: Dermot Madden | Date: 12/08/2025 11:30
Course Details
Financial reporting and its complexities often hide the true nature of corporate activities, and reporting is used to mask unethical conduct.
Because of this the need for transparency has never been greater.
The objective of this presentation is to advise on how the Balance Sheet can be manipulated for various vested interest parties, and to serve as a guide for professionals on how to identify potential frauds in the financial statements and set out ways to mitigate such manipulation of the statements.
Dermot Madden examines the following topics during this course:
- What is the purpose of the Balance Sheet?
- Why is it important
- Critical areas of attention on the Balance Sheet
- Notes to the Balance Sheet
- Common Manipulations:
- Incorporation Issues – creating a Balance Sheet
- Revenue Recognition & Inflation
- Revenue and Expense Manipulation
- Related Parties issues
- Asset Overstatement
- Inventory valuation
- Unrealised gains
- Depreciation & Amortisation
- Cash
- Off Balance Sheet financing / hidden liabilities
- Liability underreporting
CPD Course Speaker
Madden & Company
Dermot Madden
Dermot Madden has over forty years’ experience working at senior levels in the Irish Revenue Commissioners and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (“ODCE”). Now the Corporate Enforcement Agency (“CEA”).
He is a former Commissioned Inspector of Taxes who lead the DIRT enquiry audits on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners.
The DIRT enquiry followed the revelation that all major Irish banks had operated tax free fraudulent bank accounts for many years up until the late 1990’s.
He was the senior Forensic Accountant in the ODCE for over fourteen years. He has substantial and unique courtroom experience in giving expert witness testimony.
He has authored grounding affidavits in major white collar criminal cases.
He has lectured and examined Forensic Accounting in Trinity College Dublin.
He will bring his unique experiences, insights and advices to accounting and auditing professionals, to enhance their understanding of what good forensic thinking and reporting is.
He is a former Commissioned Inspector of Taxes who lead the DIRT enquiry audits on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners.
The DIRT enquiry followed the revelation that all major Irish banks had operated tax free fraudulent bank accounts for many years up until the late 1990’s.
He was the senior Forensic Accountant in the ODCE for over fourteen years. He has substantial and unique courtroom experience in giving expert witness testimony.
He has authored grounding affidavits in major white collar criminal cases.
He has lectured and examined Forensic Accounting in Trinity College Dublin.
He will bring his unique experiences, insights and advices to accounting and auditing professionals, to enhance their understanding of what good forensic thinking and reporting is.