This course explores deceptive accounting practices used by companies to manipulate revenue and expenses. Participants will learn about specific revenue recognition techniques such as premature revenue recognition, channel stuffing, bill-and-hold arrangements. Participants will also learn about expense manipulation techniques such as capitalizing expenses, shifting expenses, and misclassifying expenses. The course includes detailed examples and highlights the ethical implications and legal consequences of these practices.
Publication Date: April 2026
Topics Covered
- U.S. GAAP Susceptible to Deceptinve Accounting
- Enron & WorldCom
- Revenue Recognition Manipulation Techniques
- Premature Revenue Recognition
- Round-Tripping Transactions
- Channel Stuffing
- Bill-and-Hold Arrangements
- Expense Manipulation Techniques
- Capitalizing Expenses
- Shifting Expenses
- Misclassifying Expenses
- Overstating Asset Lives
Learning Objectives
- Recognize the key motivations behind deceptive accounting techniques
- Identify areas of U.S. GAAP that are most susceptible to manipulation
- Identify techniques used by companies to manipulate revenue in financial statements
- Recognize techniques used by companies to conceal or misstate expenses
Level
Overview
Instructional Method
Self-Study
NASBA Field of Study
Accounting (2 hours)
Program Prerequisites
None
Advance Preparation
None
Instructor
Kelen Camehl
Kelen is a recognized author and reviewer of CPE courses and has authored over 145 courses (350 CPE credit hours) covering a range of accounting, auditing, financial reporting, regulatory, and ethics topics. His courses are available for purchase from many online CPE providers including the AICPA. Kelen remained involved in CPA exam content development for nearly 10 years and authored more than a thousand multiple choice questions for various sections of the CPA exam. He also serves as an Editorial Advisor for the AICPA’s "Journal of Accountancy".
Kelen has nearly 20 years of progressive finance and accounting experience. He currently serves as an Accounting Policy Advisor with HP. Prior to HP, he served in multiple accounting roles in the oil & gas industry with ConocoPhillips including technical accounting policy, SOX compliance, and internal audit. He also gained public accounting experience with PricewaterhouseCoopers, working with various clients in the energy, electric, power, gas, and utility sectors.