Services · Fraud Risk Readiness
Know your fraud exposure, and how you'll respond, before you need to.
Fraud risk assessments, scenario libraries and response protocols that turn fraud risk into a practical program, without fear-based messaging.
“Charlesfs strengthened our fraud risk readiness with clear scenarios, priorities, and a response protocol leaders can follow.”
- Led by a Certified Fraud ExaminerDr. Sabine Charles, CFE, has advised executives on internal controls and fraud investigations.
- 60–90 daysFrom scoping to a working response protocol.
- Readiness, not panicPractical priorities your leaders can act on.
Overview
For leaders who want fraud risk handled before it becomes a headline.
CAEs, audit directors, CFOs and risk and compliance leaders who want fraud risk addressed proactively, with clear escalation paths.
You need this when
- Your audit committee or regulator asks how fraud risk is assessed.
- Procurement, payroll or vendor processes have grown faster than their controls.
- No one is sure who acts, and how fast, when a red flag appears.
- Grant, donor or billing rules raise the stakes of a control failure.
- A recent incident or near miss exposed gaps.
What's included
Assess the risk. Prevent the loss. Rehearse the response.
Fraud risk assessment
Enterprise-wide, or targeted at high-risk areas such as procurement, payroll and vendor management.
- A fraud scenario library: red flags, controls, gaps and owners
- Data analytics on transaction patterns and fraud indicators
- Risk-ranked priorities
Prevention controls
Prioritized control enhancements: quick wins first, then a longer-term roadmap.
- Segregation of duties and dual authorization
- Whistleblower and reporting channels
- Fraud awareness training and continuous monitoring
Response playbooks
Everyone knows who does what, and how fast, when a red flag appears.
- Escalation triggers and clear owners
- Response and documentation protocol
- Investigation-ready procedures
How one scenario reads
Illustrative example
- Red flagVendor bank details changed just before a large payment.
- ControlIndependent call-back to a known vendor contact.
- GapCall-backs skipped for "urgent" requests.
- OwnerAccounts payable lead, reporting to the CFO.
How it works
A working fraud risk program in 60 to 90 days.
- Assess
Define the scope
Enterprise-wide, or the high-risk areas that matter most.
- Design
Build the scenario library
Red flags, controls, gaps and owners, tailored to you.
- Implement
Prioritize controls
Quick wins now, and a roadmap for the rest.
- Enable
Set the response protocol
Roles, triggers and documentation; leaders briefed and trained.
- Sustain
Keep it current
Light monthly support, or continuous monitoring.
Outcomes
What you have by the end.
- Clear fraud risk priorities and a control-gap roadmap.
- A fraud scenario view leadership understands and can act on.
- Faster escalation and a coordinated response when issues arise.
- Templates, protocols and executive-ready reporting components.
- A stronger prevention culture and more stakeholder confidence.
- A roadmap to sustain the improvements after we leave.
A specialty in every engagement
Fraud readiness runs through all our work.
- Standards & Quality Assurance
Fraud risk coverage reviewed as part of the assessment.
- Audit Modernization
Fraud scenarios built into risk assessments and test scripts.
- Fractional & Co-sourced CAE
Fraud risk kept on the audit committee's agenda.
Packages
Start where your exposure is.
Every engagement is a fixed fee, scoped to the areas in focus.
Targeted Fraud Risk Assessment
One or two high-risk areas, such as procurement or payroll.
- Scenario library for the areas in scope
- Control-gap findings
- Prioritized actions
Fraud Risk Leadership Program
The full program, from assessment to response protocol, in 60 to 90 days.
- Enterprise or targeted scope
- Control roadmap: quick wins and long term
- Escalation and response protocol
Sustainment
Light monthly support to keep scenarios and controls current.
- Scenario library updates
- Control follow-up
- Reporting to leadership
FAQ
Questions leaders ask about fraud readiness.
Do you do investigations?
We help you become investigation-ready, with protocols, escalation paths and documentation, and we can support investigations as needed.
Is this only for organizations that have already had a fraud?
No. Most clients come to us to get ahead of the risk. The goal is readiness, not panic: clear priorities and a plan leaders can follow.
How much time will you need from our team?
A scoping session, access to policies and the process owners for the areas in scope, and a few working sessions to build and test the scenarios.
Will this align with internal audit standards?
Yes. Our work strengthens governance, documentation discipline and reporting clarity.
What happens after the 60 to 90 days?
You can move into light monthly support, or expand into continuous monitoring and audit modernization.
Start here
Have the response plan before you need it.
Book a readiness call with Dr. Charles.