3 Ways to Be Like the Bees

In last week’s blog, I promised to provide some ideas on how auditors and auditees can work together to find fraud. I will deliver on that promise, while suppressing the urge to compare a fraudster’s emotions to a Fourth of July fireworks show—we will save that one for another day.

Back to the benefits of being like bees. In order to survive, bees work together by performing the duties assigned to them. This is accomplished through constant communication. They communicate in a variety of ways—dancing or movement, odors and exchange of food. Another interesting thing about bees is their ability to learn about their environment and share that knowledge with others in their colony. These things not only help bees survive, but they also help them thrive.

In the business world, we know that survival is critical, but we all want to work for and with thriving and productive companies. We can apply the bee example above to the auditor (external or internal) and auditee (owners, executives, managers or employees) working together in the fight against fraud.

Below are three ways to be like the bees:

1. Working together is a priority. Auditors and auditees have different responsibilities when it comes to rooting out fraud, but it doesn’t mean they should work independently. You may have heard the phrase, “stay in your lane.” In business, the phrase is used to describe people focusing on their individual jobs. With regard to finding fraud, auditors and auditees should stay in their swim lanes because they both have their own jobs to do. But that doesn’t mean it’s a competition—they are swimming in the same pool.
2. Communication is a key driver. Most auditees and auditors are careful when discussing fraud. Auditees don’t want the auditors to find anything wrong in their area and auditors want to be efficient. This hesitation leads to not discussing fraud as openly as they should. While I understand both sides, it isn’t the best way to find fraud. Auditees and auditors should openly discuss the risks of fraud and the controls that could be circumvented to catch fraud.
3. Learn more about fraud. Fraud presentations are a popular topic for audiences. Oftentimes, people enjoy hearing the “war stories.” Stories are engaging and an important way to learn about fraud, but you should also write down the ways the fraud was discovered. This will allow you to bring tools back into the workplace that will help you find fraud. It is also important to stay informed by reading articles and news releases related to fraud.

After you read this post, you should share it with others as a way to break the ice and start a discussion about fraud. Set goals for future meetings that enhance the working relationship between auditors and auditees. Also, know that investing more time upfront can mitigate a lot of heartaches and headaches further down the road.

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