MF Global Discuss the key difference between conducting a financial audit and a fraud audit, and the related level of responsibility of the auditing firm.

Financial audits are typically carried out by certified public accountants or outside agencies or firms that work directly on behalf of individual companies. At times financial audits may be initiated by government entities. The audit itself is more of a "double-check" of financial reports and practices (Weinberg, 2003). Financial audits are deemed complete upon verification that numbers are accurate. Completed financial audits may prove or disprove information, but discrepancies will typically not result in the same serious consequences as those uncovered during a fraud investigation or audit.

Fraud auditing usually comes at the demand of the U.S. court system - usually the work is carried out by the government or privately-held third parties. Fraud audits look for dishonesty and hidden figures. They probe deeper than the average financial audit. A fraud audit may not be complete until auditors have the evidence they need or a court is satisfied. If a fraud is revealed or confirmed, serious legal repercussions will result. Financial auditing firms have a responsibility to uncover the warning signs of fraud; however, the fraud examiner has ultimate responsibility for the more forensic fiscal checks and balances that reveal misappropriations and deception (Spencer, 2011).

Investors and portfolio managers are typically outsiders when it comes to internal financial matters that go on within companies. In order to make informed decisions, they must rely on the due diligence of corporate insiders. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act offers protection by interjecting ethical behavior and integrity in the public company management and auditing process. Signed into law by President Bush on July 30, 2002, it offers the most massive across the board changes to securities law since the 1930s (Weinberg, 2003). Such legislation was established to oversee auditors and put severe restrictions on questionable financial and auditing reporting and processes.

Discuss the obligation of corporate...

Without complete and accurate information, investors cannot make rational decisions. Ill-informed investment choices hurt individual investors, but are also costly for the national economy in terms of wasted resources, job losses, and missed opportunities.
CEOs and other senior leaders in organizations cannot simply claim ignorance or unawareness about the financial happenings within their organizations. CEO duties include responsibility and accountability for the corporation abiding by enhanced corporate governance standards and procedures. CEOs must personally vouch for their companies' financial statements and public reports. Newly expanded criminal penalties are significant for CEOs who fail to ensure proper financial and accounting oversight and corporate disclosures.

CEO responsibilities have come under greater scrutiny and focus since the Enron scandal. Similarly, MF Global's CEO's role in the demise of the company and unauthorized borrowing from customers accounts was criticized in the aftermath of the bankruptcy. Other senior leaders and employees confirmed he was clearly aware of the activities called into question and that many decisions were made at his behest (Spencer, 2011). CEOs today take a much more active role in the preparation of a company's financial statements and SEC reports and are required to obtain certification in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Most public companies also require "sub-certifications" from more junior members of the management team who are responsible for discrete portions of the report.

Analyze how complex global instruments contributed to the fraud and the failure of it to be detected by regulators and auditors of MF Global.

MF Global dealt in complex items such as contracts, options, and derivatives. There were also many spreads and foreign exchanges, futures and options and…