In this case study, the causes of that the Andersen’s auditing of companies accused of accounting improprieties, it’s has a main factor. Because Athur Andersen do not think about the company who is to cooperate whit it is like Athur Andersen to make deceptive accounting. These four real cases to show us how they operate the deceptive accounting.
First point, “Sunbeam.”
1997 sunlight company (SUNBEAM) is referred to the forge sales volume, the profit and the expenditure. Under its partner discrete sampling's premise, Andersen had still approved the sunlight company to have the questionable point financial reporting. Finally, Sunlight Company suspends pay. Claim request which proposed regarding the American negotiable securities and the transaction committee, Andersen strong against. Finally, to accuse in the situation which shows neither approval nor disapproval, Andersen and the shareholder out of court settlement, compensates $110million dollars.
Second point, “waste management.”
Waste Management the company to make a false report gathers shares the desk, Waste Management Company’s financial reporting 1992 to 1996 income false report to amount to $1.4 billion dollars to the company. The American negotiable securities and the transaction committee discovered that Andersen's report has the misleading function. Rules it to be a suspect the improper occupation operation finally. Andersen has accepted this ruling, and has paid damages $7 million dollars civil fine. The Andersen also agreement is $220 million dollar out of court settlement payment partial funds, but had not acknowledged that oneself have any error.
Third point is “Baptist Foundation of Arizona”.
BFA invested heavily in real estate, a more speculative investment strategy than other Baptist foundations in the state traditionally used. Profits from investments were supposed to be used to fund the churches’ ministries and numerous charitable causes. Problems began when the real estate market in Arizona suffered a downturn, and BFA’s management came under pressure to show a profit.
Fourth point is the most important point, “Enron”.
Andersen in 1985 established the beginning from the Enron to make the audit for it, has done the entire 16 years. Besides the pure audit, Andersen also provides the management audit and the advisory service. Andersen’s auditing of companies from 1997 to 2001 hid 586 million US dollar debts. In October, 2001, SEC announced that to carried on the investigation Andersen. Might while, Andersen's Houston Office in two weeks which started from October 23 destroy several thousand page of Enron's documents. But the company in October 17 had known that the US Securities trading Committee in carries on the investigation to Enron's financial situation, receives the securities trading committee's subpoena after November 8 only then stops the destruction document.