FRAUD RISK ASSESSMENTS: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

This paper provides the theoretical review of the fraud risk characteristics, systematization of the existing fraud knowledge and the causes of fraud occurrence. Moreover, it determines the roles and the responsibilities of managers and auditors in the fraud risk assessments. In addition, risk factors relating to the misstatements arising from fraudulent financial reporting have been examined. According to the results of numerous scientific and expert studies it is obvious that a system of internal controls, including fraud risk assessments as an elementary component of this system, contributes to reducing fraud occurrence. In order to gain information about the factors that could cause fraudulent financial reporting, the empirical research has been conducted on the sample of companies operating in the Republic of Croatia. The respondents, accountants and auditors, revealed how often they meet fraud risk factors. Although, according to respondents\u27 answers, companies rarely encounter circumstances that indicate the possibility of fraud, the obtained data imply that there are possibilities that financial statements contain misstatements as a result of fraud. Examples of circumstances indicating the possibility that the financial statements contain a material misstatement resulting from fraud include: last-minute adjustments that significantly affect financial results, followed by transactions that are not recorded in a complete or timely manner or are improperly recorded as to amount, accounting period, classification, or entity policy and unsupported or unauthorized balances or transactions. The problems, which the accountants most frequently encountered were undue time pressures imposed by management to resolve complex or contentious issues, an unwillingness to address identified deficiencies in internal control on a timely basis and missing documents

Digital Competencies in Selected European Countries among University and High-School Students: Programming is lagging behind

Background: Constant integration of digital technologies in economic and social life is rapidly and significantly shaping and changing our environment and ourselves. To function in such a world, even in daily routines, it is necessary to possess certain digital competencies. Objectives: This paper aims to examine how university and high-school students of economic orientations from selected European countries self-assess their digital competencies, and to analyse the identified differences. This will enable further understanding of university and high-school students’ digital competencies that can serve as guidance for improving teaching practices and curricula. Methods/Approach: A survey was conducted to collect data that were analysed using non-parametric statistic tests (Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test) and Spearman Rank-Order Correlation coefficient. Results: University and high-school students consider to have below intermediate level of digital competencies. High-school students self-assessed digital competencies at a higher level than university students. University students of higher years of study self-assessed digital competencies at a higher level. There is no universal pattern among high-school students of different years of study. University students in the Accounting module and high-school students in the Tourism module assessed their digital competencies at the lowest level in several areas. There is a consistency in self-assessment of digital knowledge and digital skills. Conclusions: The identified below intermediate level of digital competencies and discovered discrepancies indicated the need for educational process improvements to provide university and high-school students with a higher degree of digital competencies. Programming is the most lagging behind in all the observed groups

Importance of ethics in the education of accountants

Confidence in the financial statements as well as in presented business results is of particular importance when assessing the financial position and performance of an enterprise. One can assume that the level of confidence in the presented results of operations will be even greater if the society in which the company operates qualifies as unethical or one in which it is common not to comply with high ethical standards. The question is whether ethics can be learned. There are different views on the above issue but what certainly is true is the fact that it is not harmful if education on the importance of applying high ethical principles in business is provided through the education system. Several research questions have been posed in this paper. The first question is to what extent are prospective professionals in the field of economics being educated on business ethics through their system of higher education? Therefore, educational programmes of selected economics faculties were analysed. Furthermore, due to the important role of accountants in financial reporting, as well as the fact that there is an increasing awareness of the requirements of ethical conduct, the main objective of this paper is to examine how future accountants perceive ethics. The results of the empirical research conducted using the survey method are encouraging as they indicate a relatively high level of awareness of future professional accountants on the importance of applying the highest ethical standards in business

Skills required of professional accountants: Evidence from labour market in Croatia

Purpose: The main purpose of this paper is to develop a further understanding of professional accountants’ attributes and professional skills required by employers. This paper analyses the requirements of the labour market of the Republic of Croatia using the framework derived from IFAC’s International Education Standard (IES) 3 from 2015 to identify the specific dimensions of professional skills in job advertisements. Methodology: This study uses a qualitative data collection method to analyse the required professional skills of professional accountants from the accounting employers’ perception. We have used Internet research to collect primary data and analyse job advertisements. Content analysis was used to analyse job advertisements. Results: The evidence suggests that employers mostly required professional accountants with attributes categorised as the organisational skills dimension. They were followed by attributes categorised as the intellectual skills dimension, the interpersonal and communication dimension, and the personal dimension. Taking into account the professional skills dimension, a professional accountant is required to possess the ability to use appropriate information technology (IT), teamwork skills, responsibility, the ability to work independently, be analytical and committed to learning, since those were most highly ranked attributes in the collected job advertisements. Conclusion: This study revealed a ‘profile’ of a professional accountant considering the requirements of employers regarding professional skills. Future research should take into consideration further analysis regarding the required skills using different data sources and explore the required skills within different accounting related professions and various sectors and sizes of accounting employers

Archdeaconry of Gora in the diocese of Zagreb from 1334. to 1501. (Historical development of the ecclesiastical-administrative territory)

Glavni cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi i prikazati crkveno-teritorijalnu i upravnu strukturu i razvoj Arhiđakonata Gora u razdoblju omeđenom popisima župa iz 1334. i popisa župnika iz 1501. Prva faza istraživanja u kojoj su izrađene baze podataka, dala je novi i potpuniji prikaz povijesne topografije prostora, a izrađene su i pregledne povijesnotopografske karte područja Arhiđakonata. Zatim je uslijedila povijesna analiza upravnih i posjedničkih cjelina, kao i uloga prepozita. Iz analize povijesne građe i situacije na terenu kao zaključak proizlazi da se administrativno područje Arhiđakonata formiralo još u 13. stoljeću, izdvajanjem pojedinih biskupskih i kaptolskih posjeda s nukleusom u biskupskoj Gori. Tamo su formirane i pojedine vlasničke i upravne cjeline, na kojima je zamijećen jak utjecaj pojedinih lokalnih upravitelja i župnika, dok je uloga prepozita bila beznačajna. Uz crkvu, utjecaj na razvoj Arhiđakonata veliku ulogu imalo je i redovništvo. Pritom se najviše ističu cisterciti sa sjedištem u Topuskom, na čijemu se posjedu nalazio najveći broj župa. Oni su djelovali i na širenje marijina kulta. U odnosu na župe istražena su i pojedina vlastelinstva i gradovi pod upravom plemićkih rodova. Ovaj rad doprinosi novoj i potpunijoj slici povijesnoga razvoja crkvenih administrativnih jedinica na području Zagrebačke biskupije. Osim crkvenoga stanja u razdoblju srednjega vijeka, u radu su analizirani i utjecaji pojedinih redovničkih institucija i svjetovnih vlastelinstava na razvoj crkvenih župa.The main goal of the research was to determine and to describe church-territorial and administrative structure and development of Gora Archdeaconry in the period between 1334. and 150. The databases analyzed, revealed a completely new view on the historical topography of the territory. General map of parishes was also made. Then followed the historical analysis of administrative and possessional units and the role of the Provost. Special attention was made on the deployment of parishes in the field and their accomodation within the area under the administration of feudal lords. From the analysis of historical sources and actual topography it can be concluded that the administrative unit of the Archdeaconry was formed already in the 13th Century by separating Bishop´s and Chapter possessions; having their local sees in bishop´s Gora and Hrastovica, and Sisak chapter. Possessional and administrative units with a strong influence of local administrators and pastors were formed, while the role of Provost was almost insignificant. Density and position of parishes concentrated on bishop possessions indicate on the map I made that the most possible nucleus of the archdeaconry should be in the bishop´s Gora, later Hrastovica

The Reign and Royal Policy of Bela IV, King of Hungary and Croatia (in the Period 1235 - 1270) and Its Impact on Church Land Properties, on the Territory of Komarnica Archdeaconry

Politika Bele IV. (1235.-1270.) usmjerena k jačanju kraljevske vlasti odrazila se na promjene unutar društvene strukture i na posjedovne odnose na području cijelog Ugarsko-hrvatskog kraljevstva što se posebno primjećuje na primjeru svjetovnog posjeda vladaru odanih velikaša. Te se promjene očituju već na samom početku kraljeve vladavine, dok su nakon provale Tatara još izraženije. Pritom primjeri zemljišnih posjeda Zagrebačke crkve također upućuju na određene promjene vezane uz njihovo širenje i (pre)raspodjelu. Stoga je cilj ovoga rada da se na temelju objavljene građe utvrdi da li je i na koji način vladavina Bele IV. ostavila traga na razvoju crkvenog zemljišnog posjeda na primjeru Komarničkog arhiđakonata kao jedne regionalne cjeline Zagrebačke crkve te kako je taj razvoj tekao u skladu s kraljevom politikom.After Mongol invasion, year 1249. hungarian-croatian king Bela IV. begun with compleks administrative and agrarian reform on the territory of medieval Slavonia. His goal was stabilization of the Royal power. That reform affected equally church and secular land property. At that time Zagreb Church Bishopric supported King Bela. Although, he was securing his position by appointing some of his friends and companions as bishops or other members of church administratives. For example the highest rank of all had his close friend Zagreb bishop Filip. Such politics also made certain impact on the distribution and arrangement of church land property on the territory of Bishopric. As one administrative part of the Bishopric, Archdiaconatus of Komarnica was nearest to the Hungarian Kingdom. There are also evident some changes that can be associated with the Reform. So, by comparring literary sources and relevant literature Author analized compleks relationship between King and Bishopric, especially on the territory of Komarnica Archdiaconatus. As a result mayority of Royal deeds appointed to the Church was associated with Royal donations of landed property to secure place for building forts, and donations of the Royal land (terra regalis) into the private hands of the highest church administratives that supported King. On the other hand mayority of the Church Royal decrees were only confirmations for older possessions. Although it is obvious that Bishopric enlarged its property buying some peaces of landed property, or by exchange. Also, large private estate was given to the Bishop Filip and his family. At that time his private estate was connected with the other Church estates forming unbroken net of landed possessions. They were situated along the most important medieval roads and correlated with important cities or manorial towns

Analysis of goals of sustainable development of the United Nations on protecting agricultural land

Kmetijska zemljišča so naravna dobrina in so ključnega pomena za človeka in njegove aktivnosti. Zaradi pomembnosti in omejenosti površin kmetijskih zemljišč je nujno, da se za njihovo varovanje prizadeva na svetovni in nacionalni ravni. Slovenija se je kot članica Združenih narodov zavezala k uresničevanju ciljev Agende 2030 sprejete leta 2015. Agenda 2030 stremi k trajnostnemu razvoju na družbeni, ekonomski in okoljski ravni. Nacionalno interpretacijo ciljev je Slovenija predstavila v Strategiji razvoja Slovenije 2030. Kot enega primarnih ciljev si je zadala varovanje kmetijskih zemljišč za zagotavljanje večje stopnje samooskrbe s hrano in zdravega življenjskega prostora. Kljub ustavi, zakonom, lokalnim dokumentom in sprejetju Agende 2030, ki varujejo kmetijska zemljišča pred netrajnostim ravnanjem, se v Sloveniji soočamo s problemom izgube kmetijskih zemljišč, predvsem na račun pozidave in zaraščanja. Samo v obdobju od leta 2000 do 2016 smo na dan izgubili 7,3 ha kmetijskih zemljišč. Država dodatno sprejema ukrepe in zakone, ki delujejo v nasprotju s sprejetimi razvojnimi načrti. Prizadevanje države za varovanje kmetijskih zemljišč se tako ne odraža v praksi.Agricultural land is an important natural resource and it is vital for man and his activities. Due to the importance and the limited area of agricultural land, it is essential that we strive for protecting agriculrual land on global and national level. As a member of the United Nations, Slovenia has committed itself to achive the goals of the Agenda 2030 adopted in 2015. The Agenda 2030 aims at sustainable development at the social, economic and environmental levels. National interpretation of sustainable development goals was presented in the Slovenian Development Strategy 2030. It has set the protection of agricultural land as one of primary goals in order to ensure a higher level of food self-sufficiency and healthy living space. Despite the constitution, laws, local documents and the adoption of the Agenda 2030, which are protecting agricultural land from unsustainable practices, Slovenia is facing the problem of losing agricultural land, especially at the expense of soil sealing and overgrowing. Only in the period from 2000 to 2016 we lost 7.3 ha of agricultural land per day. The state is additionally adopting actions and laws that operate in contradiction with the adopted development plans. The state\u27s efforts to protect agricultural land are thus not reflected in practice

Factors affecting farmers’ decision to participate in agri-environmental measures in the Haloze area

Razumevanje dejavnikov, ki vplivajo na odločitev kmetov za vključitev v kmetijsko-okoljska plačila (KOP), je ključnega pomena za razvoj le-teh. V magistrski nalogi smo na območju Haloz, območju z visoko naravno vrednostjo, s kombinacijo kvalitativnih in kvantitativnih metod raziskali dejavnike odločanja kmetov za vključevanje v ukrepe KOP, ki so namenjeni ohranjanju ekstenzivne rabe travišč. Kot ključni dejavniki odločanja so se izkazali ekonomski razlogi, kot sta višina plačila in vpliv ukrepov na pridelano krmo za potrebe živinoreje, vendar so kmetje pri odločanju v ospredje postavljali tudi druge dejavnike. Med temi so se kot pomembni izkazali predvsem velikost kmetije, starost kmetov, informiranost o KOPu in odnos kmetov do narave. Dodatno nas je zanimalo, kako pojmovanje »dobrega kmeta« med haloškimi kmeti vpliva na njihovo odločitev za vključitev v KOP, pri čemer se je izkazalo, da med kmeti prevladuje produktivistični pogled na kmetijsko dejavnost, ki zagovarja urejeno upravljanje s krajino, glavni cilj kmetovanja pa je čim večja pridelava hrane in s tem izboljšan ekonomski položaj kmetije. Zato ekstenzivne kmetijske prakse, ki jih podpirajo KOP, odstopajo od pojmovanja »dobrega kmeta« in je to lahko eden izmed razlogov, da se kmetje v manjši meri odločajo za vključitev v KOP.Understanding the factors that influence farmers\u27 decision to participate in agri-environmental measures (AEMs) is crucial for the development of these measures. In the master thesis, we used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate the factors influencing farmers\u27 decision to participate in the AEMs, thus preserving the extensive use of grassland in the Haloze area. Economic reasons, such as the level of payments and the impact of the measures on the livestock feed production, proved to be key decision-making factors, but farmers also put other factors at the forefront. These include the size of a farm, the age of the farmers, how well the farmers are informed about AEMs and the attitude of farmers towards nature. We were also interested in how the interpretation of the term “good farmer” among farmers influences their decision to join the AEMs. It turned out that among the farmers productivist view of agricultural activity prevails, which advocates "tidy" landscape management, and that the main goal of farming is to maximize food production and thus improve the economic situation of the farm. Therefore, extensive agricultural practices supported by AEMs deviate from the concept of a “good farmer” and this could be one of the reasons why farmers are less likely to opt for AMEs

The migration period in Iovia-Botivo − a 5th century grave with a trepanation

During systematic research in Ludbreg (Roman Iovia-Botivo) in 2011, a 5th century grave built of tegulae was discovered within the Roman stratum. The deceased has a trepanation on his skull and was accompanied by a single object, a silver ring buckle. The newfound grave has undergone radiocarbon and radiological analysis. The discovery of this grave has prompted a revision of previous graves of the Migration Period found in Ludbreg, discovered in previous research, as well as the accidental find of a grave found between Ludbreg and Selnik. Available data on these graves have been analysed and contextualized within the complex historical period of Late Antiquity and the Migration Period of northern Croatia. Analysis of the graves in question has shown that Roman Iovia ceased to function during the 5th century