From Detection to Prevention: Examining the Associations Between Forensic Accounting Practices, Governance Quality, Transparency, Disclosure, and Accountants’ Perception of Financial Fraud Control

Abstract

Amid the massive digitization of financial flows, forensic accounting is emerging as a strategic lever to strengthen the prevention, detection, and control of financial irregularities. This study aims to examine the associations between forensic accounting practices and perceived financial fraud control, and to analyze the mediating roles of corporate governance quality, transparency, and disclosure. A quantitative survey was conducted with 325 audit, control, and accounting professionals. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling to assess the direct and indirect relationships. Fraud prevention mechanisms have the strongest correlation with financial fraud control (β = 0.310; p < 0.001), followed by forensic data analysis (β = 0.270; p < 0.001), litigation support (β = 0.084), and fraud detection techniques. Forensic data analysis is associated with the quality of corporate governance (β = 0.480; p < 0.001), while transparency and disclosure practices are the most important determinants of perceived financial fraud control (β = 0.463; p < 0.001), followed by governance quality (β = 0.165). Mediation analyses show that corporate governance and transparency primarily amplify the relationship between prevention mechanisms and forensic data analysis, whereas the mediating effects of detection techniques are not significant. Financial fraud control is strongly associated with an integrated approach that combines prevention, analytical capabilities, quality governance, and transparency, rather than with detection activities alone. The findings provide an explanatory model that highlights the organizational mechanisms by which forensic accounting practices strengthen governance and control over financial fraud.