Digital Commons Network^™

Beyond Compliance: Rethinking Ethical Accounting Through Ai And Esg, Rafael L. Portillo

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

With the increasing adoption of these modern technologies in world markets while maintaining these ethical principles, there is an increasing need for alignment between technology development and ethical responsibility. For instance, in the world of accounting, there is an increasing demand to maintain alignment between technology development and ethics. It is for this reason that these researchers have chosen to explore the link between Artificial Intelligence, ESG, and financial reporting ethics.

The goal of this study is to look at new concerns and moral risks that appear when ESG expectations, AI systems, and accounting practices interact. Earlier research usually studies …

Striking A Balance Between Personal Data Protection And Transactional Efficiency In The Context Of Data-Driven Mergers, Jun Hu

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The proliferation of data-driven mergers and acquisitions (M&A) has created a critical tension between the commercial value of integrated data assets and the fundamental privacy rights of users. This dissertation addresses the underexplored micro-foundations of user consent when personal data is transferred wholesale to an acquiring firm. It develops and empirically tests a sequential mediation model, anchored in Privacy Calculus and Signaling Theory, to explain how users' perceptions and intentions are shaped by different corporate data protection strategies.

A between-subjects experimental design was employed (N=532), exposing participants to one of three distinct protection mechanisms: procedural safeguards (emphasizing fairness and control), …

A Systematic Review Of Corporate Ethics Program Training Strategies To Improve Ethical Workplace Cultures, Robin Raye Altice

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The demand for corporations to practice more ethically responsible conduct and decision making is growing with every news report of another corporate scandal, lawsuit, fine, or high-visibility C-suite firing. To develop an ethical workplace culture, organizations should implement a comprehensive ethics program that fosters and encourages ethical decision making, especially among current and future leaders. However, there is little research and few guidelines for how ethics program administrators should design corporate ethics training to effectively practice and master the skill of ethical decision-making in efforts to continually grow a more ethical work environment. This study aims to identify corporate ethics …

Systematic Review Of Elementary Cybersecurity Education: Curriculum, Pedagogy, And Barriers, Na Liu, Siyu Long, Florence Martin

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Abstract -As children increasingly engage with digital platforms, the need for effective cybersecurity education has become urgent. This systematic review synthesizes 81 studies published between 2017 and 2024 to examine global curricula research focus and topics, pedagogical approaches and assessment methods, and key challenges in elementary cybersecurity education. The findings reveal six major thematic categories: student awareness, parental mediation, teacher engagement, curriculum design, community and policy support, and pedagogical innovation. Among instructional strategies, game-based learning and narrative storytelling emerge as the most frequently explored. Despite this growth, major gaps remain in curriculum consistency, teacher preparation, assessment rigor, and stakeholder coordination. …

Does A Ceo Turnover Lead To A Cfo Turnover? Evidence From Voluntary And Forced Turnover, Bakhtear Talukdar, Sabur Mollah, Suchismita Mishra, Junhong Yang

Management Faculty Publications

The role of CFO has become increasingly important since the enactment of SOX 2002. The existing literature suggests that CFOs tend to leave office within 6 to 12 months of a CEO’s departure, but studies addressing whether forced and voluntary turnover behave differently are unexplored. There is also no attempt to explore whether financial performance or institutional shareholding play moderating roles in mitigating successive CFO and CEO turnovers. These scholars find that forced (voluntary) CEO turnover has a higher significant marginal effect on forced (voluntary) CFO turnover. They also find that, in general, higher financial performance and institutional ownership play …

Foreign Director Exit In The Midst Of Deteriorating Bilateral Political Relations, Xiaocong Tian, Yuehua Xu, Daphne W. Yiu

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Amid global geopolitical realism pushing for a race of hegemonic rivalry nowadays, an outflow of global human talents is a pressing organizational concern. Our study draws attention to the underexamined phenomenon of the exit of foreign directors from their host countries during geopolitical tensions. Theorizing from a sensemaking logic, we posit that the deterioration of bilateral political relations serves as an unexpected event that activates foreign directors’ schemas for dual identity conflict, propelling them to react behaviorally to such identity threats by exiting the board in the host country. In addition, we further posit that the sensemaking process is contingent …

Web3-Based Identity And Kyc Innovations For Next-Generation Fintech, Usama Arshad, Abdallah Tubaishat, Sajid Anwar, Zahid Halim, Abedallah Abualkishik, Abrar Ullah

All Works

The growing reliance on digital financial services necessitates a secure, efficient, and privacy-centric approach to identity verification and Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance. Traditional identity management systems rely on centralized databases, making them susceptible to data breaches, inefficiencies, and regulatory constraints. Over 10 billion identity records have been exposed in centralized KYC breaches, leading to a 60% increase in financial fraud cases. The rise of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) has further complicated KYC compliance, requiring innovative solutions that balance privacy and regulatory requirements. This paper proposes a Web3-powered decentralized identity framework that leverages blockchain technology, self-sovereign identity (SSI), verifiable credentials (VCs), …

Identifying Potentially Illicit Money Laundering And Terrorism Financing Transactions Through Machine Learning Techniques, Shiuh Tong Lim, Rou Qing Khoo, Khai Wah Khaw, Xinying Chew

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

Financial institutions worldwide face significant challenges in detecting and preventing illicit financial activities, such as money laundering and terrorism financing. Traditional rule-based methods often generate high false positive rates, increasing manual verification efforts and higher operational costs. This research explores machine learning techniques to enhance the detection of suspicious transactions. Several algorithms, including K-Nearest Neighbors, Decision Tree, Random Forest, Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine, and Naïve Bayes, are applied and evaluated using a dataset from a financial institution. After a comprehensive performance assessment, the Random Forest model is the most effective, exhibiting the highest accuracy of 0.9333 in identifying suspicious …

The Role Of Data Analytics In Detecting Unemployment Insurance Fraud: A Case Study Of State Governments In The United States, Tina Louise Carkhuff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The unprecedented surge in unemployment insurance claims during the COVID-19 pandemic exposed state labor agency systems in the United States to significant fraud risks, resulting in billions of dollars in improper payments. This study investigated the role of data analytics in detecting and mitigating unemployment insurance fraud, with a focus on state government responses. Using a single-case study approach, I examined how advanced data analytics, including machine learning, predictive modeling, and strategies to identify fraudulent claims, can reduce fraud within unemployment insurance systems. The study also included an investigation of systemic vulnerabilities and the impact of policy improvements on fraud …

Unlocking The Power Of Socio-Knowledge Association For Enterprise Risk Identification In Stock Market, Zhenghao Liu, Keng Siau, Shaochen Yang, Feicheng Ma

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Potential risk signals reflected in supply chain and equity connections between enterprises and social connections between investors are becoming crucial to identifying enterprise risks in addition to basic financial indicators. Traditional risk management systems face challenges in adapting to these complexities, highlighting the need for a proactive paradigm shift in risk management. Leveraging graph models such as social networks and knowledge graphs offers a promising approach to identifying and managing potential associated risks effectively. To bridge existing research gaps, a novel risk identification framework driven by social-knowledge graphs has been proposed, integrating graph deep learning and reinforcement learning techniques guided …

Exploring Contemporary Issues Through Accounting Case Studies, Emaline Myers

Honors Theses

This thesis was completed as part of the course “Accounting 420- Independent Study” under the guidance of Dr. Victoria Dickinson and includes a collection of five case studies exploring the role of accounting, ethics, and policy in today’s world. Each case investigates how financial information, government decisions, and business strategy intersect, and what that means for professionals entering the accounting field. The topics covered in this thesis range from international financial fraud to environmental disclosures, military spending, public education, and small business development. Several key takeaways emerged from the completion of these cases. Case Study I highlights issues in global …

Exploring Financial Implications Through Case Studies Of Various Economic, Financial, And Social Factors, Rachel Spencer

Honors Theses

This thesis explores many topics surrounding the financial, economic, and social implications of key issues identified in various case studies. Topics explored include financial fraud presented in The China Hustle, a reflection on the United States’ military industrial complex and their role in the Ukrainian war, the increasing prevalence of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) programs, the ideology of Dr. Ben Carson and Dr. Thomas Sowell, and a start-up business plan for a brewery.

Each chapter in this thesis analyzes one of these complex topics. This thesis is a critical reflection of how economic implications, government strategies, and social beliefs …

Exploring The Role Of Personality Traits In Predicting Financial Vulnerability: Moderating Effects Of Digital Literacy And Financial Literacy Within The Framework Of The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Saad Ahmed Almarzooqi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The growing integration of digital financial services in the UAE has introduced new challenges in mitigating financial fraud, particularly in understanding individual susceptibility to such risks. This study explores the role of personality traits and shaping financial fraud vulnerability, employing the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to examine how extraversion, agreeableness, consciousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience influence this vulnerability. The study further assesses the mediating roles of subjective norms, attitude towards financial fraud, and perceived behavioral control in these relationships, as well as the moderating effects of digital and financial literacy.

Results from a cross-sectional survey of 406 UAE …

The Impact Of Sec Deadline: Does Accelerated Sec Filing Deadlines For Publicly Traded Companies Increase Restatements Of Financial Statements?, Angela Sutton

Honors Projects in Accounting

This paper examines the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) requirement of the 10-K filing deadlines and how the implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) regulations can cause an increase in the likelihood of misstatements in financial reporting by publicly traded companies. The SEC shortening the deadline time frame had a negative impact on smaller companies since auditors were focusing more on larger companies to get the report done in an effective and timely manner. Investors, in turn, perceive smaller companies as having internal control weaknesses due to being late to file their reports. Data will be collected from all 10-K filing deadlines …

Capital Formation, The Sec, And Accredited Investors, Neal F. Newman, Lawrence J. Trautman, Brian Elzweig

Faculty Scholarship

Protecting the investing public, while simultaneously facilitating the efficient flow of capital needed by all new and growing businesses continues as a primary responsibility of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Enhancing the capital formation process is a necessary step in the creation of jobs and growth of any economy. Central to the SEC’s regulatory schematic is the proposition that some particularly sophisticated and wealthy investors require less protection than those with less knowledge, experience, and resources. During December 2023, for just the third time, the SEC staff issued a report examining the status of the natural person accredited …

Cognitive Processing’S Role In Preventing Consumer Scams, Lana Waschka, Marcus Cunha Jr.

AMTP Proceedings 2025

Building on the findings of prior Unconscious Thought Theory (UTT) research, which showed how utilizing unconscious processing allowed participants to better identify lies (Reinhard, et al., 2011), the current work proposes a potential solution for consumers to identify and avoid complex scams and frauds: the use of distraction/ unconscious thought while processing information about scams. Through the course of three studies, we find evidence in support of the hypothesis and identify a moderated (relationship status) mediation (materialism) and that the main relationship is moderated by low self-esteem.

This work contributes to the literature by extending the application of unconscious thinking …

Internal Control And Urban Investment Bond Issuance, Feixiong Zhu

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

With the rapid growth of China's economy, the financing needs of local governments are increasing, and municipal investment bonds, as animportant financing tool for local governments, play a pivotal role in the capital market. However, the rapid development of the municipal investment bond market has also brought about problems such as inadequate informationdisclosure and accumulation of market risks, which has aroused widespreadconcern about potential financial risks. Against this background, the state has strengthened the regulation of municipal bonds, emphasized the importance of compliance management, and introduced a series of policies and measures toimprove the transparency and standardization of the market. …

Analisis Kritis Celah Regulasi Investasi Bodong Sebagai Peningkatan Tata Kelola Bisnis Terkait Investasi, Agustin Dea Prameswari

Jurnal Administrasi Bisnis Terapan

The phenomenon of fraudulent investment schemes in Indonesia continues to pose a significant threat to economic stability and business governance. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of existing regulations in preventing fraudulent investments, identify regulatory gaps exploited by perpetrators, and propose strategies to strengthen regulations and improve business governance. A qualitative approach was employed using document analysis, encompassing previous studies, prominent fraudulent investment cases such as MeMiles, Binomo, Fahrenheit, and Robot Trading Net89, as well as relevant regulatory frameworks. The findings reveal that existing regulations, such as Law No. 8 of 1995 on Capital Markets and Law No. 11 …

Educating Students On The Behavioral And Psychological Aspects Of Romance Scam Victimization Via A Social Engineering Competition, Rachel Bleiman, Hwanhee Park, Aunshul Rege

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

The online dating industry generated 2.98 billion USD in 2023 and is estimated to reach 3.6 billion USD by 2025. Not surprisingly, online dating platforms are rife with romance scams that cause financial damages, with estimated losses of 1.3 billion USD in 2022 alone. Additionally, victims suffer emotional and psychological harms. This paper shares findings from a 2023 Romance Scam and Social Engineering Competition (RSSEC) that introduced students to the behavioral and psychological aspects of romance scams. Specifically, the competition aimed to expose students to (i) understanding how victims experience social engineering (SE) - the psychological manipulation of human behavior, …

Insider Risks And The Evolving Role Of Executive Protection Professionals In Cybersecurity, Alan Saquella

Publications

Insider risks have long been a critical concern in corporate security, traditionally encompassing threats from employees, contractors, or third-party vendors with access to sensitive information. However, as digital transformation accelerates, the convergence of physical and cyber threats has created new vulnerabilities. Executive protection (EP) professionals, historically tasked with safeguarding high-profile individuals from physical threats, now find themselves on the frontlines of combating cyber-criminal attacks. Expanding their skill sets to include cybersecurity awareness is no longer optional—it is a necessity.

This article explores insider risks, the growing need for executive protection professionals to adapt, and practical ways they can enhance their …

The Impact Of Carbon Disclosure On Firm Value: Examining The Role Of Institutional Ownership In The Energy Sector, Hendra Arie Rachmadhika, Amrie Firmansyah

Journal of Accounting Auditing and Business

This study examines the influence of carbon disclosure on firm value with institutional ownership as a moderator in energy sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange during 2019-2022. Carbon disclosure is measured using the disclosure scale developed by Bae Choi et al. (2013a), the percentage of institutional ownership in the company to calculate institutional ownership, and Tobin's Q to calculate firm value. This study uses data from energy sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the observation period of 2019-2022, with a total of 80 observations through purposive sampling. The results show that carbon disclosure has a …

Persistence Is Not Key: A Study On The Relationship Between The Persistence Of Going Concern Opinion Type I Errors And Investor Confidence, Christin Marie Kooti

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examines how persistent Type I errors in going concern opinions impact investors’ decisions and confidence in the warning signal embedded in the opinion. Despite regulatory changes intended to improve audit accuracy and restore investors’ confidence in the audit profession, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Accounting Standard Update 14-15, along with the StoneRidge Investment Partners vs. Scientific Atlanta Court Case verdict, persistent going concern opinions (Type I errors) weaken the perceived informativeness of audit warnings. Signaling theory provides the framework to explore the question: “Do persistent Type I errors in going concern opinions influence investors’ perceptions of …

Insights In Cybersecurity Of A Smart Campus - A Review, Mircea Ţălu

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

The profound impact of the Internet of Things (IoT) on various fronts, is driven by technological advancements, the ubiquitous spread of information, and the emergence of transformative events. IoT presents a diverse array of possibilities within university environments, fostering a more connected and enhanced educational experience. This research undertakes a comprehensive review of existing literature to provide context to the IoT and underscore its crucial significance in the realm of smart campuses. Additionally, the paper explores the intricate connections between IoT and key concepts such as cybersecurity and wireless sensor networks to present a holistic perspective. It delves into the …

Criminal Investors, Andrew K. Jennings

Faculty Articles

This Article reassesses the culpability of those who invest in law-breaking firms. Prosecutors currently treat investors as victims of corporate wrongdoing rather than as actors who might bear responsibility for it. This Article observes, though, that investment can facilitate, and even cause, illicit corporate activity. When investors intentionally contribute to those effects, substantive criminal law imposes liability on them just the same as it does on accomplices, conspirators, or principals in other contexts. Despite this formal parity, however, investor criminal liability is more a theoretical proposition than a practical reality.

This Article questions that status quo by asking whether and …

Corruption Perception, Institutional Quality And Stock Prices: Evidence From The Egyptian Capital Market, Rasha Elbolok, Gina Eltabei, Dina Hassouna

Business Administration

This study examines the impact of institutional quality and corruption perception on stock prices in the Egyptian capital market, with a focus on the post-revolution period from to . Using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) methodology, this study provides empirical evidence on the significant role of macro-political factors and firm-specific variables in shaping stock market dynamics. The findings reveal that institutional quality, characterized by governance efficiency, regulatory frameworks, and the rule of law, positively correlates with stock prices. Similarly, enhanced corruption perception control significantly boosts investor confidence, leading to increased market valuations. Firm-level factors such as Tobin’s Q and …

“Move Fast And Break Things”: Innovation, Stability, And Trust In The Growth Of Revolut., Belen Blanco Mendoza

Business ETD Collections

In this research project, I chose to examine the strategies used in the growth of the fintech Revolut, namely the ’move-fast-and-break-things’ strategy that was employed at the beginning of the company. With this in mind, I decided on two Research Questions, “With the benefit of hindsight, and a focus on problems caused by low security and poor customer support, is Revolut’s ‘move fast and break things’ philosophy a good strategy for the business?” and “Will Revolut’s new fraud prevention strategies, and advances in AI help recover the lost goodwill caused by their earlier ineffective strategies?”, which guided me …

Decoding The Dynamics In Financial Fraud, Triana Eva Adiningsih

Jurnal Akuntansi dan Keuangan Indonesia

This empirical study examines fraud for the entire period and then compares it with the latest trends in the five years. This study utilizes extensive data sets to analyze specific aspects of fraud, including causes, types, solutions, and real-world cases. This study conducted a systematic literature review of relevant literature by taking data from Scopus-indexed journals. Vosviewer was used to identify events, and spreadsheet file information was grouped manually. Interestingly, the cheating types of ‘five-year statistics’ and ‘all-time statistics’ show slightly different frequencies. The main research topics focus on money laundering and financial crimes. To explore this further, this report …

Securing Mobile Payments: The Impact Of Blockchain Technology On Transaction Integrity, Snehal Chaudhari

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study investigates how blockchain, tokenization, and smart contracts improve security and transparency in mobile payment systems, addressing critical vulnerabilities in the increasing mobile payments industry. The main research questions are: (RO1) How can integrating blockchain technology improve the transparency and security of mobile payments? (RO2) Why do tokenization and smart contracts play a crucial role in improving security for mobile payments?

Case study outcomes include: (RO1) Shido Wallet's decentralized blockchain provides more control and transparency over their financial transactions, overcoming traditional security and trust concerns. Project Khokha illustrates blockchain's scalability and efficiency by allowing for high-speed, confidential interbank transactions. …

An Analysis Of Security Risks Posed By Text-Based Generative Ai And Corporate Security Weaknesses Leading To Data Leaks, Tashya Rakshana Byreddy

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Generative AI (GenAI) has become a fundamental part of modern life, influencing how we work, learn, and interact with technology. This project focuses specifically on text-based GenAI, which is widely used for tasks such as information gathering, code improvement, and content creation. Despite its benefits, it presents significant security risks that are often underestimated by users. This project investigates these risks and the corporate security gaps that lead to unintentional data leaks. The project also provides a brief overview of Large Language Models (LLMs), which are based on the deep learning technique known as Transformer architecture, used for performing …

Mitigating Credit Card Fraud In European Countries, Gurninder Singh

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The detection of credit card fraud is essential to lower monetary losses and boost consumer trust in financial institutions. The effectiveness of two machine learning models, the Hidden Markov Model (HMM) and Logistic Regression, in identifying credit card fraud was examined in this study. Data was gathered from a large dataset of transaction records to analyze each model's projected accuracy, precision, and recall. The research questions addressed are: (Q1) In terms of recognizing credit card fraud, how do artificial neural networks and decision trees perform differently? (Q2) What are the comparative accuracy levels of Markov versus Logistic Regression when it …