But the circumstances behind accounting fraud are rarely simple, and fault is hard to pin down, said Harvey Kelly, a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers who practices forensic accounting, the examination of books for possible legal violations.

He was appointed in 1570 as a member of the commission for the examination of books by Remi Drieux, Bishop of Bruges, and aided in the publication of the Index expurgatorius of 1571.

"When you're buying an apartment, you always want your lawyer to conduct a due-diligence before you sign," he said, referring to the examination of books and records that lawyers conduct to ensure that a co-op corporation or condominium association is financially sound.

Understanding the Large Business and International (LB&I) Examination Process This comprehensive guide gives detailed information about the entire examination process for large businesses, from the multiple steps of the pre-audit planning process to the examination of books and records through the closing and Appeal processes.