
No One Would Listen: A True Financial Thriller
Markopolos will impart lessons that had to be relearned by capital markets due-diligence professionals, accountants, and regulators who forgot them all during the boom years that left them unprepared for the Mortgage Backed Securities fiasco and Bernie Madoff. Every sector of the financial services industry failed during both scandals and, unbelievably, it turned out no one was doing the job they said they were doing.
Most due diligence is a set of check-the-box questions that fraudsters know how to respond to. If that weren't bad enough, control systems are static while fraudsters are constantly improving and thinking of ways to circumvent whatever safeguards you were smart enough to implement in the past. Tragically, the financial services industry is its own worst enemy, driven by foolish fads destined to end in disaster as bad money and loosening credit standards drive out good money and sound lending standards. Large financial institutions are not much different than lemmings in search of the next cliff to jump off of. Big frauds are glaringly easy to spot if you simply ask "does this make any sense?"
Markopolos will provide a riveting, behind the scenes presentation on how his four-person investigative team tracked Madoff and the Madoff Feeder Funds throughout Europe and North America over an eight and a half year timeframe – while repeatedly submitting detailed reports to the US SEC, which refused to listen. He will explain the red flags, warning signs, and the audit steps you need to know so this doesn't happen to your organization.
How did the entire system of checks and balances fail for that many decades in the $65 billion Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme? Banks, investment banks, hedge funds, pension funds, endowments, and regulators of all stripes failed to exhibit even a modicum of professional skepticism. Big 4, regional, and local accounting firms also failed to exhibit professional skepticism despite numerous red flags and unintelligible account statements. The multi-billion dollar Madoff firm’s auditor was a one-man accounting firm yet raised no suspicions. How did Madoff game the SEC exam and enforcement teams? How did the complicit feeder funds game their own audits? Where were the accountants at the so-called independent third party administrators? How does an audit team know it's being played? How can auditors recognize they're being manipulated and challenge their audit clients in order to protect themselves and stakeholders from blown audits and the resulting lawsuits?
Obviously the accounting firms that did Madoff-related audits can't talk because they're enmeshed in pre-trial litigation, so hear from Harry Markopolos, the Madoff whistleblower, for his observations on how Madoff got away with his fraud scheme and fooled so many for so long. What he has to say will have you either crying or laughing or maybe even both at the same time.
This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.
Markopolos will impart lessons that had to be relearned by capital markets due-diligence professionals, accountants, and regulators who forgot them all during the boom years that left them unprepared for the Mortgage Backed Securities fiasco and Bernie Madoff. Every sector of the financial services industry failed during both scandals and, unbelievably, it turned out no one was doing the job they said they were doing.
Most due diligence is a set of check-the-box questions that fraudsters know how to respond to. If that weren't bad enough, control systems are static while fraudsters are constantly improving and thinking of ways to circumvent whatever safeguards you were smart enough to implement in the past. Tragically, the financial services industry is its own worst enemy, driven by foolish fads destined to end in disaster as bad money and loosening credit standards drive out good money and sound lending standards. Large financial institutions are not much different than lemmings in search of the next cliff to jump off of. Big frauds are glaringly easy to spot if you simply ask "does this make any sense?"
Markopolos will provide a riveting, behind the scenes presentation on how his four-person investigative team tracked Madoff and the Madoff Feeder Funds throughout Europe and North America over an eight and a half year timeframe – while repeatedly submitting detailed reports to the US SEC, which refused to listen. He will explain the red flags, warning signs, and the audit steps you need to know so this doesn't happen to your organization.
How did the entire system of checks and balances fail for that many decades in the $65 billion Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme? Banks, investment banks, hedge funds, pension funds, endowments, and regulators of all stripes failed to exhibit even a modicum of professional skepticism. Big 4, regional, and local accounting firms also failed to exhibit professional skepticism despite numerous red flags and unintelligible account statements. The multi-billion dollar Madoff firm’s auditor was a one-man accounting firm yet raised no suspicions. How did Madoff game the SEC exam and enforcement teams? How did the complicit feeder funds game their own audits? Where were the accountants at the so-called independent third party administrators? How does an audit team know it's being played? How can auditors recognize they're being manipulated and challenge their audit clients in order to protect themselves and stakeholders from blown audits and the resulting lawsuits?
Obviously the accounting firms that did Madoff-related audits can't talk because they're enmeshed in pre-trial litigation, so hear from Harry Markopolos, the Madoff whistleblower, for his observations on how Madoff got away with his fraud scheme and fooled so many for so long. What he has to say will have you either crying or laughing or maybe even both at the same time.
Harry Markopolos is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Your Industry & Fraud: What to Look For & How to Prevent It, How Did One Man Lose $50 Billion? The Signs, The Red Flags & How to Make Sure It Never Happens Again, Developing and Acting Upon Healthy Professional Skepticism, Chasing Bernie Madoff: Gift Wrapping & Delivering the Truth about the Largest Ponzi Scheme Ever and You Think Financial Fraud Is Bad? Taking a Hard Look at the $500 Billion Medicare Program. The estimated speaking fee range to book Harry Markopolos for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Harry Markopolos generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ralph Nader, Richard Dreyfuss, Planet Money, Joseph Stiglitz and Dean Karlan. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Harry Markopolos for an upcoming live or virtual event.
Markopolos will impart lessons that had to be relearned by capital markets due-diligence professionals, accountants, and regulators who forgot them all during the boom years that left them unprepared for the Mortgage Backed Securities fiasco and Bernie Madoff. Every sector of the financial services industry failed during both scandals and, unbelievably, it turned out no one was doing the job they said they were doing.
Most due diligence is a set of check-the-box questions that fraudsters know how to respond to. If that weren't bad enough, control systems are static while fraudsters are constantly improving and thinking of ways to circumvent whatever safeguards you were smart enough to implement in the past. Tragically, the financial services industry is its own worst enemy, driven by foolish fads destined to end in disaster as bad money and loosening credit standards drive out good money and sound lending standards. Large financial institutions are not much different than lemmings in search of the next cliff to jump off of. Big frauds are glaringly easy to spot if you simply ask "does this make any sense?"
Markopolos will provide a riveting, behind the scenes presentation on how his four-person investigative team tracked Madoff and the Madoff Feeder Funds throughout Europe and North America over an eight and a half year timeframe – while repeatedly submitting detailed reports to the US SEC, which refused to listen. He will explain the red flags, warning signs, and the audit steps you need to know so this doesn't happen to your organization.
How did the entire system of checks and balances fail for that many decades in the $65 billion Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme? Banks, investment banks, hedge funds, pension funds, endowments, and regulators of all stripes failed to exhibit even a modicum of professional skepticism. Big 4, regional, and local accounting firms also failed to exhibit professional skepticism despite numerous red flags and unintelligible account statements. The multi-billion dollar Madoff firm’s auditor was a one-man accounting firm yet raised no suspicions. How did Madoff game the SEC exam and enforcement teams? How did the complicit feeder funds game their own audits? Where were the accountants at the so-called independent third party administrators? How does an audit team know it's being played? How can auditors recognize they're being manipulated and challenge their audit clients in order to protect themselves and stakeholders from blown audits and the resulting lawsuits?
Obviously the accounting firms that did Madoff-related audits can't talk because they're enmeshed in pre-trial litigation, so hear from Harry Markopolos, the Madoff whistleblower, for his observations on how Madoff got away with his fraud scheme and fooled so many for so long. What he has to say will have you either crying or laughing or maybe even both at the same time.
This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.