Student Reflection on Aaron Beam

Weekend Sept 17,2022

Aaron Beam was the CFO of Health South. I conducted an interview with him for our students. Aaron Beam served a few months in jail for his participation in this fraud.

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First of all, thank you to Professor Elam for conducting this interview. I did find his testimony extremely interesting. We, as people, are definitely susceptible to those extremely charismatic personalities. Not only in business, but in religion and politics as well, wouldn't you say?  Not just the Richard Scrushy's of the world.  But what about the Adolf Hitler's? David Koresh? Jim Jones, Jonestown? And many, many others. What a shame that these personalities are wasted on such dispicable individuals. 

Listening to Aaron Beam, he is definitely like one of the disciples of these leaders. He got lured in. Enjoyed the good life. The money. The fame. But....he's one of the survivors, right? One of the ones that walked away. While he still served jail time, it was minimal. Yes, he lost all of his money and other assets. But he knew what he was doing was wrong and he got out. Unfortunately, he didn't do anything to stop the bleed. By not saying anything, other CFO's and multiple accounting professionals also comprimsed themselves in this scandal. But it begs the question. If not in this scandal, than perhaps in another. 

All of these stores we've learned about so far in the class. They're all pretty much the same, aren't they? One little white lie. Which leads to another. And another. They don't get caught, so the lies get bigger and bigger. At some point, they probably start to feel like they're invincible. But in many cases, greed gets involved. They start living large and they love it. Who wouldn't? Besides, they haven't been caught thus far. And then what happens? They get less secretive. They start telling others. Others start getting involved and sharing the wealth. But with every new person that is brought into the fold, the risk increases. 

I had someone tell me one time. If you cheat, you WILL get caught. You might get away with it for a while. Or even longer. But eventually, you WILL get caught. Did that stop him from cheating? No. Even though he believe he would be caught. Nope. Didn't stop. People become arrogant. Egotistical. 

In the case of Richard Scrushy. He told these extremely intelligent room of CPA's, that he will deny everything, if he's ever questioned. So, basically letting these CFO's and others individuals involved, that even though he is asking them...no demanding them to cook the books. That he will deny everything. He will sell them all out to save his own self. The fact that he because an evangelist of sorts as his reign is coming to the end, proves my point about the Koresh's and Jones' of the world.

Going from millions of dollars to mowing lawns. But which was better for his conscious, his heart and his soul?

Comments

[Judith Mares]

Watching the interview with Aaron Beam was an eye opening and impactful to me. Whether your line of work is in finance, accounting or any other position, you must hold on to your integrity so dearly. Never give up your integrity in exchange for a few million pennies because those pennies will be gone in a heartbeat. Value integrity because your life will depend on it.

[Dennis Elam]

Yes Aaron clearly regrets his involvement.