As a Certified Forensic Accountant, I have acquired unique skills combining knowledge, experience, and education to apply accounting, auditing, and investigative skills to uncover truth, form legal opinions, and assist in investigations. Forensic accountants provide litigation support to attorneys as expert witness for example. They also use their skills in investigative accounting such as scrutinizing possible illegal financial activities such as white collar crimes.
I analyze relevant business records, reconstruct books and interview involved parties. In doing so, I uncover the facts to determine whether financial wrongdoing has occurred, how long it has been in progress, how it was concealed and the value of the impact. Additionally, I am able to quantify losses as a result of the fraud, helping to drive recovery, litigation and insurance claims strategies.
Start an investigation by hiring a forensic accountant to analyze and understand how the person is stealing, what is being stolen, how much and for how long. A strategy should be used to explain the investigation and to provide the necessary documents so that the person(s) are not alerted. After the results of the investigation are known, you will be able to assess the damage and take appropriate steps towards prosecution.
When employees perceive that companies are actively seeking out fraud and punishing offenders, they are less likely to commit fraud. Background checks are an important part of the hiring and promotion process. As public information becomes more easily accessible through the Internet, relevant data is more likely to be uncovered. This data can be used to make better hiring decisions, as it can alert management to factors that might make an individual more likely to participate in a fraud.
Read this article from Score, Counselors to America's Small Business, for more in-depth information.
