Forensic Accounting and Investigation Services

In recent years, there is a lot of confusion in the business landscape. The increasing globalization, accessible communication, free movement of people, secure communication, and technological developments have changed the business environment for a better purpose. However, the growth of companies has also increased the occurrence of financial crimes and frauds.

Many businesses maintain a separate department of in-house accountants who keep an eye on all the business activities and strive to minimize irregularities. Still, new and innovative fraudulent activities can only be uncovered after an in-depth analysis of all records and books of business.

The investigation of fraud or financial manipulation by performing extremely detailed research and business information analysis is forensic accounting. Forensic accountants are generally hired to prepare for claims related to litigation, insurance claims, divorces, insolvency, embezzlement, skimming, fraud, and any type of financial theft.

Forensic Accountants use their accounting knowledge with investigative skills, using this unique combination in investigative accounting settings and litigation support. Forensic Accountants are either hired by public accounting firms, risk consulting firms, or lawyers, law enforcement agencies, government organizations, insurance companies, or financial institutions. Due to society's increased awareness and growing intolerance of fraudulent activity, the demand for forensic accountants is increasing rapidly.

What is Forensic Accounting?

Forensic Accounting is a type of accounting that cross-check the different financial records of a business to look for any indication of fraud that is being committed.  It also provides a deep analysis of the financial books that can be presented in the court as evidence. Forensic accountants can also be considered as financial detectives who check each and every transaction that is recorded and also tries to find any fraudulent or illegal activity.

Forensic accountants need to analyze, interpret, and summarize complex financial and business matters. Forensic accountants compile financial evidence, manage the collected information. Develop computer applications and communicate their findings in the form of reports and presentations.

What are the Qualities a Forensic Accountant must have in Forensic Accounting?

The forensic accountants for the purpose of forensic accounting must have the following qualities:

• Logical Thinking.
• Give attention to detail.
• Give value to Moral Principles.
• Investigative Analysis.
• Spontaneity.

These qualities provide forensic accountants with an urge to go deep and will also make them a successful forensic accountant.

With these qualities, the forensic accountants with an urge to make a deep analysis can develop a successful career as a forensic accountant. With proper investigative methods, the accountants need to be capable of digging out the last minute discrepancy.

What are the Techniques Adopted in Forensic Accounting?

The techniques that can be adopted in forensic accounting are as follows:

• Reviewing Public necessary papers and Perform Background Checks

The necessary papers that are made available to the public are scrutinized as it is straightforward to obtain them. Also, by way of a thorough background check of a particular company, the business's past dealings are done. Public necessary papers include any information available in the public database, the corporate records, or any information present on the internet.

• Conducting Interviews

Conducting an interview is an important method that can transform an unwilling person into a source of valuable information. It helps in understanding the facts altogether. An interview shall be conducted by assessing the gravity of the situation appropriately and also preparing the questions according to it. The discussions need every detail into the account and look at a bigger picture to figure out the magnitude of the illegal activity and find out the responsible culprit.

• Gathering Information from Trustworthy Sources

The information that is gathered by a confidential and trustworthy source is precious in any case. When a piece of information is gained from a confidential source or a confidential informant, all the necessary precautions must be taken to hide the said cause's identity. A forensic accountant must try to have as many confidential sources as possible because these types of sources can virtually guarantee a positive result.

• Analyzing Evidence

Making a proper analysis of the collected evidence can point out the guilty party and assist in understanding the extent of fraud committed in the business. This analysis will also help in concluding regarding the company's security against financial scams and installing several measures to prevent such a situation in the future.

• Surveillance

The surveillance can be done electronically or physically. It is undertaken to uncover any fraud. This can be done by monitoring and tracking all the official emails and messages.

• Going Undercover

This is a severe measure and must only be used as a last option. It is better to leave this issue on the professionals as they have a good knowledge of how and where to conduct the investigations.

• Analyzing the Financial Statements

This is a valuable tool to find out the committed fraud. All the essential details are summarized under the financial statement, and the analysis of these statements can help a forensic accountant figure out all the scams.

What are the Types of Forensic Accounting?

There are many types of forensic accounting that can occur, and the standards of legal proceedings typically organize them. Some of the most common examples are given below:

• Financial theft (customers, employees, or outsiders)
• Securities fraud
• Bankruptcy
• Defaulting on debt
• Economic damages (various types of lawsuits to recover damages)
• M&A related lawsuits
• Tax evasion or fraud
• Corporate valuation disputes
• Professional negligence claims
• Money laundering
• Privacy information
• Divorce proceedings

What are the Areas of Work for Forensic Accountants in Forensic Accounting?

The critical areas of work for Forensic Accountants in forensic accounting are: 

• Quantification of Damages and Loss of Profits

Assessing the effect on profitability, income,  cash flow, or value, that a party claims to have suffered, or may incur, resulting from either a breach in a contract, personal injury, product liability, violations of the Trade Practices Act or Fair Trading, etc.

The Forensic Accountant must also consider the impact of other circumstances on the claimed loss and the degree to which the damage was mitigated or reduced to determine the actual loss incurred.

• Valuations

Determining the value of shares, partnerships, businesses, intangibles, etc. in dispute, lost or destroyed. The Forensic Accountant must review all information as both a financial analyst and an investigating accountant, make appropriate adjustments, and apply a generally accepted or appropriate methodology to determine the value.

•  Professional Negligence

Review of transactions and the actions or inaction of various professionals for determining whether the parties were negligent and if it is inattentive to what effect.

When a review involves an accounting professional, keen knowledge of the applicable accounting standards and the prevailing law is required. Therefore, the Forensic Accountant must have the ability to identify the impact and timing of changes in law and procedures.

What is Covered under Forensic Accounting?

There are two main areas within  forensic accounting practices:

• Litigation support services

A forensic accounting expert checks the damages experienced by the parties suffered in legal disputes .they can also help in settling conflicts, even before it reaches the courtroom. If in case a conflict enters the courtroom, the forensic accounting professional can give evidence as an expert witness.

• Investigative or fact-finding services

A forensic accountant shall determine whether illegal matters such as employee, securities embezzlement (including tampering and distortion of financial accounts), identity theft, and insurance racket have taken place.

What is the Scope of Forensic Accounting?

The scope of forensic accounting is to:

• Look for evidence of significant development in the accounting and financial systems.
• Design accounting processes for verifying relevant premises and data. A forensic accounting orientation also calls for skills in identifying possible fraud.
• Perform audit type processes on a routine schedule in order to reduce transaction processing risks.
• Cover a broad range of businesses and locations that require customary or continuous surveillance of all transaction processing systems.

Who uses Forensic Accountants?

Forensic accountants are used worldwide by insurance companies, independent adjustment firms, lawyers, government, law enforcement agencies, and businesses of all sizes – from multi-national corporations to small businesses.

Large accounting firms quite often have a forensic accounting department, however, there are also firms such as Enterslice that are dedicated to providing economic damage quantification and litigation support solely for forensic accounting matters.

What is the Importance of Forensic Accounting in an Organization? 

The relevance of forensic accounting in an organization are as follows:

• Assessing working transactions for compliance with basic operating processes and agreements.
• Performing thorough scrutiny and examining financial payment dealings in the accounting system to decide if they are standard or beyond company policy.
• Assessing conventional ledger and financial reporting system transactions for likely unlawful tampering or falsification of information or accounts and its consequences on the ensuing financial statements.
• Analysing warranty requests or returns for practices of fraudulence or misuse.
• Assisting in estimating the economic damages and the ensuing insurance demands that arise from catastrophes such as fires or other natural setbacks.
• Assessing or affirming business rating in consolidations and accomplishments.

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