When to Engage.
ANALYZE.
Forensic and Investigative Accounting firms provide accurate financial and transactional analyses for organizations or individuals in sensitive situations.
Forensic and investigative accountants are engaged to assist in various situations, from civil fraud cases to criminal proceedings. In these settings, we may be asked whether or not embezzlement has occurred; if so, our job becomes to figure out how much money was stolen by whom?
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Civil and criminal fraud cases, including embezzlement. In these cases, forensic and investigative accountants look at the evidence to determine whether or not fraud was committed and by whom. We may also be asked to determine how much money has been stolen or lost to the scam.
Insurance claims. When someone files an insurance claim for property damage or personal injury, it's up to the insurance company's legal team (and sometimes its internal auditors) to investigate the claim's validity before processing it. Forensic and investigative accountants would review financial records such as bank statements and credit card bills to help determine if there is any discrepancy between what was claimed on paper versus what occurred based on those sources of information. Bankruptcy cases where companies need their debts restructured due to financial difficulties but still wish to keep operating without being forced into liquidation by creditors to whom they owe money.
In divorce cases where one spouse wants out but cannot afford it because 100 percent ownership would mean having all assets liquidated when things were looking up again after having lost everything during hard times—the other spouse might want some settlement agreement instead so as not feel too bad about letting go with less than 50 percent ownership stake remaining on paper.
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Forensic and investigative accountants can be used to determine the exact amount of an asset, liability, or damage. This is critical in a variety of situations. For instance, if you have been injured at work, your employer might provide you with workers' compensation benefits to help with medical bills and other expenses while recovering from your injury.
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Suppose a dispute arises between you and your employer over how much money has been paid out in workers' compensation benefits. In that case, forensic and investigative accountants can calculate precisely how much money has been paid out so that both parties can ensure they are getting what they deserve.​
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​In these cases, forensic and investigative accountants will be able to gather all necessary evidence from previous court rulings related to similar issues so as not only to show how much restitution should be owed but also to provide information showing why it should be awarded against specific individuals rather than others involved with causing said damages (i.e., determining who was negligent).
A legal firm or accounting practice often retains forensic and investigative accountants and/or experts for litigation, for such matters as,
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Financial Disputes
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Fraud Investigations
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White-collar Crime Investigations
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Corporate Investigations
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Lost Profits
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Business Interruption
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Lost Wages
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Non-compete Infringements
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Trade Secret Theft Investigations
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Employee Misconduct Investigations
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Human Resources
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Security Investigations
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Cybersecurity Breach Investigations
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Estate Malpractice or Misuse
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Family Law and Divorce