When would I need to use a forensic accountant?

The concept of forensic accounting involves using accounting expertise and scrupulous auditing techniques to analyse complex financial assets and business accounts. This is to uncover any irregularities or discrepancies that may indicate fraudulent activity is taking place.

The skills of forensic accountants are invaluable in many cases, so much so that they are often used as expert witnesses in court, and their findings are used as evidence in the case.

If you’re new to forensic accounting and you’re unsure about how it can be used, look no further. In this post we’ll go over some of the main roles and objectives of forensic accounting, so you can see how it can come in handy.

What are the main objectives of forensic accounting?

As mentioned above, forensic accountants use their expertise to investigate complex financial assets in order to uncover deceptive financial activity. 

The main forensic accounting objectives include finding financial information and trends that could indicate criminal or fraudulent activity. Forensic accountants can use their skills to find:

• The true value of a person’s estate or assets
• Accounting irregularities in business
• Assisting in cases of financial misrepresentation or failure to disclose financial information
• Investigating and reviewing information given in court during litigations

The information that is found is usually used in court cases that are investigating fraud, and even in matrimonial proceedings. Below are some more scenarios where a forensic accountant is used.

Forensic accounting examples

There are many areas where a solicitor may require the services of a forensic accountant. Read on to discover some of the types of forensic accounting that you may be unaware of, as well as further information on what is a forensic accountant. 

Forensic accounting personal injury claims and negligence cases

The role of a forensic accountant in a negligence claim is to quantify the economic losses or damage resulting from motor accidents. 

In some cases, people will exaggerate their losses in order to try to claim more money. Forensic accountants can provide a more accurate picture of the damages involved so that a more fair settlement can be reached. Legal professionals are likely to engage the services of a forensic accountant during personal injury claims and negligence cases to secure a just and fair outcome.

Forensic accountants as mediators or arbitrators

Taking someone to court is an often lengthy and costly process, that’s why many people try to resolve their dispute in other ways before resorting to litigation.

Many forensic accountants also double up as mediators or arbitrators due to their familiarity with the legal system. Their expertise, in conjunction with additional training, can help businesses and individuals resolve their disputes without going to court and minimising the time and resources wasted.

Business and employee fraud investigations

If business owners suspect fraudulent activities, they can enlist the help of a forensic accountant to delve deeper into the organisation’s finances to see if their suspicions are correct.

Some of the activities that accountants will carry out in this case include:

• Asset identification
• Due diligence reviews
• Tracing funds
• To check if any financial misrepresentation has occurred

Famous forensic accounting cases

One of the main reasons why forensic accounting has become more popular in recent years, is due to the increase in high-profile accounting cases in the media.

Al Capone, the infamous leader of the Chicago mafia, was brought down by forensic accountant Frank Wilson and his team when they reviewed millions of documents to find that Al Capone was not paying tax on his various earnings.

Forensic accounting was also used in the OJ Simpson trial to determine his net worth. He tried to conceal his wealth during the trial and pleaded poverty, however, the forensic accountants were able to uncover that his net worth was actually $33m.

Contact Alexander and Co’s forensic accounting team today

If you think your case could use the expertise of a forensic accountant and it is a personal matter,ask your solicitor to contact us today via our website to speak to a member of our team and work towards a suitable solution. For business enquiries, you may contact us directly.

Our services include tax advice and tax services, and general accounting and financial information. If you have a query regarding tax or financial advice, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.