| Fraud Investigations | | | | well as an analysis of the directors' shareholdings. |
| The services of a forensic accountant are used | | | | A business valuation is not only essential as part |
| to assist companies uncover financial fraud as well | | | | of the sale of the business. It could also be |
| as identify and evaluate fraud risks. They are | | | | required when dealing with matters of bankruptcy, |
| skilled at uncovering crimes such as bribery, | | | | a shareholder dispute or as part of a criminal |
| money laundering, forgery and insider trading. A | | | | proceeding. |
| fraud investigation could result in the company | | | | Divorce Proceedings |
| taking legal action. In this event, the investigative | | | | Dissolving a marriage financially can be a complex |
| accountant would be able to offer credible litigation | | | | process, especially where one spouse has |
| support. | | | | deliberately hidden assets. In such instances, the |
| | | | help of a forensic accountant can be invaluable. |
| Forensic accountants assist companies resolve | | | | The forensic accountant reviews the financial |
| financial issues in disputes. Examples of commercial | | | | information available to determine if it is accurate |
| disputes include breach of contract, negligence, | | | | and reasonable. A thorough investigation is |
| loss of profits, due diligence, merger and | | | | conducted to determine if there is any deferred |
| acquisition disputes as well as lending and | | | | income or hidden assets. One method is to |
| negligence disputes. They can act for the claimant, | | | | compare expenditure versus reported income. If |
| defendant or as an independent expert witness. | | | | there is a business involved, the process can |
| Their value lies in their ability to identify key issues | | | | become even trickier. The forensic accountant |
| and act as an objective facilitator in the dispute | | | | can value the business accurately for purposes of |
| resolution process. If the matter is settled out of | | | | fairly dissolving the party's financial affairs. |
| court, all parties concerned save time and money. | | | | As can be seen from the examples listed above, |
| Business Valuations | | | | the services of these professionals extend |
| The process of valuing a business accurately is a | | | | beyond traditional accounting knowledge and |
| complex one. The accountant has the skills | | | | experience. The forensic accountant combines |
| needed to conduct a detailed investigation of all | | | | knowledge of accounting with knowledge of |
| areas of the businesses finances to uncover the | | | | effective investigative techniques and the litigation |
| true value. These include investigating the value of | | | | process to deliver a highly specialised service. |
| the assets, property, goodwill, profits, turnover as | | | | |