The growing number of cyber crimes, failure of regulators to track the
security scams, successive busting of co-operative banks etc. lead to
a rise in the need of Forensic accounting. Forensic accounting is the
practice of utilizing accounting, auditing and investigative skills to
assist in legal matters. Forensic accounting involves legal investigation
and analysis of financial documents of any firm or client, who is involved
in a legal dispute. It encompasses 3 main areas – litigation (law
suit) support, investigation and dispute resolution. Litigation support
represents the factual presentation of economic issues related to existing
or pending litigation. In this capacity, the forensic accounting professional
quantifies damages sustained by parties involved in legal disputes and
can assist in resolving disputes, even before they reach the courtroom.
If a dispute reaches the courtroom, the forensic accountant may testify
as an expert witness. Investigation is the act of determining whether
criminal matters such as employee theft, securities fraud (including falsification
of financial statements), identity theft, and insurance fraud have occurred.
Forensic accountant may recommend actions that can be taken to minimize
future risk of loss. Investigation may also occur in civil matters. For
example, the forensic accountant may search for hidden assets in divorce
cases. This is a field wherein a professional estimates the damages and
assists in settling various financial disputes before the cases step into
the courtroom.
People who are professionals in this field are known as 'forensic accountants'
or 'investigative accountants'. Forensic Accountant is a person who is
one part accountant, one part detective and one part legal expert. Forensic
accountants combine their knowledge of accounting and finance with law
and investigative techniques to determine whether an activity is illegal.
Many forensic accountants work closely with law enforcement personnel
and lawyers during investigations and often appear as expert witnesses
during trials. A forensic accountant is an experienced auditor, who acts
as a watch-dog of accounts of a company, in order to keep a check on the
frauds. These experts are responsible for using technology and implementing
investigative techniques to disclose fraudulence and illegal practices
in the fields of accounting, banking, financial laundering, etc. They
carry out elaborated audits, verify records, gather proof of financial
malpractice, and question people related to the misconduct.
The base layer of forensic accounting is Accounting knowledge. Other
layer of it is a dispersed knowledge of auditing, internal controls, risk
assessment and fraud detection. It’s more than simple accounting,
and more than basic detective work. Because of its unique elements, it
is a combination that will be in demand for as long as human nature exists.
Those in a forensic accounting career combine their accounting, auditing
and investigative skills to analyze and interpret business and financial
evidence, and can participate in trials as expert witnesses. Working on
anything from bankruptcy and divorce cases to major fraud and capital
crime cases it is the forensic accountant who is involved in all the squad.
