Forensic Accounting - Forensic Valuation Litigation

Forensic accounting is a specialty practice area in which investigative accounting techniques are applied to financial fraud and white-collar crime. Forensic accounting experts are a critical asset for any business facing acts of fraud, litigation, transactional disputes, and regulatory or government investigations. We keep current on the changing requirements of commercial litigation, and use multi-disciplinary analytical approaches to gather and analyze data. The information we provide clients and their legal counsel is often critical in making key decisions about the case.

Our team includes a diverse group of certified public accountants with years of experience in fraud detection and prevention. Our experts are members of the AICPA Forensic and Valuation Services Center and include individuals with specialized professional certifications such as the certified fraud examiner (CFE) designation.

FVL’s Forensic Accounting practice focuses on these key areas:

FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS

As part of your fraud investigation team, we will work rapidly to evaluate allegations of wrongdoing, gather evidence, and identify assets for recovery. We prepare reports for trial, provide expert witness testimony, and assist counsel in conducting interviews.

We specialize in working with closely-held business owners, law firms, private equity firms, and executive management. Our experts have successfully investigated fraud schemes perpetrated by partners, management, employees, and outside vendors. Our cases have involved a variety of fraud schemes, including but not limited to: employee theft; insurance fraud; financial statement misstatement; payroll fraud; bank statement fraud; fictitious vendor schemes; inappropriate related-party transactions; kickbacks; breach of contract; expense reimbursement schemes; and check tampering.

FAMILY LAW AND MARITAL DISSOLUTION

In theory, financial representations made by spouses in the process of divorce proceedings are expected to be complete and accurate. Unfortunately the reality is that spouses often inadvertently or purposefully misrepresent income and hide assets. In these cases it is necessary to examine underlying data to determine the accuracy and fairness of the represented information.

Our forensic accountants are uniquely qualified to perform such examinations. We are experienced in using the investigation techniques necessary to identify hidden or transferred income and property, tracing assets to validate claims of separate property, verifying claims of disposable income, reconstructing and quantifying standards of living, and performing audits of closely-held businesses for evidence of unreported business income/assets or personal expenses paid by the business.

BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY

Our forensic accounting experts can provide a number of investigative services on behalf of creditors seeking repayment or debtors who are defending allegations of impropriety. Some of these services include:

Identifying preferential transfers
Determining and testifying regarding the date of insolvency
Investigating allegations of fraudulent transfers

Our Specialists

Catherine T. Marchelletta
CPA, MST

Fabian O’Connor
CPA, FCA (IRL), ATII (IRL)

Robert Pagano
CPA

Richard Fischer
CPA, CGMA

Sample Cases

Investigated suspected fraud by the president of a closely-held family business. Identified various fraud schemes relating to payroll, fake vendors, and life insurance that resulted in more than $1 million in misappropriated cash, primarily through the utilization of a hidden corporate bank account. Our investigation led to a settlement that resulted in the owners recovering much of the stolen funds.

See More Sample Cases