What To Look for In An Investigative Accounting Firm

What To Look for In An Investigative Accounting Firm

Do you need the services of an investigative accounting firm?  Perhaps you do not realize that you could use these services.  An investigative accounting firm could assist you with many different issues; here are a few of them:

  • Business Valuation – What is your business worth?  What should you pay to purchase an existing business?
  • Fraud Investigation – Have you been the victim of fraud?  You can get the facts with an independent investigation.
  • Internal Theft – Many thefts are masterminded by criminals who work for the organization they steal from.  A forensic accounting investigation is the best way to uncover this type of theft.

A reliable investigative accounting firm can get you the facts in any of these situations.

The Ideal Investigative Accounting Firm

The investigative accounting firm you need will have several characteristics.  Here are four essential attributes:

Court Appearances

One of the primary duties of a forensic accounting firm is to provide expert witnesses for their clients who appear in court.  Expert witnesses must understand complex financial issues and be able to explain them in non-technical language; these skills can only be acquired with practice.  If you are hiring an accounting firm for this purpose, you should look for experience in this area.

Industry Experience

Different industries have different financial norms and may be governed by different regulations.  A firm with experience in your industry is well positioned to meet your needs. Experience matters when your livelihood or your reputation is on the line.  You have many choices, and price is always a concern.  In spite of this consideration, it may be wise to hire a more experienced firm.

Law Enforcement Connections

In cases of fraud, federal, state and local authorities may conduct civil or criminal investigations.  If law enforcement is involved, your investigators will need to work closely with the authorities.  By choosing a firm with law enforcement connections, you can ensure that this process will go smoothly.  If you hire the firm to investigate internal theft, these connections could shorten the time between the investigation and a conviction for the guilty party.

Qualified Personnel

A business is only as good as its workers.  Forensic accounting requires specialized knowledge.  A quality education is a major part of gaining this knowledge.  In addition, any accountant who acts as an expert witness will have his or her educational and professional qualifications scrutinized.  If these qualifications are found wanting, your entire court case could fall to pieces.

If you need investigative accounting services, be sure that they have these four characteristics.

A good investigative accounting firm can affect your business in many positive ways.  Whether you are looking to improve your operation, move on to a new venture or protect yourself from fraud, having the right team of people on your side can make all the difference.

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Veriti Consulting  is a licensed private investigation and certified forensic accountant firm that uses various resources to perform statistical analysis, perform asset tracing, conduct witness interviews, and other specialized techniques critical to unravel simple and complex financial fraud. Contact  Veriti Consulting at 855-232-4410 to work with an experienced, certified team of financial experts.

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