...Forensic Accounting In Practice Contemporary Business 508 This paper discusses the role of forensic accounting practices. It takes a look at the skills sets of forensic accountants and the role they play out in the court room. It goes also analyzes the legal responsibilities of a forensic accountant form a professional perspective as their role for expert opinion in the court room. A forensic accountant is someone uses their accounting credibility for investigative or other legal applications, such as corporate acquisition, divorce proceedings, insurance settlements, or other legal purposes (Brody, Melendy, & Perri, 2012). Determine the most important five (5) skills that a forensic accountant needs to possess and evaluate the need for each skill. Be sure to include discussion regarding the relationship between the skill and its application to business operations. The first identifiable important skill for a forensic accountant to posses is investigative intuitiveness. The forensic accountant should possess creative and analytical thinking (DiGabrielle, 2008). According to DiGabrielle, the ability to solve a financial puzzle with an incomplete set of pieces is an extremely important characteristic for forensic accountants (p. 336). The forensic accountant is providing a service to a client for the purpose of expert information as it pertains to legal matters or for the purpose of finding or preventing financial misrepresentation. Their role is not to merely...
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...Forensic accounting, sometimes referred to as investigative accounting, is a unique career field that combines accounting with information technology. A forensic accountant uses sophisticated computer programs to analyze financial data and find evidence that would be legally valid during a court proceeding. Forensic accountants are often asked to review financial records for mergers and acquisitions. They may also serve as advisers to a corporation’s audit committee or work to resolve shareholder disputes within a company. Increasing number of cheater people and organizations on accounting and result of its economic damages, economic and commercial disagreements and increasing number of misleading enforcements for the users of financial statements (such as Fuzzy Accounting and Creative Accounting) has been caused of existence of Forensic Accounting. It has widespread practice area in developed countries. Forensic Accounting uses techniquies of researching, accounting and inspecting. So Forestic accountants need to have abilities to do that job. In this research I am going to determine most important skills and legal responsibilities of forensic accountants and role of forensic accountants in courtroom. Required and Expected Skills According to AICPA’s CFF Credential Committee’s survey, the most important skills that a forensic accountant should have are; Thinking analytical (It is the main requirement, like medicine knowledge of a doctor.) , being detail-oriented (...
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...Forensic Accounting in Practice Gabrielle Bryant Dr. Carolyn Green Contemporary Business 11/17/2013 Determine the most important five (5) skills that a forensic accountant needs to possess and evaluate the need for each skill. Be sure to include discussion regarding the relationship between the skill and its application to business operations Although forensic accounting is not a new field, it has become more talked about since cases like Enron came to light. For someone interested in the Forensic Accountant profession they should know that this field can be time consuming, but very rewarding. People who work in this career investigate white collar crimes such as company fraud, fraudulent financial record reporting, and illegal investment schemes. In a recent study by the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows that white collar crimes have cost the United States and estimated 300 billion dollars (DiGabriele 2008). I think five of the skills that a forensic account would need are communication skills, detail oriented, professional and ethical behavior, sound judgment and discretion. Communication skills are vital in any profession. It allows you to convey information for others to receive. The problem with communication is that it can be interpreted differently by other intended parties. As a forensic accountant, communication skills, verbal and non-verbal, are important when it comes to conducting interviews and gathering information. After gathering the records, forensic...
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...Assignment #3 Forensic Accounting in Practice Professor Demetrius Carolina, Sr. Bus 508-Contemporary Business February 16, 2013 The purpose of my paper is to explore Forensic Accounting and the many aspects surrounding the field. I will determine the skills necessary to be a forensic accountant and its application to business operations. I will also describe the role the forensic accountant plays in a courtroom environment and the role played by the forensic accountant in the litigation process. I will also provide case examples where forensic accountants are used and have provided vital evidence in the case. Today, forensic accounting is a rapidly growing segment of the accounting practice, and the current demand for forensic accountants far outstrips the current supply. Determine the most important five (5) skills that a forensic accountant needs to possess and evaluate the need for each skill. Be sure to include discussion regarding the relationship between the skill and its application to business operations. Have you ever been cheated, robbed or financially hurt by actions of others? Well, out of those feelings civil lawsuits arise based on the desire to reclaim what one perceives he/she has lost unjustly. Financial loss isn’t always easy to define or measure. So, the important task of investigating and quantifying the financial loss normally requires the expertise of a forensic accountant. A forensic accountant is a professional who uses a unique...
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...Running Head: FORENSIC ACCOUNTING IN PRACTICE Forensic Accounting in Practice Marc Fantone Strayer University Dr. Etta Steed November 17, 2013 Accounting, historically, has been a profession of number tracking, ledger updating and balance sheet reviewing; however, more recently, the need for a skeptical view of accounting business records has developed. In recent years, scandals such as Enron and Bernie Madoff have called for immediate action and needs of forensic accountants with a change in oversight to investigation. According to Zare, “Forensic accounting is unique in that it combines accounting with investigation. These bloodhounds as opposed to the watchdogs that are auditors attempt to sniff out fraudulent transactions from the financial records of banks and companies.” (Zare, 2013) By definition, forensic can be defined as “relating to, used in, or suitable to a court of law.” (Merriam-Webster, 2013) How can this increased level of accounting review and accuracy develop into a role that supports litigation and laws such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act? The level of forensic accounting has led to the development and thought processes of what it actually means to be a forensic accountant. Five (5) Skills of a Forensic Accountant In addition to the basic functionality of a standard accountant, there are additional skills that would be needed for forensic accounting. The skills needed for forensic accounting are associated with practices of the occupation...
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...Forensic Accounting in Practice: Forensic Accountants: Fraud Busters A forensic accountant is part investigator, part auditor, part attorney, and part accountant (Levanti, T.). Due to the increase in high-profile cases of companies and individuals, forensic accounting is a growing and popular field in the business and forensic subjects. A forensic accountant is someone who is often retained to analyze, interpret, summarize, interviews and present complex financial and business related issues in a manner that is both understandable and properly supported (Zysman, A.). Forensic accountants usually work in a public practice or are employed by insurance companies, banks, police or government agencies. They are to investigate and analyze any financial evidence, communicate their findings in reports or documents and assist in legal proceedings, such as testifying in court as an expert witness (Zysman, A.). Determine the most important five (5) skills that a forensic accountant needs to possess and evaluate the need for each skill. Be sure to include discussion regarding the relationship between the skill and its application to business operations. I think the five most important skills that a forensic accountant needs to posses are to be: (1) analytical, (2) detail-oriented, (3) ethical, (4) responsive, and (5) insightful (Davis, Farrell & Ogilby). Analytical The need to be analytical in a forensic accounting engagement may be the most important overall characteristic, without...
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...“Forensic Accounting” is a term that you do not hear every day so let’s examine its definition. The Strayer University BUS508 textbook defines accounting as, “The process of measuring, interpreting, and communicating financial information to enable people inside and outside the firm to make informed decisions.” Merriam-Webster defines forensic as, “suitable for a court of law.” Our textbook defines forensic accounting as, “Forensic accounting is accounting performed in preparation for legal review.” The textbook also describes it as, "focus on uncovering potential fraud in a variety of organizations.” The Business Dictionary defines it as a, “Criminal investigation practice whereby investigators analyze financial documents and activities to determine if and how a crime, such as fraud, has been committed by an organization. Tactics include tax analysis, financial reporting review and banking activity oversight.” This also includes white collar crimes such as embezzlement, stock market manipulation and price fixing schemes. This can include the financial impact of marketplace events, such as intellectual property infringement, anti-trust actions, financial reporting fraud, asset impairment and business valuation (Neumann, O'Connor, 2008). It also includes matters of family law, such as matrimonial disputes. In short, "Forensic accounting is the use of accounting, auditing, and investigative skills to assist in legal matters.” They use accounting skills following the GAAP (generally...
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...Forensic Accounting Practice Bradford Clark Professor Dr. Hanners Lithonia Campus BUS 508 – Contemporary Business March 1, 2012 Strayer University Determine the most important five (5) skills that a forensic accountant needs to possess and evaluate the need for each skill. Be sure to include discussion regarding the relationship between the skill and its application to business operations. A forensic accountant is a specialist in accounting and financial systems that is trained to detect white collar fraud. Forensic Accounting is a fast growing field in the in the field of accounting. Although it has been around for a long time, it has become increasingly popular in the past few years as there have been a number of corporate scandals, stricter reporting, and internal control regulations involving public awareness and importance in the business world. With the state of the world’s economy forensic accountants are in high demand. Forensic accountants should at least possess a Bachelor degree in accounting. They should also be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and may possess other certifications such as Certified Forensic Accountant (CrFA) and Certified Forensic Accounting Professional (CFAP). The skills needed to become a forensic accountant include strategic critical thinking, problem solving/decision making, leadership, interpersonal and communication skills, and professional and ethical behavior. Strategic critical thinking is the ability to link data, knowledge...
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...skills that a forensic accountant needs to possess and evaluate the need for each skill. Be sure to include discussion regarding the relationship between the skill and its application to business operations. A study conducted by two professors from Rider College interviewed over 150 lawyers, Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and accounting educators. The study identified sixteen skills needed by forensic accountants. According to the study, the five most important skills are analytical skills, basic accounting skills, problem solving skills, data analysis skills and interviewing skills (McMullen & Sanchez, 2010). Forensic accountants need analytical skills because as they review financial reports and other source documents, they need to analyze the validity of each transaction and determine if the company recorded the transaction fairly. The forensic accountant needs the ability to analyze where the data came from and whether the data accurately reflects the numbers posted in the financial reports (McIntosh, n.d.). With an in house forensic accountant, this will ensure the company’s financial state is accurately reflected while an independent forensic accountant can verify the accuracy of the reports, both of which help investors determine if the company is worth investing in. “Accounting is widely regarded as the language of business” (McMullen and Sanchez, 2010, pg.1). As such, the need for basic accounting skills is self-evident, for a forensic accountant to be...
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...Running head: THE FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT FORENSIC ACCOUNTING IN PRACTICE Tanon Patrick Contemporary Business - BUS 508 Dr. Ronnie A. Jones December 20, 2013 Abstract Accounting is the systematic process of identifying, recording, measuring, classifying, verifying, summarizing, interpreting and communicating financial information. It reveals profit or loss for a given period, and the value and nature of a firm's assets, liabilities and owners' equity (Business Dicitionary.com). Accountants take a vow to ensure the accuracy of all financial records for the company they work for. When a company suspects fraudulent activity they often call in a forensic accountant to help with the investigation. The forensic accountant has the skills to investigate what happened, to measure damages, and to provide litigation support to corporate and outside counsel (Flexstudy.com). FORENSIC ACCOUNTING IN PRACTICE Determine the most important five (5) skills that a forensic accountant needs to possess and evaluate the need for each skill. This paper will give some incite on the different levels of responsibility and skills that the forensic accountant must have to provide quality service. “Accounting professionals work in a variety of areas in and for business firms, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations. They can be classified as public, management, government, and not-for-profit accountants” (L.E. Boone...
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...There are fraudulent accounting procedures taking place in many businesses all across the world, and many companies have been going a number of years covering up the real financial value of their company. Forensic accountants are becoming much needed as accounting frauds, financial scams, and various economic scandals are beginning to increase globally. This type of accountant does more than the typical accountant of a business or corporation, because their objective is to investigate fraudulent activities being used in the accounting departments of these companies. The amount of fraud being used by companies globally is most likely going to increase in the future as technology is evolving and scammers are getting more creative. This will also lead to a gradual decrease in the investment rates in companies, because the risks of investing in a corrupt business world will outweigh the benefits. Potential investors in companies using creative accounting techniques will increasingly become more at risk if there is no exponential growth in the field of investigative accounting. Accounting scams are becoming a part of the normal occurrence of day to day activities as this type of fraudulent activity is frequently gaining exposure in the daily news worldwide. As owners and managers conceal the financial state of their companies by manipulating their financial statements, the reliability and trust of these statements by investors are decreasing. Illegal accounting procedures are not being...
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...Forensic Accounting in Practice Brittany Baskin Dr. John Theodore Contemporary Business November 18, 2012 When you think of the term forensics, what comes to mind? For younger readers CSI probably rings a bell, while the elder crowd would probably think of Quincy. Both TV shows glorified the acts of forensics in a medical sense. But a lesser-known form of forensics has been growing in use around the world. In light of recent accounting scandals throughout the world, investors and regulators have searched for various different methods to improve the safety of investors through more diligent accounting reporting practices. Until recently, detecting fraud was thought to be a part of the responsibility of the accountant. Fraud was something the internal or external auditors were expected to guard against by their periodic audits. We now know that auditors can only check for compliance of a company’s books to the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAPs) and to company policy; therefore, a new category of accounting had to be established, one which revealed the fraud for companies with suspected fraudulent transactions. This new area of accounting is known as forensic accounting. To fully understand the definition of forensic accounting, we can use parts of the definition of forensic medicine and accounting, both taken from Webster’s Dictionary, to produce a clear definition. Forensic medicine is a “science that deals with the relation and application...
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...The Past, Present, and Future of Forensic Accounting G. Stevenson Smith, PhD, CPA, CMA The CPA Journal Vol. 85 (LXXXV)/No. 3 March 2015 pp. 16-21 Today’s business society, including many large corporations as well as small and medium-sized businesses, has been part of the rapid technological advances the world is facing. Nowadays every business is operating via Internet as we are facing constant technological improvements throughout the past couple of decades. That being said, the potential of cybercrimes being committed drastically increased, as the cyber criminals have been able to break into the companies’ systems and manipulate and extract crucial data sets. This article is focusing on chronological development of the new area of accounting, forensic accounting. Forensic accounting is primarily focused on fraud protection, investigation of the security breaches and any other malicious activities against a company and its confidential data. At the very beginning of the twentieth century forensic accounting was not recognized as a separate practice area from auditing. As the passage of time, forensic accounting became a more distinct practice area. The development of computers and the internet caused forensic accounting to expand and become a separate field which deals with investigating activities and fraud protection rather than stating an opinion on whether or not the financial statements are in accordance with GAAP. Continually, auditors are focusing on the fair...
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...Forensic Accounting In Practice Herbert Lee | Bus 508 Professor Badger Fardanesh 1. May 16, 2013 Forensic Accounting Defined According to Crumbley (2009)“ Forensic Accounting” is reducing the complexity of accounting practices by distilling information and slicing away at deceptions to help a judge or jury to see the essence of financial disputes. It is a practice that goes beyond auditing and analyzing accounting information. With accounting practice and standards at its core Forensic accounting goes above and beyond what the auditor does. Crumbley (2009) contends that a forensic accountant may take on fraud auditing engagements but will use other accounting, consulting and legal skills to broaden their engagements. The discipline of forensic accounting is being utilized not only in a courtroom setting but also in public discussions, debates, civil matters like divorces, insurance companies, banks and the business community at large. From a general perspective forensic accounting focuses on digging into the final accounts but will follow a lead into records of original entries. These accountants cover the areas of litigation support and investigative accounting. They are seeking out the cause and effect and according to the article FTB Tax Services (2011) it states that the primary orientation of forensic accounting is the explanatory analysis of phenomena- including possibly the discovery of deception, and its effect- introduced into an accounting system domain...
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...Forensic Accounting in Practice Twana Bethea BUS 508 May 21, 2013 Dr. Phyllis Praise Abstract Forensic Accounting is the application of the skills and training of a chartered accountant to disputes and investigations. Fraud is usually hidden in the accounting systems of organizations and that’s where forensic accountants play a critical role. Forensic accountants are contacted by companies when they need to figure out where a fraud was committed in their company. The accountants interview witnesses, analyze evidence such as email traffic between all parties involved. They will also freeze bank accounts if needed. They are hired to find out what happen and who was involved. If the case goes to trial they can be called to testify. The key skill of the forensic accountant is communicating complex financial transaction or data in a concise manner using images, graphs and languages that can be easily understood by non-accountants, the judiciary, and juries. With the growing complexity of business related investigations, Forensic Accounting professionals are increasing and the need is as well for investigations of business and financial issues. Forensic Accounting Practices Forensic Accounting has been in exist for many years, today there have been an increase in the need for this type of profession. Forensic accounting is the practice of integration of accounting, auditing and investigative skills. The accountings provide a court with an accounting analysis on the basis...
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