In the past 15 years, the terms ‘forensic accounting’ and ‘forensic accountant’ have become important parts of the financial crime lexicon and more widely heard each day. What is this specialization? What does ‘forensic accounting’ entail? Is there a body that regulates persons who practice it? Who uses ‘forensic accountants’?
Forensic accountants are one of the fastest growing populations in financial crime and other fields. They work in the private and public sectors assisting financial institutions and other corporations in a variety of due diligence, investigative and compliance duties. They also help government agencies, including intelligence, military and investigative agencies, such as the FBI, to reach conclusions in many important settings.
Forensic accountants inform clients or colleagues of their findings and often testify in court or before other bodies on their findings and methodologies. It is an emerging career whose members play a vital role in the financial crime field.
In this ACFCS Financial CrimeCast, forensic accountant John Lash of Cowheard, Singer & Company, an accounting firm with offices in Miami, San Diego and San Juan, Puerto Rico, answers questions in an interview with ACFCS president, Charles Intriago.