Fraud can hit companies from outside or within and the damage caused can be both financial and reputational. But the role of a forensic accountant goes beyond uncovering and resolving fraudulent activity. Conducting a thorough forensic investigation can not only help you detect fraud, protect company assets and reputation, and recover loss, it can also boost overall business performance and comply with complex regulations.

A forensic accountant is a bit like a financial detective, going beyond the numbers to carry out a thorough investigation into a company’s finances to look for irregularities and anomalies.

They use their combination of accounting, auditing and investigative skills to analyse financial and non-financial information, check public records and interview suspects to get to the root of any problems. The accounting analysis they produce can be used in legal proceedings.

There are many instances when a company might need to employ the services of a forensic accountant. Fraud and theft are the obvious ones. But forensic accountants can also help businesses identify relevant fraudulent issues and provide fact-finding conclusions, such as pre-investment due diligence, bribery and corruption, conflict of interests and regulatory violations. With the increasing complexity around regulations, and many companies conducting business at an international level, forensic accountants play a vital role in helping them remain compliant.

As for fraud, it can hit companies from outside or within. And in many cases, there is collusion involved. The associated losses are unpredictable and complex to calculate, and major frauds perpetrated by insiders are potentially more damaging than external crimes, causing ethical failures and corporate reputational harm in addition to financial damage.

A properly executed forensic investigation can detect deception, address any potential risks and identify improper employee or third-party conduct. It can also help your company recover any losses, prevent future ones and mitigate other knock-on consequences of fraudulent activity.

As is so often the case, when there’s times of economic stress, financial pressures mount. And COVID-19 has given rise to the perfect storm of uncertainty. Add in the growth of technology, which has escalated the risks of money laundering and cybercrime, along with the tightening of regulatory and law enforcement actions, and the demand for forensic accounting services is on the rise.

At Perun Consultants, our forensic services are designed to address the needs of our clients quickly and efficiently while meeting current market and regulatory needs.

As a boutique firm, our prices are fair and transparent, and you benefit from the integrated capabilities of a team with international experience that ranges from forensic accounting to insolvency, restructuring and valuation.

As any business owner knows, integrity is the key to success. Yet many companies are not taking enough action to fight fraud, remain compliant and stay ahead of an ever-changing financial landscape. Please contact us if you would like to find out how Perun Consultants could represent you.