Topics for Written Reports on Forensic Accounting

Forensic accountants identify pickpockets of the financial world.

Forensic accounting is a branch of accounting that studies financial misdeeds. Forensic accountants are detailed-oriented individuals who also have a sixth sense for discovering what isn't "quite right." While forensic accountants work for legal authorities, many are also employed by attorneys and corporate security departments. Written reports on forensic accounting can vary widely. Some may focus on the different career paths of a forensic accountant, while other reports might focus on a specific type of forensic accounting.

Litigation Specialist versus Criminal Investigator

People typically envision a forensic accountant as one who investigates white-collar crime. There are also those that serve as expert witnesses in litigation trials. They are intimately familiar with both accounting techniques and the methods of manipulating accounting procedures. Litigation specialists are often called to dispute or support the testimony of the criminal investigation accountant. A report on this topic might cover the necessary training for criminal investigation versus litigation specialist, average salaries of each, and where to find employment.

Internal Fraud

Companies are most vulnerable to internal fraud. Employees can take advantage of the accounting system because their familiarity with the company and the systems entrusted to them by their employer to handle company business transactions. When an employee takes advantage of this trust, the misdeed can go undetected for a long time. Forensic accountants in this job might also investigate shareholder claims in order to determine if company officers are manipulating financial statements to artificially inflate the company's stock price. A report written on this topic might cover the different types of employee fraud, what jobs are most at risk, and the checks and balances necessary to prevent the most common types of internal fraud.

Divorce Attorneys

Often, divorce attorneys employ forensic accountants. In this job, accountants locate hidden assets on behalf of a spouse who may be entitled to half of the other's possessions. A report on this topic should include common methods of hiding assets, how best to locate them, and the best method for identifying whether a spouse is concealing assets.

Business Interruption

Some forensic accountants are employed to quantify the cost of a business interruption. For example, product recalls, security breaches, and natural disasters might require the business to close down. Forensic accountants quantify the costs and gather evidence in support of a potential lawsuit. Forensic accountants may also identify the parties responsible, on behalf of the business interruption. A report on this topic might include disaster recovery contingency plans, and the common expenses involved with business interruptions.

References

• Encyclopedia of White-Collar and Corporate Crime.Ed. Lawrence M. Salinger., 2005.