Forensic Services
Forensic accounting is simply defined as the application of professional accounting methodology and techniques as well as principles to legal issues. It is frequently associated with white-collar crime, fraud, embezzlement, corruption and general abuse of financial resources. A forensic accountant is the most ideal person to carry out investigations in a financial set up. If you are planning to further your education in accounting, this is what will be required of you to obtain your forensic accounting certification:-
The Candidates must have professional accounting qualifications e.g. CPA, ACCA, ACA, CMA, etc. plus a minimum of three years full-time accounting or auditing work experience, Forensic Studies, before a person can obtain a forensic accounting certification.
It has been brought to the attention of many companies that the "corporate failures in the USA in recent times," has led to the growing public awareness of the need for accounting and finance professionals that can detect corporate unethical behaviours. Now the need for investigative services within the accounting departments of such big companies needs to be dealt with. However, the regular person with a CPA, ACCA or ACA will not have the skills that are required to investigate management. There has been such mismanagement, fraud, and unethical behavior within these companies that the need for accounting "watchdogs" has become a big issue. It is now necessary to analyze the underlying characteristics of corporate activities identifying corporate governance issues. A person must obtain the forensic accounting certification in order to have the experience and knowledge to deal with such important issues. There are many online classes in the world today, and there are also classroom lessons in Kenya where you can obtain a forensic accounting certification, because of the widespread growth in white-collar crime, including both fraudulent financial reporting and misappropriation of asset schemes, and Corruption also have important implications for forensic accountants.
Racketeering and terrorist groups often rely on money laundering schemes to finance and disguise their activities. The increased use of computer technology in society, in general, and as a tool for conducting criminal activities, present new challenges to the forensic accountant, including fraud investigation. Now, because of such dealings in corporations, it is necessary to investigate underlying characteristics of corporate activities and make sure those who run such corporations keep up their dealings on the ethical sides of the line. In order to investigate corporate activities properly, one must have a forensic accounting certification. It must, however, be noted that forensic accounting skills are advanced accounting skills which enables the holder to work as an ordinary accountant as well a financial detective. A chief Accountant, for instance, who is trained in forensic accounting, is twice better than the one with the ordinary accounting skills only. The forensic chief accountant can not only detect fraud and prevent it but can also carry out preliminary investigations before independent investigators are call in. It can therefore be said that forensic accounting cannot be detached from the accounting profession. This is the main reason why all those who apply for certification as FCPA, must have an accounting certification. How can a person who is not an accountant investigate an accountant? Organizations serious enough in the fight against fraud or corruption must have at least one or two forensic accountants in their internal audit and/ or finance departments.
Accountants look at the numbers. Forensic accountants look behind the numbers. If you want to know why your numbers don't match, you need a Forensic Certified Public Accountant (FCPA) who specializes in forensic accounting.
Many organizations involved in regulatory functions believe that lawyers and police are the best forensic investigators! They are terribly wrong and that is why the investigations carried out by such organizations are not effective. All fraud and corruption cases involve financial transactions of some sort. So can any one pretend to be an effective fraud or corruption investigator unless he has an excellent understanding of such transactions? It therefore, goes without much emphasis that those who are qualified accountants with advanced investigative skills are the best suited for financial forensic investigations. FCPA (Forensic Certified Public Accountants) is the certification for forensic accountants who can carry out effective investigations in a financial set up.
Accountants look at the numbers. Forensic accountants look behind the numbers. If you want to know why your numbers don't match, you need a Forensic Certified Public Accountant (FCPA) who specializes in forensic accounting.
Many organizations involved in regulatory functions believe that lawyers and police are the best forensic investigators! They are terribly wrong and that is why the investigations carried out by such organizations are not effective. All fraud and corruption cases involve financial transactions of some sort. So can any one pretend to be an effective fraud or corruption investigator unless he has an excellent understanding of such transactions? It therefore, goes without much emphasis that those who are qualified accountants with advanced investigative skills are the best suited for financial forensic investigations. FCPA (Forensic Certified Public Accountants) is the certification for forensic accountants who can carry out effective investigations in a financial set up.
Skills set of an FCPA
- Fraud detection and prevention;
- Bankruptcy and insolvency accounts preparation;
- Tracing the proceeds of white-collar crime e.g. corruption or embezzlement or money laundering;
- Forensic investigations e.g. Insurance claims fraud investigation and Bank fraud investigation;
- Suspects interviewing and statement taking;
- Expert witnessing;
- Reconstruction of accounting records;
- Analysis and simplification of financial evidence;
- Resolution of business financial disputes; and
- Internal organizational investigations.
It takes a lot to get a forensic accounting certification, but with legal dealings today, it's probably a good idea to apply for one. To find out what you need to apply for certification go to:-
http://www.fcpas.org , www.iicfip.org
We provide the following services under the Forensic Services Division:-
1. Fraud prevention and detection services
2. In-house anti-fraud awareness training services
Advantages of Anti-fraud awareness training
A. Staff become aware of the cost of fraud and therefore become keen to report it;
B. Staff becomes aware of the fraud danger signs and can easily spot wrong doing and report it;
C. As a result of 1 and 2 above, the perception of being detected is greatly increased and therefore those staff that could be fraudsters gets deterred;
D. It is much cheaper to train in house than elsewhere; and
E Flexibility. In house training can be programmed in tune with the clients work programme.
3. Fraud investigation services
4. Tracing hidden assets
5. Design and implementation of anti-fraud control and security systems
6. Executive staff pre-employment backround investigation
7. Forensic accounting certification training
8. Forensic Certified Public Accountants (FCPA) Certification examination preparation individualized coaching.
9. Anti-fraud skills couching of Senior Executives via e-mails.
10. CFIP ( Certified Forensic Investigation Professional) accreditation training via e-mails.
Advantages of distance learningA. Does not cost as much as evening or full time training since time for travelling is saved;
B. It is more flexible since the trainee is able to set his or her own study time. You can read even when travelling in a bus; and
C. You carry your training with you wherever you go and can still get the advice of your tutor online at any time.
B. It is more flexible since the trainee is able to set his or her own study time. You can read even when travelling in a bus; and
C. You carry your training with you wherever you go and can still get the advice of your tutor online at any time.
Training staff on fraud danger signs is one of the best strategies for preventing and deterring fraud. Remember that prevention is better than fraud loss recovery. Very few companies do investigate and prosecute fraud cases successfully for the recovery of fraud loss. To make matters worse fraud involves concealment and destruction of evidential trail and that makes it an uphill task for the forensic accountants to exactly quantify the actual loss.
Please contact us to schedule training for your staff and reduce fraud losses. Our trainers will come to your premises wherever you are in or outside Kenya and also be checking our website for scheduled training events.
Please contact us to schedule training for your staff and reduce fraud losses. Our trainers will come to your premises wherever you are in or outside Kenya and also be checking our website for scheduled training events.
