As one of the leading forensic accounting firms in Los Angeles, we can assist you with an accounting investigation or we can testify on your behalf as an expert witness in an accounting dispute. Our senior staff are certified in financial forensics (CFF) and fraud examination (CFE).
Every investigation or dispute is unique and requires an understanding of the needs of the client and selecting a team with the right experience and knowledge to conduct a financial investigation on a cost effective basis, consistent with the highest professional standards. As an expert witness, our senior staff are qualified to present their opinions to support or oppose evidence submitted to the Court relating to a wide range of financial, accounting, and tax issues.
Several areas where we have experience as investigators or testifying experts are:
Asset Misappropriation – Skimming cash, lapping accounts receivable, payroll matters, false vendor invoices, check tampering, false expense reimbursements, and other manipulation of assets.
Securities Fraud and Ponzi Schemes – Financial reporting to investors, source and use of funds, financial condition of entity, determining historical profits, and reasonableness of projections.
M&A Accounting Disputes – Purchase price adjustment dispute, alleged breach of financial representations, working capital requirements, reserve for bad debts and returned goods, unrecorded liabilities, inventory valuation and reserve for obsolescence, contingent liabilities, and GAAP requirements.
Joint Venture or Partner Disputes – Analysis of profit sharing formulas, validation of expenditures, appropriateness of charges to venture, reimbursement issues, possible embezzlement, adherence to financial requirements, cash available for distribution, and liquidation issues.
Probate, Trust and Estate Issues Involving Trustees, Executors, or Beneficiaries – Breach of fiduciary duties, prudent investor rule, misappropriation of trust assets and other fraud, trust accounting, attorney and fiduciary fee disputes, income and estate tax issues, and distribution of trust assets.
Accountant’s Malpractice – Appropriateness of tax advice, abusive tax shelters, mishandling of tax audit or other negligence in tax services, compliance with generally accepted auditing standards, issuance of GAAP financial statements, and failure to detect fraud.
Tax Implications of Breach of Contract or Other Action – Incremental tax liability as result of event, taxability of transaction, effective tax rate, contingent tax exposure, more-likely-than-not tax standard, gift or estate tax implications on asset transfers, and divorce tax issues.