The relevance of forensic accounting has grown dramatically in recent years. Be it consulting firms, insurance companies, financial institutions, public accounting firms, government agencies, or the compliance departments of major corporations, these highly skilled professionals look beyond the ledgers to ensure a company’s finances are in good order or kept safe. Since forensic accountants play a vital role and are increasingly becoming an essential part of various organisations and we’ll explain exactly what is their role. 

Role of Forensic Accountants in Different Situations: 

Tax Fraud

In order to avoid paying taxes, some people and organisations make misleading claims about their financial status. Forensic accountants investigate profits to assess the degree of tax evasion. Forensic accountants can also utilise data to establish that an accused firm did not conduct tax fraud. 

This situation can be reversed for a financial institution which is overinflating its income or assets for a loan or a sale. 

Money Laundering

Forensic accounting is a far more thorough examination that monitors transactions across all linked financial institutions in order to establish a money trail and track out the source of illicit funds. Forensic accountants assist government authorities in investigating cases of money laundering by documenting the entities/accounts utilized to transfer funds and also via identifying the methods utilized by the perpetrators for executing the same. 

Misappropriated or Hidden Assets

Asset misappropriation can manifest as payroll fraud, corporate fraud or property theft. Individuals or organisations can also conceal their assets by intentionally keeping them off of a balance sheet in order to keep them hidden from another person or entity. Forensic accountants seek to identify these inconsistencies and hold individuals and businesses accountable for their financial decisions.

Mergers and Acquisitions

A forensic accountant's role in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is to evaluate and confirm that the financial information given – often by the company being purchased – is accurate and relevant. They also examine current contracts to ensure the accuracy of claimed assets and costs and conduct a thorough examination of the target company's financial records. Forensic accountants find critical information about the target firm that might impact the purchase and/or buying price. They ensure that you grasp the critical components of the purchase, such as the current and future worth of the firm, as well as the proper approach to structure the deal.

Business Economic Losses and Bankruptcy

When a business incurs significant economic losses or runs out of money, a forensic accountant might be critical in the recovery process. Failing firms engage forensic accountants to examine their financial circumstances and establish whether or not there was any foul play involved in their economic losses. These specialists uncover proof of fraud that might assist a company in regaining its footing by clawing back funds from parties that committed the fraud. 

RSM Insights

Due to the reliance on digital technology, the role of forensic accountants has grown in scope. Online financial transactions provide prospective lawbreakers with a false sense of security because they believe they can easily conceal their tracks, which is when forensic accountants' expertise is required. Regardless of where we stand globally, fraud has always had a negative impact on society, which is why forensic accountants are becoming increasingly important and in demand to assist in the tracking of financial crimes.

Feel free to consult RSM UAE to discuss your forensic accounting concerns. RSM is one of the world’s leading audit, tax and advisory service networks, recognized for innovative solutions across the globe. RSM professionals can help your company undertake the granular analysis required for a comprehensive forensic accounting exercise.