Fraud Investigation

We are NOT your typical CPA's!

Many closely held business owners are under the impression that because their organizations are small, that they are not susceptible to fraud. Most of them would say that due to the minimal number of employees and low turnover, that they are not concerned about fraud. Unfortunately, nothing could be farther from the truth. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiner's "Report on the Nation", small businesses are in fact the type of organizations most vulnerable to fraud. Minimal staffing translates to a lack of internal control, empowering employees to have too much control over the assets of an organization, thereby promoting misappropriation of those assets.

Statistics presented in the ACFE's report reveal that US organizations loose 7% of their annual revenues to fraud. Applied to the projected 2008 U.S. Gross Domestic Product, this 7% figure translates to approximately $ 994 billion in fraud losses. The median loss caused by the occupational frauds in this study was $ 175,000.  The typical fraud in the study lasted two years.

Having Certified Forensic Financial Analysts in the areas of economic damages and fraud deterrence & detection (CFFA's) as part of our team allows Perzel & Lara Forensic CPA's, P.A. to assist clients in assessing their fraud risk and develop cost-effective programs to reduce their exposure. If fraud is detected, the professional staff at Perzel & Lara Forensic CPAs can provide invaluable assistance in determining the cause and extent of the fraud.

FRAUD DETERRENCE AND COMPLIANCE CONSULTING

Fraud, in the context of misappropriation of assets, is defined as "theft of an organization's assets."  Perzel & Lara have extensive experience in designing programs that defer fraud and protect an organization's assets.

Our Fraud Deterrence Program is designed to analyze the company's current organizational controls, identify assets susceptible to misappropriation, identify weak or missing systems and procedures, and develop controls for vunerable areas.

FORENSIC ACCOUNTING

Forensic accounting typically relates to legal matters such as valuations, damages, divorce, bankruptcy, fraud, embezzlement, business disputes and the tracing of assets.

Our specially trained forensic accountants work closely with attorneys and clients on every aspect of a case or claim, from investigation to settlement.  As key advisors, we prepare financial and transaction analyses, identify misappropriated assets, and quantify losses.  Our extensive expertise with many different professions and businesses, such as manufacturing, retail, food service, medical and automobile, as well as with divorce, fraud and other types of litigation, makes us the premier choice as experts in forensic accounting, fraud detection and business valuation.

Fraud litigation can involve employee, corporate, financial, e-commerce or other types of fraud.  We can perform the forensic investigation, document the results in a formal report, help develop case strategies, prepare trial exhibits and appear as expert witnesses in the case.