Description
Book SynopsisThe definitive, must-have guide for the forensic accounting professional Financial Forensics Body of Knowledge is the unique, innovative, and definitive guide and technical reference work for the financial forensics and/or forensic accounting professional, including nearly 300 forensic tools, techniques, methods and methodologies apply to virtually all civil, criminal and dispute matters. Many of the tools have never before been published.
It defines the profession: The Art & Science of Investigating People & Money.
It defines Forensic Operators: financial forensics-capable personnel possess unique and specific skills, knowledge, experience, education, training, and integrity to function in the financial forensics discipline.
It defines why: If you understand financial forensics you understand fraud, but not vice versa by applying financial forensics to all aspects of the financial com
Table of Contents
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xv
Introduction 1
What Is a Methodology? 1
Why Was This Book Written? 4
How to Use This Book 10
About the Book’s Website 10
How This Book Is Organized 11
PART ONE Financial Forensics Tools, Techniques, Methods, and Methodologies
CHAPTER 1 Foundational Phase 21
Assignment Development Stage 21
Scoping Stage 36
Conclusion 54
CHAPTER 2 Interpersonal Phase 55
Interviews and Interrogation Stage 56
Behavior Detection 62
Background Research Stage 73
Conclusion 77
CHAPTER 3 Data Collection and Analysis Phase: Part I 79
Data Collection Stage 79
Surveillance Stage 111
Confidential Informants Stage 114
Undercover Stage 117
Laboratory Analysis Stage 119
Confirmation Bias: Clinical Thinking 122
Aberrant Pattern Detection: What’s the Difference? 131
Forensic Lexicology: How to Analyze Words Like Numbers 150
Conclusion 172
CHAPTER 4 Data Collection and Analysis Phase: Part II 173
Analysis of Transactions Stage 173
The Myth of Internal Control 175
Financial Statements—Written Confessions 181
60-Second Method 185
Forensic Indices 204
Forensic Financial Analysis 212
Conclusion 252
CHAPTER 5 Data Collection and Analysis Phase: Part III 255
FSAT—Financial Status Audit Techniques 255
Applying Digital Analysis Techniques in Financial Forensics Investigations 270
Valuation & Forensics—Why & How 287
Valuation’s Orphan 294
Conclusion 314
CHAPTER 6 Trial and Reports Phase 315
Trial Preparation Stage 315
Testimony and Exhibits 318
Weapon (WPN) 320
Reports and Exhibits: Tips and Techniques 325
Post-Assignment 333
Conclusion 334
PART TWO Financial Forensics Special Topics
CHAPTER 7 Counterterrorism: Conventional Tools for Unconventional Warfare 337
Stop the Money—Stop the Terrorists 337
Civil Tools Used by Federal Law Enforcement 338
The Civil Statutes as Counterterrorism Weapons 339
Why Use Civil Laws in Addition to Criminal Laws? 341
Discussion of Alter Ego 343
Alter Ego Literature 348
Alter Ego Jurisdictional Examples 358
The Challenges of Alter Ego Investigation 361
Fraudulent Transfer 372
Solvency 374
Forensic Accounting Techniques 378
Alter Ego, Fraudulent Conveyance, and Solvency Matters in Action 384
What Target-Rich Scenarios Can Be Exploited? 386
Forensic Accounting: Counterterrorism Weaponry 391
Financial Statements—The Sources of Data 395
When Financial Statements Contain Laundered Money 403
When No Records Have Been Prepared by the Terrorist 408
Summary of Forensic Accounting Observations 413
A Forensic Accounting Methodology to Support Counterterrorism 415
Summary 421
Conclusion 423
CHAPTER 8 Civil versus Criminal Law Comparison 445
Comparison 457
What If You Suspect Embezzlement?—The Three Big Don’ts and Several Do’s 457
Conclusion 469
Appendix
Forensic Inventory: Forensic Tools, Techniques, Methods, and Methodologies 471
Bibliography 517
About the Authors and Contributors 521
Index 529
