Take a bite out of white collar crime with the help of a forensic accountant

Business owners fail to recognize a staggering 75 to 80 percent of internal theft. Many factors contribute to this statistic, including technological advancements, high employee turnover rates and inefficient and ineffective business accounting practices. A forensic accountant can help you catch employees with their hands in the cookie jar and advise you on how to better protect your business assets.

I recommend: RosenfarbWinters, LLC is a forensic accounting firm that can investigate and solve your business' internal theft problem, whether you suspect theft of goods, bribery, computer-based fraud or embezzlement of funds. The firms accountants focus not only on locating the source of internal fraud, but pride themselves in their ability to help their clients recover their losses. Matson, Driscoll and Damico (MD&D) is a forensic and investigative accounting firm that specializes in determining the extent of damages caused by internal financial crime and fraud and what business processes facilitated the crime. Their forensic accounts analyze everything from earning and income statements to balance sheets and employee records to get to the bottom of your case.

Avoid a scandal by hiring a forensic accounting firm to improve your internal controls

In the wake of Enron and other corporate fraud scandals, the spotlight is on business owners' financial practices. Government regulations like The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as heightened public expectations for corporate transparency, have caused many business owners to examine their internal control systems to prevent fraud. Forensic accountants analyze existing business practices and processes and make recommendations for improvement, helping their clients minimize fraudulent activity.

I recommend: Eide Bailly offers fraud detection, investigation and prevention services. Their forensic accountants assess client's corporate practices, with an emphasis on internal controls and management culture, in order to develop and implement an effective fraud prevention program. The firm also offers corporate training, through its Fraudwise Academy, to help business owners better detect internal fraud. Global Atlantic Partners LLC helps business' avoid fraud through identifying high-risk company practices and offering concrete, realistic solutions. They can also help you better understand the psychological and business culture factors that often contribute to corporate fraud.

Hire a professional with forensic accounting training to cover your assets

Your company's future may depend on the quality of your forensic accountant's investigation and business recommendations. For best results, limit your search to accountants with a forensic accounting degree, preferably a masters in forensic accounting or certification in forensic accounting. As the demand for forensic accounting grows, there is a corresponding increase in the number of high quality forensic accounting schools.

I recommend: Forensic accountants at Ellin and Tucker, Chartered hold a variety of certifications, including certification in fraud examination and forensic financial analysis. Their specially trained employees work in concert to provide individual clients with the necessary combination of skills. McGovern and Green's forensic accountants have extensive fraud examination experience. Their highly qualified accountants include forensic CPAs who specialize in computer fraud and internal auditing.