Forensic accountants are people who specialize in looking at the specifics of a financial situation and breaking down just how much value is in one thing or another. This service is valuable in all sorts of disputes and can save you a great deal of money or heartache.

One of the most common purposes for using a forensic accountant is when you need to decide about funds from a divorce. In many cases, these people can be used to determine just how much a person’s lifestyle should cost, so that the court can assess a certain amount of money in support. In this case, they take a realistic look at how a person lives by breaking down all of their spending. Many times, this is the way that messy divorces end up getting settled, since the two parties cannot come to an accord on just what is needed. Forensic accountants are taken very seriously by the courts, and they can even be used to break down the money side of certain crimes.

A forensic accountant can be used in that case to dictate on fraud or something of the like. In cases where money is involved and there is some question over what has been spent, they bring in the experts. These individuals are not just regular accountants, either. They do much more than just look at numbers and spending on a spreadsheet. In addition to being able to count well, they also understand financial reporting systems and the latest investigative measures, too. All of that knowledge is mixed together in order to take action when the time comes and when there is a need to get to the bottom of a difficult situation.

Using a forensic accountant can be a really good way to make sure that things get handled professionally and quickly. By choosing the service right out of the gate, you can save a lot of time that might have been wasted by fighting over the financial details of a certain situation.

At BTG Forensic , a member of the Begbies Traynor Group. They specialise in forensic accounting, financial investigation and valuation expertise, providing skilled, timely and cost-effective input into dispute issues for businesses and individuals. Forensic accountants at BTG Forensic work closely with lawyers, insurers, regulatory authorities and corporate entities, including the Recovery and Turnaround clients of their insolvency practice, Begbies Traynor. BTG Forensic team operates from offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester and Plymouth, with back-up support provided by Begbies Traynor Group offices throughout the United Kingdom.

Forensic accounting is a rapidly expanding field involving careful investigative work, in depth financial analysis and an understanding of the legal system. Forensic accountants must think on their feet and work side-by-side with law enforcement personnel in order to solve the puzzles surrounding fraud cases. Frequently they are required to testify in court as expert witnesses and provide key evidence leading to convictions. Evidence is gathered from books and other records including computers, hard drives, and email correspondence and computer records. It is then carefully traced back to where the problem first began. Forensic accountants act as detectives, lawyers, CPA’s and scientists. These professionals often have highly developed deductive reasoning skills, familiarity with legal procedures, good writing skills and excellent public speaking skills. They have the responsibility of convincing a judge and jury that the evidence they have gathered is solid.

As technology improves and the amount of money stolen from companies and corporations grows, the demand for forensic accountants has grown rapidly. Considered to be one of the fastest growing accounting jobs, it is predicted that this profession will be among the top twenty in the next few years. Schools have begun to offer programs in this field to help meet the strong and ever increasing demand for forensic accountants.

In the computer age, fraud comes in many forms.  It is much easier for criminals to embezzle money without detection. This is why forensic accountants typically need advanced computer knowledge. They must be able to extract evidence from computer hard drives. Business owners look to forensic accountants to help implement preventative measures. Many businesses hire these professionals to examine documents and computers regularly so that the chances of a serious problem are minimized. Forensic accountants also find employment in police departments, law firms and governmental agencies.

While working for a law firm, there are a variety of legal disputes that a forensic accountant may assist in. In divorce cases, assistance is needed in dividing assets. Disputed assets are often investigated behind the scenes in order to determine the most equitable way to split them as well as determine if both parties are credible. Forensic accountants also assist lawyers in bankruptcy cases. Evidence is gathered to ensure that there is no suspicious financial activity surrounding the case. Copywriting and patent infringement, insurance fraud, personal injury, and construction audits are among the kinds of cases that forensic accountants are often called upon to investigate. Police departments hire forensic accountants for many of the same reasons, especially to gather evidence for prosecution that will stand up in court.

Forensic accountants are vital to the survival of both large and small companies. There will always be new work to do as technology advances. People with an interest in accounting and detective work who are inspired to identify criminal activity and therefore prevent business failures should consider this as a career option.