What We Do
Forensic Accounting
What is Forensic Accounting? In generic terms, it is the use of accounting skills and data analytics to investigate financial transactions associated with potential fraud or for use in legal proceedings.
At Martindale, we use forensic skills, data analytics, and have the investigative mindset developed through more than 39 years of thousands of audits. We understand that no two forensic engagements are the same and each project has its own set of unique circumstances and concerns, typically sensitive, and require expertise and professionalism. At Martindale, we excel in problem solving and interpreting data and transactions and breaking them down in an understandable manner.
Have you run across payments to unfamiliar vendors, an unexpected reduction in profit margins, identified a small fraud and want to know the total impact, or have identified a lack of controls that might lead to potential fraud or accounting errors? Forensic accounting can oftentimes lead to clarity in certain situations that might lead to fraud detection or an improvement in internal controls.
Litigation Support
Our experienced professionals have testified in court as expert witnesses and generated countless expert reports for our oil and gas clients. We have several Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs) on staff that are familiar with the standards set forth by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) on evidence collection, investigations, and report standards. That, coupled with our experience in data analytics, can lead to quantification of damages, investigation support, and/or an expert witness in support of litigation.
Fraud Investigation
Have you uncovered or suspect theft or suspicious activity within your company and are not sure what to do? Fraud is a misrepresentation with the intent to deceive, usually for a financial benefit. A fraud investigation involves collecting evidence, either through data analytics, accounting transactions, interviews, and other sources to determine if a fraud has taken place and to protect the victims involved.
Commonly, fraud involves three categories:
- Asset misappropriation includes both the theft of company assets (such as cash or inventory) and the misuse of company assets (using company assets for personal use). These are by far the most common forms of fraud.
- Corruption involves employees’ use of their influence in a business that violates their duty to the employer for the purpose of obtaining benefit for themselves or someone else.
- Financial statement manipulation involves the manipulation of financial statements for the purpose of personal financial gain. While this may be the least common, it is typically the costliest.
Who We Help
Law Firms
Litigation involving financial matters require analysis of complex records to deliver concise, comprehensive, and understandable conclusions. Our experience as expert witnesses, backed by our team of Certified Fraud Examiners and problem solvers, places Martindale as the best solution for support in fraud and financial related litigation.
Business & Nonprofits
Small and mid-size businesses focus on running their business and most often do not have the time or resources to implement rigorous internal controls. For these businesses, “trust” is many times the major extent of their internal controls. Even the largest companies, with comprehensive internal audit departments, have holes and blind spots in their internal controls that can result in potential fraud or loss.
Do you have a compliance hotline and have sufficient resources to log, report, and manage potential fraud tips? Preventing fraud is always more cost effective and easier than detecting fraud and improper vendor relationships after the fact. Let Martindale handle your compliance hotline and log and report hotline tips for management handling.