Forensic accountants use their financial and analytical skills to solve real-world problems, from uncovering corporate fraud to helping settle divorce cases. They dive deep into financial records to find the facts that support legal investigations and court cases. Whether it leads to a settlement, a court order, or even a conviction, their work has a direct impact on how justice is served.

To get an inside look into the world of forensic accounting, Hunter Richardson, a fourth-year accounting and computer science student at the Georgia Institute of Technology hosted a Q&A with a CPA webinar, titled A Day in the Life of a Forensic Practitioner, featuring Andre Castillo, MBA, CPA/ABV/CFF, CFE — director of Forensic and Litigation Services at CBIZ Forensic Consulting Group, LLC, where Andre shared valuable insights into this dynamic role in the profession.

Forensic accountants uncover financial crimes and strengthen legal cases

When asked if he plays the role of a detective, Andre set the record straight: “I’m not a detective. I do investigate fraud, but that’s not my only line of work.” He broke down his role into two major categories:

1. Forensic and financial consulting services: Investigating financial discrepancies and potential fraud within companies.
2. Litigation consulting: Offering expert insights to attorneys and providing financial insights into legal disputes.

Forensic accountants are witnesses if they take the stand during litigation; otherwise, they provide expert insights to the attorneys. They review the evidence shared during “discovery” and offer evidence to respond accordingly, defend the attorney’s client, or prosecute in support of the district attorney or whoever made the accusation/filed a lawsuit.

“Through these services, I would be hired directly by a litigation attorney and not directly by companies that deal with the issues,” Andre explained.

The litigation attorney represents either a plaintiff or a defendant in a business dispute, such as a breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, misappropriation of funds, fraud, or shareholder dispute.

“In these circumstances, I would be hired either to act as a consultant to or be a part of that litigation team, where I would help the attorney review financial-related evidence as an expert and assist on litigation strategy for the case,” Andre said.

Forensic accountants connect the dots

Andre highlighted one specific case involving a stolen check: A real estate firm hired him to investigate whether one of its employees had stolen a check from their firm.

“During our investigation, we interviewed dozens of employees at the firm. I could tell that the questioning made [them] uncomfortable. Questioning is like interrogation,” he said.

“We investigated the financial processes and the root causes of how any employee can steal checks from the company. We provided advice on financial best practices for them to prevent future theft and fraud,” Andre said. “Ultimately, we provided advice on financial best practices ... and reconstructed their accounting records to reflect what actually happened.”

The role of a forensic accountant demands the ability to connect the dots. As a forensic accountant, you use numbers to solve mysteries.

Andre emphasized the ability to connect the dots. Forensic accountants analyze data and perform evaluations to expose intricate financial situations; therefore, effective and strong communication skills are crucial.

They also need to clearly articulate their findings to nonfinancial stakeholders, including juries during legal cases.

For students exploring forensic accounting, Andre’s career journey offers a compelling blend of investigative work, strategic thinking, and real-world impact. Whether you’re interested in business valuation, fraud prevention, or litigation support, this is a career path where accounting meets problem-solving at the highest level.

With an AICPA student affiliate membership, you can access free resources to help you explore different career opportunities.

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