presented to: association of certified fraud examiners annual

Presented to: Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Annual Conference

Presented By: Tiffany R. Couch, CPA/CFF, CFE

Acuity Group PLLC

Introduction & background

Essential communication strategies & typical client conundrums in all phases

• Initial phone call

• Sealing the deal

• Working the case

• Delivering work product

• Case closed

Wrap up/Q&A

Copyright 2012, Acuity Group PLLC

AGENDA

It’s More Than Money

• Human Element

• Demographics of perpetrators

Explain What you can do…and What you Can’t

• Credentials/Expertise

• No Overpromises

Copyright 2012, Acuity Group PLLC

INITIAL PHONE CALL

Provide Initial Direction to

Client • Counsel?

• Insurance?

• Preservation of Evidence

Offer to Meet • Understand client’s urgency to

start engagement

Common Conundrums • Timeline

• Expertise

• Unanswered Questions

Copyright 2012, Acuity Group PLLC

INITIAL PHONE CALL

Prove You Can Handle It

• Cut through the chaos

• Have a plan

Discuss a Phased Approach

• Limited Scope

• Discuss Fees

• Discuss Resources

Copyright 2012, Acuity Group PLLC

SEALING THE DEAL

Engagement Letter

Basics

• Who to engage with

• Scope of Work

• Record Retention

• Fees

• Indemnity

• Signers

Retainers

Copyright 2012, Acuity Group PLLC

SEALING THE DEAL

Set Realistic

Expectations

• Complicating factors?

• Estimated time to complete engagement

• Prosecution timeline

Provide Initial Direction to Client

Common Conundrums

Copyright 2012, Acuity Group PLLC

SEALING THE DEAL

Provide Initial Direction to

Client

• Documents to review

• Evidence Preservation

• Employee Notification

Common Conundrums

• No money

• Nervous about engagement letter

• Testimony “requirements”

Copyright 2012, Acuity Group PLLC

SEALING THE DEAL

Discuss the End Game

• Insurance claim?

• Criminal prosecution?

• Civil complaint?

Discuss Deliverables

• Full report?

• Schedules only?

• Verbal only?

Copyright 2012, Acuity Group PLLC

WORKING THE CASE

Discuss Communication

Preferences

• Critical to success

• Frequency

• Know your point of contact for questions

• Know your point of contact for documents

Know What Is Important to Your Client

Copyright 2012, Acuity Group PLLC

WORKING THE CASE

Provide Ongoing Direction

to Client

• Progress

• Difficulties

• Access to personnel and/or documents

Common Conundrums

• Case is more complicated!

• No fraud?!

• The budget is blown!

Copyright 2012, Acuity Group PLLC

WORKING THE CASE

To Draft or Not to Draft

• Is it ever appropriate to issue a draft?

• Keeping copies of drafts

Keep It Simple • Do not use complicated

terminology

• Remember your audience!

Copyright 2012, Acuity Group PLLC

DELIVERING WORK PRODUCT

Provide Ongoing

Direction for Client • Preparing for testimony

takes time • Communicate what you

can testify to and…what you can’t

Common Conundrums • Non payment • Client wants report

changed • I’ve never testified before!

Copyright 2012, Acuity Group PLLC

DELIVERING WORK PRODUCT

Retaining Documents

Follow Up Work

Referrals and/or Testimonials

Common Conundrums

Copyright 2012, Acuity Group PLLC

CASE CLOSED

“Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision”

~ Peter Drucker

Copyright 2012, Acuity Group PLLC

WRAP UP/Q&A

CONTACT INFORMATION Tiffany R. Couch, CPA/CFF, CFE

Acuity Group PLLC 360-573-5158

tcouch@acuityforensics.com www.acuityforensics.com

“Association of Certified Fraud Examiners,”

“Certified Fraud Examiner,” “CFE,” “ACFE,” and

the ACFE Logo are trademarks owned by the

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Inc.

The contents of this paper may not be

transmitted, re-published, modified, reproduced,

distributed, copied, or sold without the prior

consent of the author.