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Forensic accounting, a specialized form of accounting, audits financial transactions to uncover fraud and discrepancies. They are trained to not only analyze the numbers, but to also theorize about the events which took place leading up to the dispute. Their findings are prepared in a manner that is admissible in a court of law. For the cases that go to trial, a forensic accountant may be called as an expert witness to testify. From the video, one drawback is an attorney trying to influence your findings to make them more favorable to your client.

I feel that the primary purpose of the expert varies depending on the type of case they are handling. As discussed in the video, there are many cases where two individuals are divorcing (matrimony or business related), and the primary purpose is to facilitate a settlement that both parties can agree to. Other cases such as criminal, a forensic accountant’s goal is to provide facts to the court based on their findings regardless of the individuals involved.

Some benefits of settlement are having the power to negotiate and leave on better terms with the other person, less costly and less time consuming. Trials can take months and may result in a verdict you are not happy with.

Voir dire is a process in which the skills and qualifications of an expert are analyzed and determined to be credible in a court of law. Qualifications for an expert to testify require “knowledge, skill, practical experience, training, education, or a combination of these factors.” The expert must also be able to demonstrate they are competent and knowledgeable in the field.