Investigations & Forensic Accounting Consulting

We help organisations facing complex accounting and reporting issues that can potentially impact the business significantly.

Our team of experienced technical, forensic accountants and advanced data analysts brings a proven track record in financial record reconstruction, investigations into unreconciled and unexplained balances, Sarbanes-Oxley Act (‘SOX’) deficiencies and financial accounting investigations. We respond quickly, efficiently and confidently to resolve matters with minimum disruption to business as usual.

Our team has decades of experience conducting high-risk, high-profile investigations into corporate fraud and money laundering. Providing end-to-end investigations support, we gather evidence using court-admissible techniques, confirm facts, quantify financial impact and identify the network of parties involved. We also compile briefs of evidence, assist with referral to law enforcement and provide litigation support as a consulting or independent expert.

We work seamlessly with our global team to support you while minimising the disruption to your business. Our team comprises forensic accountants, forensic technology specialists, data analysts, investigators and former law enforcement professionals. We have supported organisations as an outsourced investigation function in discrete investigations into specific allegations and by providing surge resourcing support for internal investigations teams.

The regulatory landscape surrounding foreign bribery has grown increasingly complex as governments worldwide tighten enforcement and expand the scope of anti-bribery laws. Recent changes to the Criminal Code in Australia are now in effect, providing enforcement agencies with broader powers to prosecute companies and individuals for bribing foreign officials. Australian authorities have stated that to meet a robust culture of integrity, organisations must sufficiently investigate allegations of foreign bribery by suitably qualified professionals.

We have extensive experience investigating integrity issues such as bribery, corruption and conflicts of interest. When clients engage us for investigations, they benefit from our extensive industry knowledge and data analytics skills. Our global reach means our trained investigators and data specialists understand local laws, regulations and cultural nuances, including language differences. We provide comprehensive services to investigate allegations and assist with remediation. Additionally, we advise organisations on proactive measures to reduce corruption risks.

A data breach occurs when personal information is accessed, disclosed without authorisation or is lost. Our team comprises experienced investigators and cyber response, digital forensic, privacy and data governance and strategic communications experts to support you at every step.

Our team of consultants investigates high-profile data breach and loss cases to establish the facts of the matter. We assess the lost or compromised data from a sensitive data perspective, evaluate the risk of customer harm occurring in terms of fraud by leveraging the lost data and provide support in communications to the public and Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

More and more, global financial institutions are being scrutinised by regulatory agencies ensuring compliance and driving enforcement. FTI Consulting assists companies in investigating, resolving and remediating regulatory incidents and breaches. Our forensic approach seeks to scope and address the full extent of an issue or incident to facilitate resolution and rectification via the design, implementation and testing of tactical and strategic controls to prevent reoccurrence.

Our regulatory breach investigations and remediation have been related to Client Money, National Consumer Credit Protection, the Banking Code of Practice, liquidity requirements, fraud and misconduct and unreconciled balances. We have helped clients respond to government agencies, including ASIC, APRA, ATO, ASX, RBA, the Australian Mint and ICAC. In addition, our global team has conducted investigations as inspector, acted as an independent expert in court enforceable undertakings and as a monitor in royal commissions.

Employee underpayments present significant risks for Australian organisations. Complex and changing rules to modern awards and enterprise agreements can result in misclassification of employee entitlements. If underpayments occur, your organisation could face the risk of employee legal action, a Fair Work Ombudsman investigation, government intervention, civil and criminal penalties, negative media attention or action by unions and other stakeholders.

FTI Consulting can help your organisation assess the corporate risks of employee underpayments, investigate and quantify instances of underpayments, communicate outcomes and improve processes to ensure the issue does not recur. Our multidisciplinary team, which includes forensic accountants, data analysts, investigators, digital forensic experts and communication specialists, proactively assesses underpayment risks and implements compliance frameworks. We also work with your legal, HR, and operational teams to investigate allegations of underpayments.

Read more