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Due Diligence & Forensic
Audit
Chapter 15 & 16
Forensic Audit & Investigation
 A forensic audit examines and evaluates a firm's or individual's financial records to derive
evidence used in a court of law or legal proceeding.
 Forensic auditing is a specialization within accounting, and most large accounting firms
have a forensic auditing department. Forensic audits require accounting and auditing
procedures and expert knowledge about the legal framework of such an audit.
 Forensic audits cover a wide range of investigative activities. A forensic audit is often
conducted to prosecute a party for fraud, embezzlement, or other financial crimes. In the
process of a forensic audit, the auditor may be called to serve as an expert witness during
trial proceedings. Forensic audits could also involve situations that do not include
financial fraud, such as disputes related to bankruptcy filings, business closures, and
divorces.
 Forensic audit investigations can uncover or confirm various types of illegal activities.
Usually, a forensic audit is chosen instead of a regular audit if there's a chance that the
evidence collected would be used in court.
 How Forensic Audits Work
 The process of a forensic audit is similar to a regular financial audit—planning,
collecting evidence, writing a report—with the additional step of a potential court
appearance.
 Planning the Investigation

 Collecting Evidence
 Reporting
 Court Proceedings
 Planning the Investigation
During the planning stage, the forensic auditor and team will plan their investigation to
achieve objectives, such as
 Identifying what fraud, if any, is being carried out
 Determining the period during which the fraud occurred
 Discovering how the fraud was concealed
 Naming the perpetrators of the fraud
 Quantifying the loss suffered as a result of the fraud
 Gathering relevant evidence that is admissible in court
 Suggesting measures to prevent such frauds from occurring in the future
 Collecting Evidence
 The evidence collected should be adequate to prove the fraudster's identity (s) in court, reveal
the fraud scheme's details, and document the financial loss suffered and the parties affected by
the fraud.
 A logical flow of evidence will help the court in understanding the fraud and the evidence
presented. Forensic auditors are required to take precautions to ensure that documents and
other evidence collected are not damaged or altered by anyone.
 Reporting
A forensic audit requires a written report about the fraud to be presented to the client to proceed to
file a legal case if they so desire. At a minimum, the report should include
 The findings of the investigation
 A summary of the evidence collected
 An explanation of how the fraud was perpetrated
 Suggestions for preventing similar frauds in the future—such as improving internal controls
 Court Proceedings
 The forensic auditor must be present during court proceedings to explain the evidence
collected and how the team identified the suspect(s). They should simplify any
complex accounting issues and explain the case in a layperson’s language so that
people who have no understanding of legal or accounting terms can understand the
fraud clearly.
Due Diligence
 Fact Finding Exercise
 Conducted to reduce the risk of making poor investment decisions
Purpose of Due Diligence
 Reveal Potential Problems
 Provides information necessary to make decisions Acquirer Target Co
- Whether or not to do investment, when to do & Price
 Increase stakeholders confidence
Due Diligence looks at Advisor
(Auditor)
 Current issues of target co
 Prospects of future; investment would generate ROI
 Past Performance
Purpose of Due Diligence
The main purpose is to make sure that the acquirer has full knowledge of target co;
 Financial Performance & Position
 Operational Matters
 Market Position & Commercial Matters
 Legal Matters
 Tax Matters
 HR matters
Acquirer may decide (the issues & risks identified are so significant)
- Not to go ahead with acquisition
- pay reduced price/ask target co to resolve the issues
Level of assurance in Due diligence
Due diligence may be conducted as ;

 An assurance engagement- Professional Opinion is expressed
 An agreed upon Procedure Exercise- Factual Information is presented
Benefits of Engaging an Advisor for Due
Diligence
 Decrease Management Time spent assessing the acquisition decision
 Identification of operational issues
 Risk Assessment of target co
 Liabilities evaluated & identified
 Identify assets no capitalized
 Gathering relevant info
 Enhance credibility of investment decision
 Planning the acquisition
 Claims made by vendors to be substantiated
 Post Acquisition Synergies, Economies of Scale & Potential Further costs
Comparison of Due Diligence & External Audit
Acceptance Considerations
 Why Existing Accountants are not used
 Whether Target co Employee know about acquisition
 Hostile takeover
 Exact scope of due diligence
 Reason of acquisition
 Deadline for the report
 Any ethical threats
Procedures
 Analytical Review
 Review of existing contracts
 Review of forecasts
 Review of Related party transactions
 Inspection of asset register
 Review of accounting Policies of target co
 Review of Board Minutes
 Legal Correspondence
 Tax Authorities Correspondence
 Review of Industry data

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Due Diligence & Forensic

 Planning the Investigation

Due diligence may be conducted as ;

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