| A case held in court will generally be a battle | | | | highest quality by reporting diligently. This will |
| between two sides. In the criminal courts this is | | | | involve him having his work checked through by |
| the authorities against the alleged crooks. In the | | | | senior colleagues including the opinions he has |
| civil courts it is two parties to an argument. The | | | | presented. Previously a part time expert witness |
| only people in the court totally independent are | | | | who was normally a full time practicing accountant |
| the judge, jury and expert witnesses. | | | | would employ junior staff to do the forensic |
| An expert accounting witness is an accountant. He | | | | work. Accountancy and taxation work is carried |
| will have qualified as an accountant with a | | | | out for clients in this fashion. The trouble was that |
| reputable body such as the Institute of Chartered | | | | when cross examined in court many part time |
| Accountants in England and Wales, and will | | | | expert accountants were professionally |
| therefore have the accreditation of Fellow of the | | | | embarrassed because they were completely |
| Institute. However he may well be a full time | | | | unfamiliar with the reports they were supposed |
| expert, dealing only with cases that need expert | | | | to have prepared. |
| technical accounting and business input in order to | | | | These days the most respected expert |
| assist the court in making its decisions. It is | | | | accountants do most of the work themselves, |
| possible that he does not service clients anymore | | | | only utilising junior staff for the very repetitive |
| who simply want their accounts preparing or their | | | | analysis work that can be checked and reconciled |
| tax returns filing. | | | | easily. This will ensure that they are completely |
| Witnesses are used in court cases to assist with | | | | familiar with every detail within their report. |
| determining the facts of the matter. They may | | | | Accreditation will be sought by the expert |
| have been witness to a crime, or have other | | | | accounting witness to support years of practical |
| facts relevant to the case. The barrister will | | | | experience. Associations with various professional |
| question them in court about the facts they know | | | | organisations and accreditation bodies such as the |
| or what they saw. It is their duty to relate | | | | Academy of Experts or the Association of |
| information they believe to be correct. On the | | | | Certified Fraud Examiners will strengthen the |
| other hand, an expert witness is allowed to give | | | | Chartered Accountancy qualification. Additional |
| an opinion. He is allowed to say what he (or she) | | | | qualifications can be obtained, such as those run |
| thinks. | | | | by the Institute of Taxation or Master degrees |
| The opinion must be based on supporting facts, | | | | from various universities. |
| therefore be a reasonable opinion. If the court do | | | | By developing a track history of experience |
| not understand a complex accounting matter and | | | | alongside professional memberships and other |
| is to accept the explanation provided by an | | | | accreditation, the expert accountant is able to |
| expert they must be convinced of that expert's | | | | protect himself from serious challenge by a |
| reliability. | | | | barrister. Failing to do so can mean that a court |
| In order to present a credible face to the court | | | | will ignore any opinion presented in a report and |
| an expert accountant will do a number of things. | | | | potentially favor the other side's expert witness |
| He will first make sure that his work is of the | | | | instead. |