| A case held in court will generally be a battle | | | | He will first make sure that his work is of the |
| between two sides. In the criminal courts this is | | | | highest quality by reporting diligently. This may |
| the authorities against the alleged crooks. In the | | | | mean getting second opinions from his peers to |
| civil courts it is two parties to an argument. The | | | | ensure that his work is sound. Previously a part |
| only people in the court totally independent are | | | | time expert witness who was normally a full time |
| the judge, jury and expert witnesses. | | | | practicing accountant would employ junior staff to |
| An expert accounting witness is an accountant. He | | | | do the forensic work. Accountancy and taxation |
| will have qualified as an accountant with a | | | | work is carried out for clients in this fashion. |
| reputable body such as the Institute of Chartered | | | | However, when questioned in court many |
| Accountants in England and Wales, and will | | | | accountants were so unfamiliar with the reports |
| therefore have the accreditation of Fellow of the | | | | they were supposed to have prepared that many |
| Institute. However he may well be a full time | | | | were professionally embarrassed. |
| expert, dealing only with cases that need expert | | | | These days the most respected expert |
| technical accounting and business input in order to | | | | accountants do most of the work themselves, |
| assist the court in making its decisions. He may no | | | | only utilising junior staff for the very repetitive |
| longer deal with company or individual accounts | | | | analysis work that can be checked and reconciled |
| for paying clients. | | | | 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 | | | | The expert accountant will also obtain as many |
| have witnessed a murder, or seen a person steal | | | | credentials as possible to back up his years of |
| some money. The barrister will question them in | | | | experience. Associations with various professional |
| court about the facts they know or what they | | | | organisations and accreditation bodies such as the |
| saw. It is their duty to relate information they | | | | Academy of Experts or the Association of |
| believe to be correct. The expert witness is | | | | Certified Fraud Examiners will strengthen the |
| different because he is allowed to give his opinion. | | | | Chartered Accountancy qualification. Additional |
| He is allowed to say what he (or she) thinks. | | | | qualifications can be obtained, such as those run |
| The opinion must be based on supporting facts, | | | | by the Institute of Taxation or Master degrees |
| therefore be a reasonable opinion. If the court is | | | | from various universities. |
| to accept the opinion of such an expert, | | | | By developing a track history of experience |
| potentially not knowing much about the subject | | | | alongside professional memberships and other |
| matter themselves (because they are not | | | | accreditation, the expert accountant is able to |
| accountants or businessmen) they must be | | | | protect himself from serious challenge by a |
| convinced of the expert accountant's credibility, | | | | barrister. Failing to do so can mean that a court |
| experience and reliability. | | | | will ignore any opinion presented in a report and |
| In order to present a credible face to the court | | | | potentially favor the other side's expert witness |
| an expert accountant will do a number of things. | | | | instead. |