A forensic accountant is often called to serve as an expert witness and
give testimony in a trial. There are a few principles that forensic accountants
must follow during their engagements. A forensic accountant must
demonstrate professional care by having a degree of competency and skill. In
this case, the forensic accountant must have knowledge in land development.
They should know how land is valued, and the methods used to justify the
valuation. The accountant’s conclusions should also be supported with relevant
evidence. Before the accountant agree to accept the engagement, they will
need to make sure there is no potential conflicts of interest. If there is, it must
be disclosed. The accountant must have objectivity in their engagement. This
means that the accountant cannot take sides in the case. They must remain
impartial during the engagement. The accountant should also demonstrate
integrity by being honest and not be misleading. The information that is being
given must be true and reliable.
Obtaining evidence will require the accountant to behave with
professional care and have objectivity and integrity. The forensic accountant
will have to conduct interviews to understand the details on what happened
during the breach of contract. a They must be objective and gather the
important information. They will also have to make sure while gathering
evidence they do not take sides in the situation. They must remain neutral and
gather the facts to be able to present to the court. If the accountant is unable
to demonstrate these principles, the evidence may not be relied on, and the
testimony will be false.
Rufus, R., Miller, L., Hahn, W. (2015) Forensic Accounting. Pearson Education
