The first item that would have to address in this instance, is if Attorney
Joseph Leslie has any conflicts of interests with the client for which he
has accepted the engagement. Is he mainly accepting this
engagement because he has an expectation of getting paid by his
client up-front?
The next thing that I would be sure to do is draw up an engagement
letter that clearly defines my expectations in this case, my expected
fees and the timeline for them. The fact that he has a reputation for
rushing his staff to deliver quick results is a big red flag (Rufus, i.e.,
2014), If he agrees to my fees, there is a clearly defined understanding
of my expectations, and proper care has been utilized to set-up
reasonable expectations to deliver my findings, I would most likely
accept the engagement contingent on a mutually agreed upon
engagement letter. There are two things that would make this an
engagement that I would not accept, vague expectations of my work
and any potential conflicts of interest.
The factors I would consider in deciding to accept the engagement are:
• The character of the client – I want to make sure that the client
has great communication skills, shows respect, is responsive,
and provides payments timely. I do not want my reputation
sacrificed in any engagement.
• Whether conflicts of interest exist - If one exists, it must be
disclosed to the client before I accept the engagement. I should
be objective and be independent in fact and appearance.
• Competence and due care – I must make sure that I have the
skills and the resources to complete the engagement. I also want
to make sure the case timeline works with my schedule.
• Nature and scope of the assignment – I should make sure I
understand what is being asked of me. I also should ensure that I
have the availability, accessibility to witnesses and understand
the travel requirements.
• Compensation – I want to understand how much I will be paid,
when I will be paid and who will pay me. I should accept a
retainer from the client before I begin work.
I would not accept the case with Attorney Joseph Leslie. He is
considered a bad client. He expects a quick turnaround of information
from his staff. b He also requires them to work long hours. Although I am
not his staff, he may require the same from me. I may not be able to
provide a good service if I am under pressure to deliver. I would not
want to rush my work and provide shoddy information. This could
tarnish my reputation. Mr. Leslie does not pay his consultants and
experts on time. This is another red flag of a bad client. He can pay on
time because he only accepts wealthy clients who pays upfront. These
are the reasons why I would not accept the case.
References:
Rufus, R., Miller, L., & Hahn, W. (2014). Forensic Accounting. Pearson
Education (US).
Rufus, R., Miller, L., Hahn, W. (2015) Forensic Accounting. Pearson
Education
