Forensic Accounting & Regulatory Compliance Services

Navigate crises and recover with the knowledge, skills and technology to be better prepared for the future

The intersection of forensic accounting, law, business, and technology

With regulatory enforcement on the rise, a strong anti-fraud and anti-money laundering compliance program can reduce financial and reputational risk, improve accountability, and deliver a competitive advantage. But even with a robust compliance program, fraud may still occur.

BDO’s forensic accounting professionals help organizations enhance their risk management strategy by providing forensic accounting services through remediation or design, implementation, testing, and monitoring of compliance programs. 

When fraud arises or is suspected, our forensic accounting consultants possess the analytical, investigative, and technical skills to quickly understand, document, and quantify wrongdoing, and design and implement the appropriate remediation strategy. In addition to certified public accountants, certified fraud examiners, and forensic accounting professionals, our multidisciplinary team includes forensic technologists, data analysts, and former members of law enforcement and regulators. 

Whether your organization is responding to a regulatory inquiry, a whistleblower  report, or performing due diligence on a company or individual, we offer a full range of forensic accounting services to help you navigate high-stakes matters — offering support, scale, and speed to resolution.

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Financial Challenges Impacting Organizations

Undetected fraudulent activity and weak regulatory compliance can result in serious consequences including fines, penalties, legal fees and expenses, reputational damage, and depletion of company resources. BDO’s forensic accounting professionals can support anti-money laundering efforts and help address money laundering, fraud, misappropriated assets, embezzlement, disputes, bankruptcy, and regulatory compliance.

Organizations need investigation, compliance, and anti-bribery/anti-corruption forensic accounting professionals that have experience with private and public companies in a wide range of industries. We work with multinational companies including financial services providers and manufacturers in industries such as technology, aerospace, and telecommunications. 

Our forensic accounting consultants also assist clients in developing best practices in anti-corruption compliance, including matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), UK Bribery Act, anti-money laundering, export controls and sanctions compliance, all backed by BDO’s global network.

How BDO Can Help

Forensic Accounting Capabilities

In the event of malfeasance, organizations need timely and comprehensive action to investigate the facts. 

Our investigative services team preserves and collects relevant data and information, forensically reviews books and records, performs discreet  corporate intelligence, conducts data analytics, performs information-gathering interviews on matters, such as: 

  • Crimes against the company, including asset misappropriation, embezzlements, and self-dealing by employees and/or third parties to the detriment of the organization.
  • Financial reporting fraud, including financial statement irregularities and inadequate disclosures.
  • Corruption, such as bribery, embezzlement, insider trading, extortion, kickbacks, and other abuses of entrusted power.
     

By mobilizing quickly in a targeted manner, our global forensic accounting team helps organizations and individuals trace misappropriated assets, including digital assets, and mitigate the impact of financial and economic crime. 

We are present in every critical “offshore haven,” working as a seamless team across offices in more than 160 countries.

Our forensic accounting professionals help organizations:

  • Identify the flow of funds, unscrambling layering techniques often implemented by fraudsters. 
  • Navigate data privacy, data protection, and anti-money laundering regulations. 
  • Gather evidence through intensive corporate intelligence procedures, forensic books and records review, unexplained wealth assessments, and interviews.
  • Leverage the knowledge, experience, and insights of BDO insolvency professionals in key jurisdictions.
  • Present evidence to triers of fact, trustees, liquidators, and law enforcement in support of freezing orders, discovery, injunctions, and seizure orders.
     

For organizations operating in high-risk industries, the ability to understand and mitigate potential issues and threats can minimize risk and drive better decision-making. 

We use our extensive forensic accounting services to assist with: 

  • Business Integrity Support: Objective fact-finding, helping organizations identify critical information including the mapping of often complex and indirect relationships of both companies and individuals, and identifying and understanding backgrounds of parties of interest.
  • Investigations: Critical research, analytics, and ongoing monitoring of intel on key parties. 
  • Pre-IPO: Insight for pre-IPO companies and advisors who must quickly and efficiently identify issues that may pose reputational or regulatory risks.
  • Investment Migration: Background investigations on behalf of government Residence and Citizenship By Investment (RCBI) programs worldwide.
  • Investments and M&A: Support deal teams by gathering background information about the track record and reputation of parties involved in a prospective business transaction.
  • Social Media: Conduct social media research that can provide key data points or red flags on a target’s reputation and activities.
     

With rigorous anti-money laundering (AML) and  evolving sanctions regulations across multiple jurisdictions — and motivated bad actors with increasingly sophisticated methods — the potential for noncompliance is higher than ever. 

We help organizations: 

  • Comply with all relevant and applicable AML regulations, and rulings including: 
    • Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) 
    • Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC)
    • New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS)
    • Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
  • Identify or help prevent money laundering and sanctions violations.
  • Conduct AML look-back investigations.
  • Implement robust AML compliance programs.
     

We assess regulatory risk; design, implement and strengthen compliance programs; provide training; test internal controls; and monitor compliance. 

Our forensic accounting experience includes:

  • FCPA, UK Bribery Act, and other anti-corruption regulations
  • Sanctions
  • International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR)
  • Export Administration Regulations (EAR) governing export controls on U.S. products
  • Data privacy and data governance
  • Cybersecurity
  • False Claims Act

A robust and efficiently conducted monitorship can help organizations comply with laws, regulations, consent judgments and/or settlement agreements to remediate prior noncompliant corporate behavior. 

In the event of a corporate monitorship, either voluntary or imposed, our forensic accounting professionals help organizations prepare internally for the monitor’s review or provide support to the monitor bringing:

  • A deep understanding of the regulatory environment that applies to U.S. and global organizations. 
  • Access to former regulators.
  • Strong investigative, forensic accounting, and analytical skills.
  • Objectivity and independence.
  • Credibility and experience working with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), Federal Reserve, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Bureau of Industry and Security, (BIS) and other regulators.
     

Export Controls and Sanctions Compliance Services

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Navigating the Export Controls and Sanctions Landscape

Organizations must navigate a myriad of sanctions and export control regulations when doing business internationally. BDO’s global teams assist with sanctions due diligence and trade compliance and offer a range of services including:

  • Global trade compliance program assessments
  • Sanctions risk and control gap analysis and remediation 
  • International supply chain advisory and forensic reviews
  • Regulatory response and remediation support
  • Sanctions screening due diligence and alert management optimization

Working with Regulators

We help identify, manage, and monitor risk efficiently across industries and geographies. We work with financial services providers, manufacturers, and multinational companies in industries such as technology, aerospace, and telecommunications. 

Our experience includes working with the following regulators:

  • U.S. Department of Commerce
  • U.S. Department of State
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • U.S. Department of the Treasury
  • Federal Reserve Board

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Why Choose BDO as Your Forensic Accounting Firm? 

Our forensic accounting professionals are well-versed  in compliance programs. We understand the regulators’ expectations and know where unidentified, significant risks may exist. Our experience allows us to develop practical recommendations for remediation while using technology to limit the impact on day-to-day operations and already-strained resources. 

We offer comprehensive financial and investigative services, forensic technologies and tools, quick turnaround times and a collaborative approach that puts the client first.

Forensics & Investigations Case Studies

2024-2025 Export Controls and Sanctions Compliance Webcast Series

Join us as we share practical insights to stay current with regulatory requirements and operationalizing compliance, the role of government agencies, intersection between FCPA and Export Controls, how AI is transforming sanctions and export compliance and more.

Forensics & Investigations Insights

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