Topic > The role of forensic accounting in preventing and overcoming financial crimes

Today, fraud is more sophisticated and devastating than it has ever been in the past. In recent years, the complicated nature of current racketeering and anti-corruption laws, as well as regimes specifically addressing accounting transparency, has driven the growth of forensic accounting around the world. Although a niche field, forensic accounting is considered an inevitable part of criminal investigations, criminal trials and even civil litigation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Forensic accounting has become popular and necessary especially for dealing with crimes such as money laundering, terrorist financing and misappropriation of funds, etc. In Pakistan, we faced a lot of criticism while dealing with some high profile cases like the Axact case, Benazir Bhutto murder case and Panama scam, to name a few. In these cases we have not been able to employ the services of forensic accountants. Honestly, we don't have a single qualified forensic accountant in our police departments and law enforcement agencies. Therefore, many areas vital to ensuring justice for all parties involved in these cases remain unaddressed adequately. What happens in the future is undoubtedly splendid for forensic accounting. Numerous surveys and studies predict a staggering 25% increase in the demand for forensic accountants in recent years. Changes in regulatory enforcement are expected to spur even more positions for forensic skills. Forensic accounting is an exciting and rewarding field that allows professionals to use their accounting knowledge and investigative skills to catch criminals, resolve lawsuits, and reduce the risk of large-scale fraud. Success in forensic accounting often requires a wealth of knowledge that goes beyond traditional entry-level accounting roles. There are myriad reasons why we, law enforcement and investigative agencies in Pakistan, should relentlessly focus on this nascent but truly remarkable field of forensic accounting. First, ensuring fair play in investigations is the noblest professional duty of a law officer. However, the ideal of fairness remains unachievable without the necessary skills that forensic accounting knowledge adequately fulfills. High-profile corruption cases require specialized attention from both investigators and prosecutors. Deciphering the complications and ensuring transparency through professional excellence in the field of forensic medicine is something that is beyond the domain of traditional investigators. Second, larger government investigations require investigators to reflect high ethical and professional standards in tracing complex financial trails involving sometimes trans-jurisdictions and trans-domains, rather inexperienced. by our investigating officers through conventional investigative methods. Many Pakistani high court rulings on corruption and misappropriation of public funds have repeatedly identified this vital component of police and law enforcement investigations as a gray area or significant vulnerability that can serve as an exit door so that the accused persons remain unpunished. The phenomenon called lack of evidence, thus caused, has prevented our criminal justice system from remaining more effective and productive in achieving its intended objectives and also requires a serious revisiting of the entire process of investigating or gathering.