James Ashe, Partner-in-Charge, Advisory Services, Featured in Long Island Business News Article, "Help in Detecting Fraud."
Long Island Business News
By Bernadette Starzee
Excerpt:
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants launched a new mentoring program in March, as many accounting firms look to grow their forensic practices.
The Certified in Financial Forensics Mentor Program will pair proteges – professional accountants interested in developing skills and business practices in forensic accounting – with members with forensic experience.
The AICPA launched its Certified in Financial Forensics credential about six years ago.
For its forensic team, Marcum in Melville looks for “people who can think and talk on their feet, and who are skeptical and analytical,” said James Ashe, partner-in-charge of the national advisory services division, which includes the forensics practice.
“It’s a totally different skill set than you get from a traditional accountant,” he said. “You are dealing with parties whose actions are minimally ethically or normally wrong and potentially illegal. You have to understand people’s behaviors and be able to interpret/react to what you observe.”
This includes body language, tonality of voice and the chosen phrasing, Ashe added.
“You then have to be able to communicate to other people what you’re perceived,” he said.
