Forensic Experts Build Bridges to Success for Pittsburgh Businesses

NAFA supplies steel to support litigation, investigate fraud, and recover insurable losses

Though steel is no longer the backbone of the Pittsburgh economy, its legacy remains in the character of the town and its people. Though today’s industries are high tech, robotics, biomedical and other forward-looking concerns, the drive for success is the same as when the famous bridges were erected to span the Three Rivers and forge the Steel City. Yet, under enough stress, even steel can crack. Businesses can suffer interruptions, sustain losses due to fraud, and get mired in potentially crushing litigation. When this happens, North American Forensic Accounting is ready to provide solutions.

Owning or managing a business has always been challenging, but global competition has never been more intense, nor margins for error so narrow. Therefore, losses from a business interruption, liability lawsuit, natural disaster or fraud could be fatal to your organization. Fortunately, when the potential for crushing losses appears, you can count on North American Forensic Accounting. Drawing on decades of experience, we closely examine business records to distill vital information that general accounting practices do not test for. Our firm is comprised of investigative experts who can get to the truth behind the numbers. Armed with this information, you can act decisively to mitigate damages, recover compensation, and pursue appropriate legal remedies.

Recovering from a business interruption

You manage operations as best you can, but sometimes outside forces disrupt your business. Your facilities might be damaged by a fire or flood, a disaster might knock your supplier out of commission, or civil authorities could shut down your operations. When you’ve suffered an insurable loss, your business interruption policy should pay benefits to help you recover. However, no insurance company is anxious to pay an expensive claim, especially if there are questions about its accuracy. NAFA can bolster your claim by using advanced forensic methods to reconstruct precise data from your business records, so you can receive timely approval.

Expert fraud investigation to hold wrongdoers accountable

In today’s highly competitive global economy, no business can afford losses due to fraud. If you suspect you are being defrauded, you need to put a stop to the illegal activity and recover your losses from the guilty parties. NAFA has the expert investigative skills needed to pinpoint exactly where the fraud has occurred, accurately calculate the losses, and identify the responsible parties.

Fraud schemes can be specific to a particular industry. Fortunately, our NAFA team has vast experience investigating fraud within various sectors, such as:

  • Construction
  • Financial services, lending, and banking
  • Manufacturing
  • Nonprofit entities
  • Retail
  • Transportation and warehousing
  • Pharmacy
  • Insurance
  • Government

Employing advanced investigative tools and techniques, NAFA is able to uncover the evidence of fraud that standard accounting practices are not designed to catch. Armed with substantive evidence from your own business records, you can pursue the legal remedy you deserve.

Staunch support for business and civil litigation

Business disputes are inevitable, but before you invest company resources in expensive litigation, you need to know who is potentially liable and how much money is actually at stake. Your legal team can explain the merits of the case but may not have a grasp on its value. The forensic experts at NAFA supports litigation by conducting a detailed investigation into all pertinent records and producing a precise calculation of damages. With this information, you can choose an appropriate litigation strategy.

Attorneys have relied on NAFA for:

  • Business interruption loss calculation
  • Business valuations
  • Economic damages calculations
  • Expert witness testimony
  • Hidden asset investigation
  • Internal investigations
  • Wage and hour calculations

NAFA has participated in a wide range of cases, which include:

  • Accounting and auditing malpractice
  • Breach of contract
  • Employee embezzlement
  • High net-worth divorce
  • Insurance claim disputes
  • Shareholder derivative lawsuits
  • Wage and hour complaints

Litigation often becomes a battle of resources, where the party with the deepest legal department wins a battle of attrition. In such cases, both sides are likely to be overspending, which does not serve either client’s interests. When one side calls on NAFA to produce precise, substantial evidence of true damages, their attorneys can “cut to the chase,” and pursue a settlement for what is objectively a reasonable amount. Thus, NAFA can reduce the overall cost of litigation, while contributing to a just result. Yet, when parties are still unable to reach a settlement, our NAFA forensic accountants can appear as expert witnesses, offering clear and compelling testimony on the financials of the case.

NAFA’s expert services facilitate Pittsburgh business transactions

Business development often relies on strategic growth through targeted acquisitions. But how can you be sure if a particular asset will advance your goals or encumber your plans? NAFA performs detailed analyses of business performance to ascertain the true value of an operation. We measure value using a number of accepted methods, including market capitalization, revenue, discounted cash flow, book value, and liquidation value We also provide reliable quality of earnings reports to gauge whether past performance is likely to continue.