Financial Reporting and Securities Fraud

Comprehensive Global Support for Financial Reporting and Securities Fraud

Secretariat provides clients with comprehensive global support in navigating internal investigations and regulatory challenges arising from whistleblower reports, short seller reports, media coverage, government inquiries, subpoenas, enforcement actions, and civil litigation involving financial reporting, technical accounting, and securities-related issues.

We assist public and private companies, and their legal counsel, management teams, and audit or special committees of boards of directors to support internal investigations and proceedings before courts, arbitration panels, and regulatory bodies.

Leveraging our deep expertise, artificial intelligence tools, and familiarity with government regulators, we help clients respond efficiently and effectively to both internal reviews and external scrutiny.

Our global presence enables us to quickly and effectively support cross-border investigations for multinational companies. Our team includes seasoned forensic accountants, Certified Fraud Examiners, former Big Four audit and advisory partners, forensic data analysts, digital forensics and eDiscovery specialists, former law enforcement officers, and business intelligence professionals. We also bring insights from former government officials at the DOJ, FBI, and FINRA, as well as professionals with backgrounds in securities enforcement, investment banking, and hedge fund compliance.

We advise clients facing allegations of inappropriate conduct regarding:

• Financial reporting issues, including revenue recognition, reserve and expense manipulation, goodwill and intangible asset valuation, and tax-related matters.
• Related party transactions
• Earnings management
• Financial reporting disclosures, including AI washing
• Management integrity and tone at the top
• Ponzi schemes
• Insider trading
• Internal control failures
• Asset misappropriation
• Bribery and kickbacks

Our comprehensive Financial Reporting and Securities Fraud services include:

• Internal investigations stemming from whistleblower reports, short seller reports, and media coverage
• Response to government inquiries, subpoenas, and regulatory enforcement actions
• Civil litigation support related to financial reporting and securities issues
• Cross-border investigations for multinational corporations
• Forensic accounting and fraud examination, including digital forensics and eDiscovery
• Securities enforcement and compliance advisory, including earnings management and related party transactions
• Corporate governance assessments, including management integrity and tone at the top
• Root cause analysis, remediation planning, and internal control design
• Materiality assessments and financial restatements
• Advisory for inquiries by international and regional regulatory bodies, including the PCAOB, FCA, FRC, and oversight boards in the EU, Asia, and the Middle East

In addition to investigative support, our professionals assist companies with root cause analyses, remediation planning to mitigate future financial reporting issues, internal controls and compliance program design and implementation, materiality assessments and financial restatements.

Key Experts