Leveraging AI in Forensic Accounting and Litigation Support

by Christine Fabbro Brunner, CPA, CFE, MAcc, Brunner Sierra Group, LLC – September 20, 2024

The arrival of artificial intelligence (AI) is causing a seismic shift in the field of forensic accounting and litigation support. It’s critical for CPAs to understand these changes to stay ahead in this quickly changing field. AI isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a tool that can strengthen accuracy, efficiency and effectiveness in forensic investigations and litigation support.

Deciphering Data

Forensic accounting frequently entails meticulously reviewing substantial quantities of information and searching for inconsistencies, deception or budgetary alterations. This activity is often slow and requires many individuals to work long hours. However, AI-fueled applications can rapidly and faultlessly dissect big data collections, identifying outlines and anomalies that could elude the human eye.

A subset of AI, known as machine learning, excels at deciphering complex patterns and relationships found in data. It trains itself by learning what distinguishes different instances of fraud or other malicious activities within existing data samples. This capability allows auditors to concentrate on more subtle and high-risk behaviors. As a result, AI can detect fraudulent transactions and identity theft.

Support for lawsuits often includes an intensive review of documents, emails and messages. Automation through AI-powered e-discovery tools can streamline this process, extracting useful information and quickly categorizing documents. Tools that use natural language processing (NLP), a field of AI, can understand and interpret human language, enabling them to parse through unstructured data like contracts and emails to pinpoint critical information. One of the easiest and simplest examples of this is Adobe Acrobat’s AI Assistant which is now offered through their application. AI Assistant can help users interact with documents and PDFs in a variety of ways. It can summarize crucial concepts and themes from documents, amongst other features.

These tools offer several advantages:

Save time. Using these tools allows attorneys to complete reviews faster than through manual review alone.
Improve accuracy. They reduce the chances of human error, ensuring that all documents are coded consistently and accurately.
Enhance organization. These tools enable better document organization, making it easier to find important information or examples quickly.

Predictive Analytics

Fraud detection and prevention is an ideal field for AI’s predictive analytics capabilities. By analyzing vast historical datasets and identifying patterns indicative of fraudulent behavior, AI systems can make predictions and prevent fraud before it occurs. CPAs can deploy AI tools to continuously monitor transactions and financial activities, receiving real-time alerts for suspicious behavior.

AI can also improve internal controls by identifying weaknesses and suggesting improvements. This proactive approach not only helps detect fraud early but also strengthens the overall financial integrity of organizations.

Pros

AI in forensic accounting offers many advantages, with increased efficiency and associated cost savings being among the most significant. Processes such as automated data analysis and document review significantly decrease the man-hours required to investigate a company’s financials, allowing CPAs to take on more cases simultaneously. The ability to handle more cases translates into lower client costs and higher profitability for firms.

Additionally, AI tools can manage monotonous and routine tasks, freeing up CPAs to focus on more complex and value-added work. This shift not only increases job satisfaction but also enhances the potential for forensic accountants to apply their expertise, improving the overall quality of investigations and litigation support.

Cons

Despite AI's substantial benefits, integrating it into forensic accounting practices presents challenges. AI’s effectiveness depends on neural networks trained on vast datasets. As firms embrace AI, they must ensure data quality, as poor data can lead to inaccurate results.

Integrating AI requires significant investment in technology and training. CPAs must continuously enhance their skills to effectively use these tools and stay updated on the latest AI-based forensic accounting technologies. Additionally, data privacy and security are critical concerns. AI systems handle sensitive financial data, and maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of this data is paramount. CPAs must enforce robust data security measures and comply with regulations to protect client information.

The Bottom Line

Forensic accounting and litigation support are being fundamentally reshaped by AI, delivering enhanced data analysis, greater efficiency and more powerful fraud detection. AI technologies are essential for CPAs who want to keep pace and deliver higher-value services to clients. By understanding and leveraging AI, CPAs can uncover new insights, sharpen investigations and provide more effective litigation support.