Forensic Accounting: Fraud Investigations (X3-2021-FAFIaa-20231213)

Ms. Petrozzello is a Consultant in Aon Cyber Solutions’ Investigations Practice. She is a CPA, Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) with over 15 years of in-depth knowledge and experience in financial forensics and fraud investigations. Her clients have included investment management companies, hedge funds, and law firms. She has experience leading engagements in areas such as financial fraud, due diligence, financial and risk assurance audits, risk assessments, and fraud detection and prevention.

Ms. Petrozzello has led numerous due diligence engagements in the investment management space. This investigative work led to the exposure of financial statement manipulation in an attempt to inflate the value of potential investment, worth over $100 million. She has conducted forensic investigations into various allegations of fraud, including embezzlement, wage theft, and breach of contract. Ms. Petrozzello has investigated shareholder disputes surrounding financial issues, ranging from the valuation of partnership interest, to allegations of fraud and misconduct. She has extensive experience in fraud detection and prevention, performing risk assessments, designing internal controls, and advising on weaknesses in systems for businesses of all sizes, across a diversity of industries.

Prior to joining Stroz Friedberg, Ms. Petrozzello was the principal of her own financial forensics firm. She spent several years with both PwC and Deloitte, working on financial audit, risk assurance, and forensic accounting assignments. In providing services to clients, Ms. Petrozzello always seeks to bring clarity and solutions to complex financial issues.

Ms. Petrozzello co-authored the AICPA’s Practice Aid on Communications in Litigation and Dispute Services and, as a member of the AICPA’s Fraud Task Force, her team produces the FVS Eye on Fraud. She has conducted courses and presentations and has spoken at many venues, including the AICPA’s Forensic and Valuations Services Conference and several NYSSCPA conferences. Ms. Petrozzello has provided financial insights to several publications and media outlets, including CBS News and the New York Daily News, and worked with the NYC Office of the Comptroller, to build financial literacy and banking resources.

Ms. Petrozzello is the President-Elect of the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA). She is a member of the AICPA, a former member of its Litigation Services Committee and a current member of its Fraud Task Force. She also is a member of the NYSSCPA’s Litigation, Career, and Diversity and Inclusion Committees. Ms. Petrozzello is also a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. She received her Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Economics, with a minor in Mathematics, from Mount Holyoke College, and her Bachelor of Accounting Science (BCompt) Degree from the University of South Africa.

Howard Silverstone has a BA (with Honors) in accounting from London Metropolitan University (formerly known as City of London Polytechnic), London, England. He is a licensed certified public accountant in Pennsylvania as well as a chartered accountant (UK) and a certified fraud examiner. He also holds the American Institute of CPA’s Certified in Financial Forensics designation. He has presented various programs to the legal, accounting and insurance industries on the calculation of damages in financial disputes, corporate fraud and other financial matters.

Howard has concentrated his practice in the field of forensic accounting since 1985. Howard is a Director of Forensic Resolutions, Inc., which he co-founded in 2004. He was previously with Kroll from 1993 until 2004, including Kroll Lindquist Avey, an international forensic accounting firm. Prior to forming the Philadelphia office of Kroll in 1993, he was a director in a forensic accounting firm and worked for five years at an international accounting firm as both a financial investigator and auditor. He began his career at a public accounting firm in the United Kingdom.

Howard has testified in many different jurisdictions and has also provided testimony at Grand Jury hearings and overseas. Howard has been quoted in many national and international publications and has appeared in the media both in the United States and the United Kingdom. He has also co-authored three books on fraud and forensic accounting and has authored many articles on fraud and related subjects for a variety of publications.

Howard is an immediate past member of the AICPA’s National Forensic and Litigation Services Committee, was Chair of its Fraud Task Force and has twice served as the president of the British-American Business Council for the Philadelphia region and still sits on the board. He has held other board positions with organizations in the Philadelphia area, including the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Temple Beth Sholom in Cherry Hill, NJ.

In June 2018, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II appointed Howard as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the United Kingdom’s 2018 Birthday Honours list. This was awarded in recognition of Howard’s service to British business in the USA.