This summer while at the ACFE Global Fraud Conference several speakers and friends of the podcast got together to play an escape room. Before and after the escape room adventure, Leah found herself engrossed in stories from investigators around the US and didn’t want the conversation to end. It was these valuable conversations that inspired the format for the next 6 episodes of the podcast. For the remainder of 2022, Leah is joined by investigators to share case stories from investigations worked in a variety of areas.

In this episode, Leah is joined by Chris Ekimoff, CPA/CFF, CFE and Jessica Yohe, CPA, CFE who discuss cases involving criminal defense.

Data Sleuth: Using Data in Forensic Accounting Engagements and Fraud Investigations by Leah Wietholter, CFE, PI, CPA

When Leah joined the financial investigation industry over 15 years ago, her goal was to work as many cases as possible, but getting those first few cases felt extremely challenging with questions like, “How do I get the casework without the experience? And how do I get the experience without the casework? And when I get the casework, will I know what to do?”

Based on her experience of working over 200 cases in her career, she wrote Data Sleuth® to help others facing this very problem. It is the book she needed so many years ago. In this book, she explains how to start a financial investigation from case planning, to finding best evidence, to incorporating non-financial evidence – like interviews and open source intelligence, and ultimately, how to put it altogether for clients or even law enforcement with step by step details and case examples. If you want to gain confidence in financial investigations to build your case experience, you need to read Leah’s book. Data Sleuth® is available on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever you like to buy books!

Chris Ekimoff CPA/CFF, CFE

Chris Ekimoff, CPA/CFF, CFE is a Director in the Financial Investigations & Dispute Services practice of RSM US LLP and leads the firm’s practice in this practice area in the Southeast Region. Chris has significant experience providing litigation consulting and forensic accounting services—including as an expert witness on behalf of his clients—performing internal investigations, applying and evaluating financial reporting methods, responding to allegations of accounting and auditing malpractice, asset tracing engagements, and other complex financial and accounting issues. He is a co-host of the inSecurities Podcast from the Practicing Law Institute, and an Adjunct Professor at George Mason University. Chris also heads the FIDS Blockchain and Crypto Solutions Incubator at RSM.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekimoffcpa/

Jessica Yohe CPA, CFE

Jessica Yohe has worked in public accounting since September 2016 after earning her Master of Accounting and Bachelor of business administration degrees from Kennesaw State University. She is a manager in Audit and Assurance and works closely with clients in the captive insurance, distribution, manufacturing and telecom industries providing audit and attestation services.

Jessica’s work with her clients ignited a passion for forensic accounting and white-collar fraud prevention. In 2019, she became a Certified Fraud Examiner and is now a resource to clients that want to prevent, detect or investigate fraud. Jessica focuses on helping companies mitigate fraud by putting internal controls and proactive strategies in place.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-kaczor-yohe-cpa-cfe-8b734741/

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