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Audit Expert Witnesses

Litigation involving audit issues typically arises when a company's financial statements, internal controls, or compliance programs are alleged to have failed to meet professional or regulatory standards. Disputes commonly involve securities litigation over allegedly misleading financial disclosures, professional liability claims against accounting firms for negligent or fraudulent audit work, and disagreements over the adequacy of internal controls following a restatement or fraud discovery. Businesses subject to specialized audit regimes, including SEC reporting requirements, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, insurance and reinsurance accounting, and government contract cost audits, face additional disputes over whether their audit and reporting practices met the applicable regulatory framework. The central issue in these cases is typically whether an audit, internal control, or financial reporting process complied with generally accepted auditing and accounting standards.

Audit experts help attorneys evaluate these disputes by examining the underlying audit workpapers, internal control documentation, and financial statements against GAAP, GAAS, and other applicable professional and regulatory standards. Their analysis can determine whether an auditor exercised appropriate professional skepticism and followed proper audit procedures, whether a company's internal controls were reasonably designed to prevent or detect financial misstatement, and whether a claimed compliance failure under SEC, tax, or industry-specific audit regimes actually occurred. This work supports liability determinations in professional negligence and securities litigation, informs damages calculations tied to restated financial statements, and can be used to defend an audit or internal control program that met professional standards despite a later-discovered problem.

Because audit disputes often combine forensic accounting with securities and regulatory law, the right expert typically has direct experience as a practicing auditor or corporate governance professional, not just academic accounting credentials. Round Table Group's audit network includes certified public accountants and fraud examiners with backgrounds in public company reporting, corporate governance, and special investigations, along with specialists in insurance accounting, federal securities law disclosure, and hedge fund and private equity operational due diligence. Round Table Group has completed more than 75,000 expert searches for litigators, and we apply that experience to connect counsel with audit experts whose analysis holds up under the technical scrutiny these cases demand. Let us help you find the right audit expert for your case by calling us at (202) 908-4500.

Kinds of Cases We Work On

Round Table Group helps our clients find a wide variety of Audit expert witnesses for cases like:

01

External Auditor Malpractice Dispute.

A manufacturing company sued its independent financial statement auditor after a multi-year embezzlement scheme by a senior accounting employee went undetected across several audit cycles, resulting in significant unrecovered losses. We identified experts with experience in financial statement audit standards, fraud detection methodology, and internal controls testing. The expert's review of the audit workpapers found the auditor had not performed the substantive testing procedures required by professional auditing standards for the affected account balances, supporting a substantial settlement.
02

Quality of Earnings Audit Failure.

A private equity buyer sued the accounting firm that performed a quality-of-earnings analysis on an acquisition target, alleging the analysis failed to identify a pattern of channel-stuffing that had materially inflated the target's reported EBITDA. We identified experts with experience in quality-of-earnings due diligence methodology, revenue recognition analysis, and M&A financial diligence standards. The expert's reconstruction of the target's sales data found revenue-timing anomalies that a properly performed quality-of-earnings review should have flagged, supporting a post-closing recovery of over $35 million.
03

Royalty Audit Underreporting Dispute.

A licensor sued its licensee after a contractual royalty audit revealed the licensee had systematically underreported net sales subject to royalty payments over several years. We identified experts with experience in royalty audit methodology, licensing agreement compliance, and sales reporting reconciliation. The expert's audit of the licensee's underlying sales records confirmed a consistent underreporting pattern across multiple product lines, supporting a substantial recovery.
04

Franchise Royalty Audit Dispute.

A franchisor sued a multi-unit franchisee after a royalty audit found the franchisee had been reporting gross sales figures well below what its point-of-sale system data actually showed. We identified experts with experience in franchise royalty audit methodology, point-of-sale data reconciliation, and franchise compliance auditing. The expert's reconciliation of the POS transaction data against reported sales confirmed a substantial and sustained underreporting pattern, supporting a substantial settlement.
05

Asset-Based Lending Field Audit Failure.

A commercial lender sued the field examination firm it had retained to audit a borrower's inventory collateral, alleging the audit failed to detect a pattern of fictitious inventory that inflated the borrowing base, contributing to significant losses when the borrower defaulted. We identified experts with experience in asset-based lending field examination standards, inventory audit methodology, and collateral valuation verification. The expert's review of the field audit workpapers found the examiner had relied on borrower-provided inventory counts without independent physical verification required under standard field examination practice, supporting a substantial recovery.
06

SOC 2 Reliance Dispute.

A financial services company sued the auditor that issued a SOC 2 report certifying a vendor's security controls, after a data breach exploited a control gap the report had represented as operating effectively. We identified experts with experience in SOC 2 audit standards, IT controls testing methodology, and cybersecurity compliance auditing. The expert's review of the audit's testing procedures found the control in question had been tested using an insufficient sample size to support the report's conclusion, supporting a substantial recovery in mediation.
07

Government Contract Cost Audit Dispute.

A prime government contractor sued a subcontractor after an incurred cost audit revealed the subcontractor had billed a significant volume of unallowable indirect costs under their cost-reimbursable subcontract. We identified experts with experience in government contract cost accounting, incurred cost audit standards, and federal acquisition regulation compliance. The expert's audit of the subcontractor's cost pools found a consistent pattern of unallowable costs improperly allocated to the contract, supporting a substantial recovery.
08

Open-Book Construction Cost Audit Dispute.

A project owner sued its general contractor under a cost-reimbursable construction contract after an audit of project costs revealed a pattern of markups on self-performed work that exceeded what the contract permitted. We identified experts with experience in construction cost audit methodology, cost-reimbursable contract compliance, and quantity surveying. The expert's line-item audit of the project's cost records confirmed a consistent overbilling pattern across several cost categories, supporting a favorable arbitration award for the owner.
09

Pension Plan Audit Failure.

A plan sponsor sued the accounting firm that audited its employee benefit plan after a large-scale misappropriation of plan assets by a third-party administrator went undetected across multiple audit cycles. We identified experts with experience in employee benefit plan audit standards, ERISA compliance auditing, and plan asset reconciliation methodology. The expert's review of the audit workpapers found the auditor had not independently confirmed plan asset balances with the plan's custodian as required under applicable audit standards, supporting a substantial settlement.
10

Environmental Compliance Audit Dispute.

The buyer of an industrial property sued the environmental auditing firm engaged during due diligence after significant soil contamination was discovered shortly after closing that the pre-closing environmental audit had failed to identify. We identified experts with experience in environmental site assessment standards, industrial property compliance auditing, and contamination investigation methodology. The expert's review of the original audit found it had not included subsurface soil sampling in areas with a documented history of prior industrial use, supporting a substantial settlement.

Here are a few of our favorite Audit Expert Witnesses:

Pennsylvania Accounting, Audit, Arbitration Expert #1525

I have 39 years of experience, and specialize in the field of insurance financial management with specific knowledge in the areas of insurance accounting, actuarial and reinsurance. I have published on such topics as insurance accounting, actuarial and reinsurance. I have testified 6 times on topics such as insurance accounting, actuarial and reinsurance.

 

South Carolina Technology, Audit Expert #11336

I have 40 years of experience, and specialize in the field of security with specific knowledge in the areas of technology, physical. I have published on such topics as corporate security physical and technological and banking sector security. I have testified on insurance fraud and firearms and federal grand jury. I have been able to take the current fact based risk assessments and apprise clients of the long term and short term impact of those risks.

 

Florida Federal Law, Registration, Audit Expert #15482

I have 41 years of experience, and specialize in the field of federal securities law with specific knowledge in the areas of disclosure, registration and private placements. I have published on such topics as Securities Act Reform, private placements and audit committees. I have testified on management discussion and analysis disclosure requirements.

 

Ohio Peer Review, Orthopedics, Audit Expert #23211

I have 30 years of experience in the field of chiropractic, with specific knowledge in the areas of orthopedics, forensics, and accounting. I have testified 25 times on topics such as chiropractic negligence, injury causation, and damages. I have practices for 30 years in the same city. I am licensed in several states. My training and includes orthopedic and forensics. I have a broad view of my profession from 15+ years as a state bureau of worker compensation disability evaluating physician (DEP). I am also a commercial, multi-engine, and instrument rated private pilot with a military electronics background.

 

New Jersey Audit, Special Investigations Expert #24698

I have 30 years of experience and specialize in the field of public company reporting and corporate governance with specific knowledge in the areas of auditing and accounting, SEC and public company reporting, and corporate governance and special investigations. I have published on such topics as auditing, mergers and acquisitions, and ethics and corporate governance. I have testified on auditing, public company reporting, corporate governance and accounting.

 

Your Case Deserves The Best Audit Expert Witnesses

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The right expert witnesses and consulting experts can make your case. That’s why we have spent so many hours over the past quarter century making sure our clients have just the right expert team — whether one expert or many, early-stage advice or expert reports and testimony. Across over 50,000 expert search assignments, we have honed a unique, customized approach to identifying, analyzing and connecting with expert talent so you can focus on winning your case.

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South Carolina Information Systems, Audit Expert #25558

I have 25 years of experience and specialize in the field of information systems, with specific knowledge of system audit and accounting.

 

New York Audit, Securities Litigation Expert #28528

I have 25 years of experience, and specialize in the field of accounting and auditing with specific knowledge in the areas of GAAP, GAAS and SEC rules and regulations. I have published on such topics as accounting, auditing and mortgage credit crisis. I have testified on accounting, auditing and SEC rules and regulations. I am a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner with more than twenty-five years of experience. I direct the financial reporting disputes group, which encompasses securities litigation, accountants’ professional liability, and corporate internal investigations.

 

Connecticut Bad Faith, Coverage, Audit Expert #32369

I have 41 years of experience and specialize in the field of property and casualty claim, with specific knowledge of bad faith, coverage and claim procedures.

 

Pennsylvania Audit, Automobile Liability Expert #33039

I have 44 years of experience, and specialize in the field of insurance with specific knowledge in the areas of insurance company operations, mergers and acquisitions and underwriting. I have testified 8 times on topics such as mergers and acquisitions procedures, usual and customary business practices with respects reinsurance matters and proper management oversight responsibilities.

 

Pennsylvania Compliance, Audit, Evaluation Expert #34386

I have 17 years of experience and specialize in the field of medical coding and compliance, with specific knowledge of multi-specialty practice.

 

Nevada Sales Tax, Audit Expert #37016

I have 28 years of experience, and specialize in the field of taxation issues with specific knowledge in the areas of sales and use tax, income tax and compliance work.

 

Maryland Forensic, Audit, Internal Expert #44363

I have 16 years of experience, and specialize in the field of financial audit, inspection, and investigation with specific knowledge in the areas of accounting, financial management and performing independent analysis.

 

Pennsylvania Audit, Compliance, Residents Expert #45335

I have 14 years of experience, and specialize in the field of healthcare compliance with specific knowledge in the areas of coding and documentation guidelines, documentation and compliance in the electronic medical record environment and physician education. I have testified on correct coding for nuclear stress test units for radionuclides, correct application of coding modifiers for CRNA supervision. It’s timeless. My unique experience has given me so much more skill than what a classroom can produce which yields a more solid result for my clients.

 

New Jersey Operations, Risk, Audit, Account Expert #34580

I have 12 years of experience, and specialize in the field of hedge funds, private equity with specific knowledge in the areas of operational due diligence, risk management and industry best practices. I have published on such topics as hedge fund operational due diligence, fund of hedge funds operational risk frameworks and multi-jurisdictional risk management in hedge funds. I have testified on due diligence best practices, fraud and auditors and service providers. I am author of the first book on the subject of hedge fund operational due diligence. I am also the author of the first book on private equity…

 

Texas Audit, Abusive Tax Schemes Expert #45259

I have 36 years of experience, and specialize in the field of income tax with specific knowledge in the areas of audit, abusive tax schemes and Internal Revenue Service compliance initiatives. I have published on such topics as electronic business taxation, abusive tax schemes and individual high-wealth taxation. Tax expert, tax compliance, panel member (subject matter expert). I serve as a tax advisor for multiple tax areas for member countries. Overseas assignments include Lithuania, Romania, and Moldova in 2010. Areas of expertise high wealth taxation, indirect audit methods, audit, income tax, and collection.

 

California Audit, International, Controller Expert #46720

I have 27 years of experience, and specialize in the field of audit and accounting with specific knowledge in the areas of finance, accounting and audit.

 

New Jersey Audit, Construction, Insurance Expert #47639

I have 20 years of experience, and specialize in the field of engineering and construction with specific knowledge in the areas of project management and construction audit. I have published on such topics as solving the dispute problem affecting all stakeholders, deficits in basic construction management functions and execution of construction projects. I have testified 90 times on topics such as change orders, payments and type of contracts.

 

Put Our Audit Expert Network to Work for You

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Our huge network of experts – eminent university professors and practitioners who have achieved renown as thought leaders in their fields – combined with unparalleled research capabilities puts the experts you need at your disposal when and where you need them.

If you’re a litigator or general counsel, we want to put this network to work for you and your clients. Let us know how we can help by calling us at (202) 908-4500 or filling out the form on this page. We’re so confident you’ll love what we do that unless you retain an expert we present there’s no charge!

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Questions Attorneys Ask About Audit Expert Witnesses:

An audit expert becomes necessary once a dispute turns on whether a company's financial statements, internal controls, or audit work met professional and regulatory standards — for example, in securities litigation over financial disclosures, a professional negligence claim against an accounting firm, or a dispute over compliance with SEC or industry-specific audit requirements.
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Audit Workshops

A few of the courses and workshops led by our Audit experts:

  • Vicarious Liability of US Audit Firms For Overseas Client Fraud
  • What is Auditor Liability & Exposure When Non-US Firms Employ US Reverse Mergers to “Go Public”?

Related topics

Accounting
Actuary
Compensation
Compliance
Economics
Finance
Forensic Accounting
Hedge Funds
Insurance
Risk Analysis
Securities