8 Respected Leaders in Forensic Accounting

By Ugo Aliogo

Forensic accounting is more than a specialised branch of finance. It is a discipline that blends investigation, auditing, and accounting to uncover truth in complex financial disputes. As businesses expand across borders and technology reshapes transactions, the threat of fraud, cybercrime, and regulatory breaches has grown. Forensic accountants have become indispensable, working with corporations, governments, and individuals to ensure accountability and integrity.

This field attracts professionals who combine technical skill with a detective’s instinct. They are not only accountants but also problem solvers, teachers, advisors, and, in many cases, pioneers. Their work spans high-profile corporate scandals, cross-border tax cases, fraud prevention systems, and expert testimony in court. The following ten figures are recognised as respected leaders in forensic accounting.

Cynthia Cooper

Cynthia Cooper is recognized globally as the internal auditor who exposed the WorldCom fraud, one of the largest corporate scandals in history. At the time she was Vice President of Internal Audit at WorldCom, and her discovery of more than $3.8 billion in fraudulent accounting entries shocked Wall Street.

Her bravery in bringing the fraud to light earned her a place on Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in 2002. By 2022, Cooper had become a leading speaker and author, writing Extraordinary Circumstances: The Journey of a Corporate Whistleblower. Cooper’s work highlights the ethical dimension of forensic accounting and serves as a model for integrity in the profession.

Her story underscores the critical role forensic accountants play in corporate governance and remains a benchmark for courage and professional responsibility.

Ayomide Ibrahim

Ayomide Ibrahim represents a generation of forensic accountants who combine global perspectives with practical service to communities. A Nigerian professional with credentials spanning accounting, fraud examination, and information systems auditing, he founded FinServe Pro to serve individuals and businesses in North America.

Ibrahim has built a reputation for empowering immigrant entrepreneurs, small business owners, and professionals navigating complex tax and compliance issues. His approach integrates fraud detection techniques with financial advisory, making his services both preventive and corrective. Clients describe him as a partner who simplifies financial challenges while protecting them against risks.

Ibrahim’s career illustrates how professionals from Africa are bringing international expertise to local and diaspora communities. His leadership demonstrates how forensic accounting can combine entrepreneurship with social impact.

Michael Breit

Michael Breit has spent decades at the intersection of forensic accounting and fraud investigation. As a Certified Fraud Examiner, he contributed to high-stakes litigation support, corporate investigations, and compliance reviews. His career includes leadership roles where he guided teams of accountants and investigators through complex financial disputes.

Breit’s expertise also extends to training and mentoring. He has worked with professional associations to develop continuing education for accountants seeking to enter forensic practice. His combination of practice and teaching ensures that knowledge gained from real investigations is shared with new professionals.

Breit is respected for his balance of technical precision and practical application, bridging the gap between accounting standards and investigative realities.

Robert Ramsay

Robert Ramsay has carved out a unique space by blending IT audit expertise with forensic accounting. His dual credentials as a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Information Systems Auditor allow him to address fraud risks that arise in an era dominated by technology.

Ramsay’s work often focuses on internal controls, cybersecurity risks, and the forensic examination of digital financial data. His leadership in risk management helped organizations detect vulnerabilities before they escalated into major breaches.

What makes Ramsay stand out is his ability to translate technical risks into clear, actionable strategies for executives and boards. This skill made him a trusted advisor for organizations navigating both financial and technological challenges.

Marc J. Strohl

Marc J. Strohl is best known as the founder of Protax Consulting, a firm specializing in U.S. expatriate and foreign national tax services. While his practice focuses on tax, Strohl’s work often ventures into forensic territory when clients face audits, cross-border disputes, or allegations of misreporting.

Strohl has built a reputation for helping clients untangle complex cases involving international income, compliance with multiple jurisdictions, and IRS investigations. For many expatriates, he became the first line of defense against financial pitfalls that could escalate into legal disputes.

Strohl’s leadership is a reminder that forensic accounting is not confined to courtroom testimony. It is also about preventing problems through clarity, compliance, and expert navigation of regulatory systems.

Nathalie Goldstein

As Co-Founder and CEO of MyExpatTaxes, Nathalie Goldstein has built a platform for global tax compliance. Although her company serves a broader tax purpose, forensic accounting played a role in her work, particularly when clients confronted penalties, past compliance failures, or fraud concerns.

Goldstein represents a new breed of forensic accounting leaders who merged technology with client service. Her platform leveraged automation while retaining expertise needed for nuanced cases. She helped expatriates regain compliance with U.S. tax laws while avoiding severe legal consequences.

Her leadership illustrates how innovation was broadening access to specialized services once reserved for large corporations or high-net-worth individuals.

Harsh Patel

Harsh Girish Patel, a Chartered Accountant and entrepreneur with experience in India and Dubai, exemplified global forensic leadership. He founded a multinational advisory practice that assisted companies with accounting, tax, and forensic investigations.

Patel’s firm is often called upon in cases involving corporate fraud, asset tracing, and regulatory disputes across emerging markets. His cross-jurisdictional experience allowed him to understand both the technical and cultural dimensions of forensic investigations.

He became a sought-after advisor for businesses navigating regions where financial systems were evolving but regulatory oversight could be inconsistent. His work demonstrated the importance of adaptability in forensic accounting.

Josh Katz

Josh Katz is the founder of Universal Tax Professionals, a practice that served U.S. expatriates around the world. Like Strohl and Goldstein, Katz operated at the intersection of tax and forensic accounting, frequently stepping into cases where clients faced disputes with the IRS or needed to reconstruct financial records.

Katz has built his firm on accessibility and client trust. His approach earned him a reputation for guiding individuals through government procedures with clarity and fairness. Many of his cases involved forensic reconstruction of financial histories to demonstrate compliance or reveal errors in prior filings.

Katz’s leadership illustrates how entrepreneurial accountants could integrate forensic principles into practical services for everyday clients.