Seasoned Harrisburg Accountants Conduct Internal Investigations

Knowledgeable and discreet professionals delve into issues undermining your corporate culture

In many ways, a company is like a living organism. Although it doesn’t literally eat and breathe, it must take in revenue to survive. A company must remain active and alert to stay ahead of external threats, such as competitors in the same market. And, a company is vulnerable to infection, to cancers, and to parasites. Perhaps you’ve noticed some of the signs of ill health: profits that lag inexplicably behind projections, a backlog of HR complaints, poor office morale, drops in productivity, increased absenteeism, and poor staff retention. If you need to cure your corporate culture, it’s time to call Breon & Associates. What can an accounting firm do to turn around company morale? Or skilled investigators have broad experience getting to the root of problems that infect companies of all sizes: fraud against the company, mistreatment of employees by superiors, sexual harassment, discrimination, and many other types of poisonous behavior. More often than not, a company’s HR department is not equipped to handle delicate investigations. We have the experience, professionalism and proprietary diagnostic tools necessary to get to the heart of the matter.

We understand your reluctance to point the finger of blame at any of your valued employees, that’s why we operate with the utmost discretion and tact. Without sounding any alarms, we comb through data, interview staff members and compile clear evidence of deviant behavior that is afflicting your company’s culture. We operate as quietly as possible while gathering the information your legal department needs to protect your company’s interests.

Ready to assist with a broad range of investigative needs

Although it’s not pleasant to admit, the world is full of unscrupulous or uncaring people who are happy to engage in behaviors that are detrimental to a company. When a successful business has lax controls on certain processes, unscrupulous employees seize whatever opportunity presents itself. As accountants and managers, the Breon team understands how deviant behavior occurs within an organization and how to pinpoint the source. Our vast investigative experience includes cases of bribery, kickbacks, embezzlement and fraudulent transfers of assets. We also manage HR-related investigations of malfeasance, such as abusive treatment of subordinates, sexual harassment, discrimination, and violations of company policy. Companies regularly retain our services to:

• Conduct investigations along with outside legal counsel
• Lead internal investigations coordinated by in-house counsel
• Review procedures and results of internal or third-party investigations
• Assess the company’s internal investigative protocols
• Train staff in the human resources, compliance, security, and internal audit departments in investigative strategies and technics

When you retain our services in any capacity, you can trust us to work closely with you, to operate within the limits set for the investigation, and to show the utmost respect for your people and your organization.

Experienced investigators minimize business disruption

Simply the suggestion that management is investigating irregularities within the organization can cause rampant rumors and disruptions to the smooth operation of your business. Additionally, any amateur sleuthing you do can infringe on your staff’s rights, causing distress and opening you up to liability. Therefore, if you suspect fraud in your organization, you should take the following precautions:

• Never accuse anyone
• Never go through another person’s desk, locker or personal belongings
• Don’t seize and search an employee’s computer
• Don’t record conversations with your employees
• Don’t spy on your employees

In short, don’t try to conduct the investigation yourself. If you suspect fraud, contact a knowledgeable professional immediately, but don’t overreact. Breon & Associates can explain your options and suggest effective strategies for getting to the bottom of your problem. You should also consult your attorney early in the process, especially if you believe the deviant activity is such that it might result in termination, a civil lawsuit and/or criminal prosecution.

You must also consider whether the scope of the problem may cause negative publicity or a severe disruption to your organization. This is possible, for example, if you are a publicly traded company and one of your officers has breached his or her fiduciary duty. Our investigators have experience working under such trying circumstances. We know how to reduce our footprint while still taking decisive steps toward a successful resolution.