May 2, 2006 - Rider Hosts Forensic Accounting Conference, May 8

Experts from industry, government and law enforcement will discuss issues facing professionals responsible for the investigation and prevention of fraud or for compliance with government anti-fraud regulations at Rider University’s Forensic Accounting Conference on Monday, May 8 in the Bart Luedeke Center.

Sponsored by Rider’s Center for Business Forensics (CBF), the day-long conference will feature discussion on forensic accounting, anti-fraud programs and controls, cyber crime and identity theft, forensic accounting and homeland security implications, forensic auditing and homeland security, and tools and techniques for discovery of employee embezzlements.

“The topics represent the key issues professionals in the field face today,” said Dr. William Amadio, Rider’s CBF director.  “Having the leading practitioners present these topics will make this conference very informative and useful.”

This conference is geared to accountants in business and industry, forensic accountants and attorneys, internal and independent auditors, audit committee members, people considering starting a practice focused on fraud deterrence and detection, managers hiring forensics specialists, and accounting educators designing or teaching forensic courses.

Featured speakers will be:

• Paul Zikmund, senior manager of Deloitte & Touche’s Enterprise Risk Services who is responsible for assessing and implementing anti-fraud and control solutions for clients. Prior to joining Deloitte & Touche, he was director of Forensic Investigative Services for Tyco International. A Certified Fraud Examiner, he will speak on “Current Issues in Forensic Accounting and Future Directions.
• Steven L. Skalak, an advisory services partner and the global leader of the Corporate Investigative practice and a member of the leadership teams for Dispute Analysis & Investigations Group of PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York.  Co-author of the book, A Guide to Forensic Accounting Investigations, he will speak on “Anti-Fraud Programs and Controls.”
• Joshua McDowell, a Secret Service officer assigned to the Philadelphia Field Office and member of the Electronic Crimes Task Force. He holds a J.D. degree from Dickinson College School of Law and will speak on “Cyber Crime and Identity Theft.”
• Richard L. Fair, New Jersey state auditor and a 1975 Rider graduate with a degree in accounting and finance and former assistant director of the Division of Taxation. He will be the keynote luncheon speaker.
• Robert Dacey, chief accountant for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) who has provided leadership for significant GAO efforts in financial accounting and auditing, as well as in information security, homeland security and other information technology areas.  Holder of a J.D. degree from George Mason University School of Law, he will speak on “Forensic Accounting and Homeland Security Implications.”
• Lynda Sanford, internal audit manager for Deloitte & Touche, LLP in Atlanta. She has been auditing for the public and private sectors for almost 20 years as a forensic, external and internal auditor for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Jefferson Wells International and Internal Revenue Service.  She will speak on “Forensic Auditing and Homeland Security.”
• Darren J. Tapp, partner in the Philadelphia office of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Dispute Analysis & Investigations Group.  He has extensive experience in forensic investigations and disputes involving business interruption and contract terminations. He has made several presentations on fraud detection and control and co-authored numerous articles on this topic.  He will speak on “Employee Embezzlements: Tools & Techniques for Discovery.”

For more information about the conference, cost and registration, contact Dr. Larry Prober at 609-895-5525 or prober@rider.edu.