Chapter 15
Corporate Intelligence
As forensic accounting has become an essential tool to investigate fraud, corruption, and other forms of financial misconduct, the related, but distinct instrument of corporate intelligence has evolved to play a similar role. As opposed to relying on targeted review and analysis of the numbers in a company's financial statements, books, and records to identify high-risk or otherwise unusual transactions, the practice of corporate intelligence centers on research and analysis of qualitative information regarding a subject of interest, being either an entity, a person, or an issue.
Corporate intelligence and forensic accounting teams often work in tandem to identify and mitigate potential or current risks facing an organization, and help resolve questions arising from quantitative abnormalities.
DEFINITION OF CORPORATE INTELLIGENCE
Corporate intelligence is broadly defined as the focused collection and analysis of information regarding an unfamiliar subject that is used to deliver key insights to decision makers in support of a major business concern, corporate action such as an investment or acquisition, internal inquiry, or consideration of risk factors. This information is largely obtained through public records, open sources, and proprietary databases. It can also be developed through interviews and conversations with knowledgeable individuals. When access permits, such as in the case of a friendly ...
