Description: This session will explore construction fraud schemes as well as strategies to prevent, detect, and deter fraud. Leveraging industry data and real-world experiences, this session will discuss how the risk environment has changed and discuss the risks that your business face.

Learning Objectives/Takeaways:

•           Explain what fraud is and why it matters

•           Describe how fraud is perpetrated in the construction industry

•           Share real world experiences of construction fraud

W. Alex Smith is a member of Forvis Mazars’ Forensics and Valuation Services practice and serves clients throughout the  firm’s footprint. He provides forensic and valuation advisory services, including expert witness services, financial  investigations, litigation support, and construction cost consulting services.  

Alex has provided advisory services that include litigation support and consulting services in commercial matters involving  claims such as breach of contract, construction claims and cost analysis, shareholder disputes, misappropriation of trade  secrets, post-acquisition disputes, tortious interference, business interruption claims, employee embezzlement,  investment scams, and fraud.  

He has presented on related topics to various professional organizations, including at the AICPA’s National Forensic and  Valuation Services conference, Maryland Association of CPAs Forensic Valuation conference, TXCPA Summit  conference, and nationally presented webinars.  

He is an active member within the AICPA’s Forensic and Valuation Services section and serves on the Forensic and  Litigation Services Education Task Force and was a 2022 recipient of the AICPA’s FVS Standing Ovation award.  

Alex is licensed as a CPA in South Carolina and North Carolina and holds the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF)  credential with the AICPA. He is also certified by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners as a Certified Fraud  Examiner (CFE) and National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts as a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) and  a Master Analyst in Financial Forensics (MAFF).  

He graduated with a Bachelor’s in Finance and Minor in Economics from Wofford College and received a Master’s of  Professional Accountancy from Clemson University.