The award aims to honour the best forensic talent in India and encourage more talented professionals across the corporate and Government sectors to join in.
The Fraud Investigation & Dispute Services vertical of EY—a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services—along with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Western Region Chapter, recently announced the flagship ‘Forensic Trailblazer Award’ to applaud this diverse brigade of anti-fraud professionals. This unique platform aims to honour the best forensic talent in India, as the country has lately seen a rapid rise in cases related to fraud, bribery and corruption in recent times, sparking the need to have specialists to secure and shield businesses.
Forensic professionals possess an eclectic mix of skill sets, ranging from roles across audit, risk, compliance, legal, security, finance, technology, human resources, accounts, vigilance, ethics, law enforcement as well as core forensic investigations. The ‘Forensic Trailblazer Award’ will not only look to reward an individual with the most promising mind but also, encourage more talented professionals across the corporate and Government sectors to join this burgeoning sphere.
Arpinder Singh, partner and national leader, Fraud Investigation & Dispute Services, EY says in this regard, “Global corporations and governments are under immense scrutiny to identify, tackle and mitigate growing risks, which could impact performance, revenue, business continuity and reputation. This has led to a surge in professionals from diverse backgrounds, foraying into the forensic ecosystem. The Forensic Trailblazer Award is intended to recognise individuals with extraordinary capabilities and enhance awareness about this niche field.”
EY’s Global Fraud Survey, ‘Corporate misconduct – individual consequences’ highlighted that 58 per cent of Indian respondents believe bribery and corruption happens widely in the country. Furthermore, one third of respondents stated that they do not flag fraud or corruption-related incidents due to loyalty to the company. This highlights the magnitude and severity of the current situation and scope to address existing challenges.
“The impact of fraud and corruption has affected corporate India, and is no longer overlooked as an ‘inevitable business evil’. With forensic professionals being key enablers to transform the risk environment and drive ethical change, it is important to commend their capabilities through a platform that will gain universal recognition,” adds Uday Shankar Dutt, former director general of police and former joint director, Central Bureau of Investigation.
The registrations for the Forensic Trailblazer Award are now open and nominations will be accepted till September 2. Participation is open for the private-, public- and Government-sector employees across functions, such as risk, compliance, legal, audit, security, operations, finance, accounts, HR, technology, vigilance, ethics, law enforcement, forensic and investigation. This includes law firms as well. The initiative will be held across three cities – Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi—and is open for participants from across India. An independent judging panel with industry stalwarts from investigation and enforcement background will evaluate participants, based on a written assessment. The winner will be felicitated at a gala award ceremony in Mumbai, in October this year.
