Knowledge and Insights

Mercadien Is Inaugural Sponsor Of Drexel University Accounting Fraud Case Competition

February 2015

Drexel University

The Mercadien Group is pleased to announce that it is the Inaugural Sponsor and Frank Pina, CPA, CFF, CFE, CGMA, managing director; principal in Mercadien P.C., Certified Public Accountants; and a leader of its Forensic & Litigation Support Group, will be one of the highly-regarded judges for Drexel University’s Fraud & Internal Controls Case Competition (FIC3), a day-long event hosted by the Accounting Department of the LeBow College of Business, on February 13, 2015.  Mr. Pina is also a headliner for the competition’s kick-off event on February 5th, where he will co-present “Tales from the Hard Drive,” about his experiences in the field with fraud, internal controls and accounting.

The competition provides students with experiential learning about the implications of fraudulent financial reporting through realistic case analysis, and an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the accounting process, internal control systems, and the value and relevance of the COSO (Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission) 2013 Internal Control Framework, which became effective on December 15, 2014.

Mr. Pina is a certified public accountant and fraud examiner, highly experienced in the fields of corporate accounting and forensic investigations, fraud detection, bankruptcy and reorganization, and civil and criminal litigation support.  Certified in financial forensics and a chartered global management accountant, he has worked with large international law firms and federal, state and local law enforcement and government agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, NJ Attorney General’s Office, and the  Philadelphia City Controller’s Office.

A graduate of Drexel University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with dual concentrations in Accounting and Marketing, Pina serves on the boards or is an active member of many professional forensic and accounting organizations. He is a frequent presenter and author on a variety of topics related to fraud detection, corporate investigations, forensic interviewing and internal controls.

The Mercadien Group is a family of companies created to serve the diverse and sophisticated needs of clients in a capacity greater than any single organization can offer. Comprised of six distinct entities and over 120 employees, the firm provides accounting, auditing, tax planning and compliance, management consulting, technology, wealth management, outsourcing, and investment banking services. A team of trusted advisors working together in one place, The Mercadien Group shares a broad knowledge base and creates seamless solutions that meet clients’ personal and business objectives. Learn more at Mercadien.com.