Insights: Frank Pina

The Mercadien Group congratulates managing director and co-chair of its Forensic & Litigation Support Services Group, Mr. Frank Pina, CPA, CFF, CFE, CGMA, who was bestowed the Distinguished Achievement Award for meritorious service in the detection and deterrence of fraud by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ (ACFE) Board of Regents at the 26th Annual…

Whether between partners in life or partners in business, disagreements are inevitable.  As with those in life, some business relationships become irreparable, ultimately leading to a business divorce.  This is a term used to describe a situation where partners split for one reason or another, often resulting in lengthy and expensive litigation.  Many who have…

Traditionally, social media was known as a web-based platform that allowed users to create, share or exchange information through virtual communities and networks. Today, the number and types of social media, and the people using them, continue to rise. It has been found, however, that employees often present a very different persona on social media…

Princeton, NJ & Philadelphia, PA – The Mercadien Group is pleased to announce recent significant accomplishments by the two managing directors, Donald F. Conway, CPA, and Frank A. Pina, CPA, CFF, CFE, CGMA, who jointly lead the Forensic & Litigation Support Services Group, related to their specialized skills and client service in bankruptcy, forensic accounting…

Princeton, NJ and Philadelphia, PA – The Mercadien Group is pleased to announce that Mr. Frank Pina, CPA, CFF, CFE, CGMA, a managing director and the co-chair of the Forensic and Litigation Support Services Group, was selected to receive the Champion CPA Award by the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public…

In the last decade, there were numerous reports of fraudulent acts committed by school officials, many resulting in criminal indictments and jail sentences for the perpetrators, as well as significant monetary costs and adverse publicity for the victimized school districts.  More recent media headlines identifying fraud in schools again remind us that investigative audits are…

Internal audits serve to provide independent assurance that a company’s risk management, governance and control processes are operating effectively, and address issues that are fundamentally important to the survival and prosperity of the organization.  For example, internal auditors often look beyond financial information and consider broader issues such as the company’s reputation, competitive landscape, environmental…

Over the years, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) has consistently estimated that occupational fraud costs the typical organization 5% of its revenue annually. In its most recent biennial report on occupational fraud, the ACFE found that the median loss caused by fraud was a whopping $145,000. Clearly, no organization can afford to ignore…

Recent headlines involving fraud, waste, and abuse within the public sector serve as constant reminders that conducting proactive audits in organizations are critical to cultivating success and accountability.  These audits may uncover issues and identify findings that give rise to the need for an in-depth forensic investigation.  The role of CPAs has expanded to include investigative accounting…

Employee dishonesty has long been defined as the intentional misappropriation of cash or merchandise from a company by an employee. Recent trends, however, point to a dynamic shift in these acts and a more complex definition, mainly to include increasingly sophisticated fraudulent schemes spanning several years and often involving financial professionals and the use of…