Finance Monthly Global Awards 2018 Edition

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS ADVISER OF THE YEAR Personal Bio James Helme has over 12 years of forensic accounting experience specialising in financial investigations. He is a Chartered Accountant, a Certified Fraud Examiner, and an accredited Financial Intelligence Officer. In his capacity as a National Crime Agency (NCA) Special he often carries out pro bono work on criminal matters supporting the NCA’s Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) investigations into money laundering. His services include; asset tracing, understanding and explaining corporate structures, reviewing accounting records, and preparing quantum calculations in anticipation of recovery. James has prepared numerous reports for Court and has given evidence in a money laundering criminal trial. Similarly James, and Grant Thornton, are frequently engaged by corporates or individuals (and their intermediaries) to assist with fraud related matters. Notable examples include: - Preparing a factual report for submission to a UK police force documenting how a fraud at a large international corporation was perpetrated - Appointed by a Middle East Sovereign Wealth Fund to extract necessary evidence from the accounting records and assess the true financial picture of an Indian rice producer. James worked closely with the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police on this US$200m matter - Prepared a report for a police force assessing the commercial viability, and therefore potential fraudulent nature, of a collective investment scheme (CIS) operated by ex-law enforcement personnel - Prepared an expert investigation report for the SFO into revenue recognition practices and understanding the amounts paid outside of the normal contractual terms James regularly works with his colleagues from the Grant Thornton International network and is currently engaged on a Middle East matter with criminal facets. Firm Profile Grant Thornton UK has a forensic team comprising of over 100 specialists in seven locations. We pride ourselves on our collaborative approach to working with our clients’ internal teams, their wider stakeholders and external advisers. Our track-record means that we frequently work on the most complicated, sensitive and high profile matters. Our approach ensures: • meaningful access to senior investigators; • optimally sized teams of experts; • clear concise reports; and • access to sector and other subject matter specialists across the wider Grant Thornton network, to combine forensic accounting and situation specific expertise. Grant Thornton is a leading global professional services network, and the UK team regularly works with Grant Thornton International Limited member firms. This gives us on the ground presence in over 130 jurisdictions, 32 of which have dedicated forensic teams (comprising more than 500 professionals). The solutions we provide include fraud risk assessments and prevention, investigations of fact, data hosting and review, corporate intelligence, data collections and preservation, data analytics and remediation. Corporates, law firms, regulators, law enforcement agencies and governments ask us to lead independent investigations regarding: - fraud and asset dissipation - bribery and corruption - money laundering/counter terrorism financing - cybercrime - accounting and tax anomalies - regulatory breaches - contract reviews and the right of audit - commercial disputes - acute investment or value decline JAMES HELME AREAS OF EXPERTISE - Criminal investigations - Global Financial investigations - Forensic accounting services - Anti-Bribery & Corruption and Fraud prevention Contact James Helme, Associate Director, Forensic, Grant Thornton UK LLP Address: 30 Finsbury Square London, EC2P 2YU Tel: +44 020 7865 2487 Email: James.Helme@uk.gt.com UNITED KINGDOM Finance Monthly Global Awards 2017 www.finance-monthly.com 41