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Jim Kern

Partner Emeritus

410.900.1330  | 

As a Certified Fraud Examiner, Jim Kern, CPA, CFE, CVA, enjoys the puzzle-like aspects of fraud investigations as well as advising clients on how to deter fraud in the future.

 

YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW

Jim, a member of the Honorable Order of Blue Goose International, served as “Keeper of the Golden Goose Egg” (treasurer) and “Most Loyal Gander” (president) of the organization’s local chapter. (Side note: while Blue Goose does have a secret greeting, they don’t wear funny hats.)

Jim Kern, CPA, CFE, CVA, is a member of the firm’s Forensic, Valuation & Litigation Support Group. He specializes in fraud and embezzlement investigations, business interruption loss evaluations, insurance claims, evaluation of accountants’ malpractice, and calculations of the value of stolen or destroyed cash and inventory.

Enjoying the challenge of testifying as an expert witness, Jim knows how to pore through thousands of pages of documents to find the key evidence in a case and is always prepared to defend his position during cross examination.

Likewise, Jim enjoys the puzzle-like aspects of fraud investigation. Jim helps clients determine how a fraud was committed in their business – and how the perpetrator concealed the fraud – by piecing together past actions. He also advises clients on best practices that help deter fraud and unethical actions in the workplace.

In addition to being a CPA, Jim earned the designation of Certified Fraud Examiner from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. He is also Certified in Financial Forensics by the American Institute of CPAs.

Education

  • Bachelor of science degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting, Towson University (1981)

Affiliations

  • American Institute of CPAs
  • Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
  • BKR International
  • Mariners of the Bay
  • Maryland Association of CPAs
  • National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts
  • National Capital Pond of the Honorable Order of the Blue Goose, International
  • Pennsylvania Association of Mutual Insurance Companies

More Fun Facts

  • Jim loves to golf and he also loves the beach, but he tries not to combine the two because hitting golf balls out of the sand is no fun.

Articles By Jim

Calculating an Individual’s Lost Earnings and Benefits: Know the Facts

Economic damages claimed by individuals in cases arising from personal injury, wrongful death, wrongful employment termination and employment discrimination typically include lost earnings and fringe benefits. Attorneys frequently retain CPAs as expert witnesses to determine the amount of those economic damages and to provide expert witness testimony. Let’s look at the role of a CPA as an expert in these cases.

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Dissipation of Marital Assets in Divorce: Red Flags to Look For

Divorce is considered to be one of the most stressful events that people may encounter in their lifetime, even more so if there is significant hostility between the spouses. As a result of the adversarial nature of divorce, the parties involved might behave irrationally or even vindictively, especially when it comes to their finances. There is the possibility that one or both spouses may not be entirely forthcoming or truthful about their financial situation during litigation. During divorce settlements, common areas of concern are undisclosed assets or the understatement of income, but another potential fraud area that should be considered is the dissipation of marital assets.

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Hiring a CPA Expert: Why to Do It Sooner Rather Than Later

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) financial expert can provide valuable assistance to attorneys throughout the discovery phase of a litigation case. Cases involving economic damages often depend on documents to establish or disprove the amount of the plaintiff’s damages. A financial expert gathers, analyzes and evaluates information from documents to calculate damages, and to provide expert testimony opining as to the amount of damages. When is the right time to hire your CPA expert? The answer is simple: sooner rather than later. Let’s consider why.

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