Job Type: Fixed-price or Hourly (open to discussion)
Experience Level: Expert
Location: Open (experience with Canadian construction accounting preferred)
Overview
I am seeking an experienced forensic accountant to conduct a detailed review of financial statements, invoices, progress billings, and supporting documentation related to a residential construction project.
The purpose of this engagement is to identify errors, inconsistencies, overbillings, unsupported charges, misallocations, or deviations from contract terms in preparation for a potential legal claim against the builder.
This is not basic bookkeeping — I am specifically looking for someone with forensic, investigative, or litigation-support experience, ideally with exposure to construction or real estate disputes.
Scope of Work
The successful candidate will be asked to:
Review construction invoices, progress draws, change orders, and cost summaries
Analyze financial statements and reconciliations provided by the builder
Identify:
Overbilling or double billing
Charges inconsistent with the construction contract
Unsupported or poorly documented costs
Timing issues (front-loading, premature billing, etc.)
Mathematical or allocation errors
Cross-reference billed amounts to:
Contract terms
Approved change orders
Actual work completed (to the extent documents allow)
Prepare a clear, defensible summary of findings suitable for:
Legal counsel review
Settlement discussions
Potential litigation or expert use
Deliverables
Written report outlining:
Key findings and discrepancies
Supporting calculations and evidence references
Clear explanations understandable by non-accountants
Annotated schedules or spreadsheets showing disputed amounts
Optional: input suitable for affidavits or expert reports (if qualified)
Ideal Candidate
CPA, CA, CMA, or equivalent designation strongly preferred
Demonstrated experience in forensic accounting or litigation support
Experience with construction accounting, progress billings, or cost-plus contracts is a major asset
Comfortable working with incomplete or messy records
Able to explain complex findings clearly and objectively
Independent, detail-oriented, and credible under scrutiny
To Apply, Please Include
Brief summary of your forensic accounting experience
Examples of similar work (construction disputes, overbilling reviews, expert reports, etc.)
Whether you have acted as (or supported) an expert witness
Your proposed approach to an engagement like this
Estimated timeline and fee structure (initial review phase)
Additional Notes
All materials will be provided under confidentiality
This engagement may expand depending on findings
Strong, well-documented work will be relied upon by legal counsel