Christiana Zouzias, CPA

chris@zouzias.com | 630-470-9350

As a litigation consultant, Ms. Zouzias has managed a variety of business valuation assignments and complex financial analysis of commercial litigation engagements including breach of contract, shareholder dispute, fiduciary self-dealing, retaliatory discharge and business interruption, as well as patent infringement and trade secrets litigation.  Ms. Zouzias has also executed collaborative dispute resolution and mediation services, formulating settlements and financial scenarios that minimize and resolve conflict between parties, avoiding costly litigation through the court system. 

Ms. Zouzias has testified as an expert with respect to damages, lost profits, and self-dealing in business interruption, shareholder dispute, and guardianship cases.  She has assisted counsel in providing litigation management including discovery, deposition and cross-examination assistance, and preparation of trial testimony and trial exhibits. 

Ms. Zouzias has assisted organizations in operational and financial risk management analysis and internal controls development and implementation.  She has identified the underlying weaknesses in internal controls creating the opportunity for dishonest acts, analyzing risk tolerance, and developing solutions to manage and curtail risk.  Ms. Zouzias has designed and presented continuing education seminars in the prevention and detection of financial fraud for the Illinois CPA Society.

Ms. Zouzias has managed financial fraud investigations and quantified embezzlements via payroll fraud, cash/check substitution schemes, account receivables lapping/hiking, misappropriation of funds, collusion, bank fraud, financial statement misrepresentation, corruption, self-dealing, licensing revenue misstatements, and other accounting irregularities.  She has performed fraud and licensing revenue investigations for biotechnology, manufacturing, insurance, retail, and various service clients.

A detailed curriculum vitae is available upon request.

CERTIFICATION & EDUCATION

Mediation Certificate, DePaul University

Business Valuation Market Approach 203, American Society of Appraisers

Business Valuation Income Approach 202, American Society of Appraisers

Business Valuation Fundamentals, 201, American Society of Appraisers

Certified Public Accountant

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS AND ACTIVITIES

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  
  
• Illinois CPA Society (Consulting Services Executive Committee, Litigation Consulting Committee Chairwoman)
  
  
• Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois, Fellow Member
  
  
• Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois --Task Force for Training
  
  
• International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Fellow Member
  
  
• Illinois CPA Society Women's Executive Committee
  

ADDRESSES AND PUBLICATIONS

"Forensic Accounting Case Studies," presented at the Federal Financial Institutions Examination  Council?s, Advanced White Collar Crime Conference, Washington D.C. - 2000

"Red Flags of Financial Fraud," presented at the Illinois CPA Society, Chicago, IL ? 2001, 2002

"Interviewing Techniques," presented at the Illinois CPA Society, Chicago, IL ? 2001, 2002

" A Career in Forensic Accounting," presented at DePaul University as a panel discussion member,  Chicago, IL ? 2002

"Corporate Governance and Internal Controls," presented at Loyola University Graduate School of Business, Chicago, IL - 2002

"?Fraud 101:What Should I be Looking For?",   ?"Practice Advantage Newsletter," Illinois CPA Society, Vol.1 No.12,  November 30, 2002, 2003 Economic Crime Summit, National White Collar Crime Association.

"Doing Your Job:  Asking the 'Tough' Questions.  How to Elicit Information and Assess Truthfulness." "Practice Advantage Newsletter," Illinois CPA Society, Vol. 1, No.14, January 15, 2003, 2003 Economic Crime Summit, National White Collar Crime Association.

"A Case Study in Financial Fraud Analysis:  Embezzlement and its Subtle Trail?, presented at the Corporate Center for Financial Leadership, Illinois CPA Society, Chicago, Glenview, Oakbrook ? IL ? 2003.

"Internal Controls and the Finance Function", presented at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, Evanston, IL ? 2004.

"How to Prevent and Detect Fraud", presented at the Trends in Corporate Finance Conference for the Center for Corporate Financial Leadership, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri ? 2004.

"Preventing and Detecting Fraud Workshop," Scrutinize and Reduce Your Exposure, presented at United Community Bank, Hinsdale, IL ? 2004