Forensic Cleanup · Nonprofits & Research Organizations
Understand what happened.
Move forward with clearer records.
Balances that don’t make sense. Reconciliations that never quite resolve. Transactions carried forward without a clear explanation.
Pennies Count traces historical accounting discrepancies, works through the supporting records, and documents agreed corrections so leadership can see what has been resolved and what still needs attention.
When the records need a closer look
You need more than an adjusted balance.
You need to understand the difference, the evidence behind the correction, and the questions that remain. Forensic Cleanup is a defined project to address historical accounting issues within an agreed period and scope.
For nonprofit leaders
Unexplained account balances, inconsistent program classifications, restricted funding records that don’t reconcile, or unresolved items left behind after staff transitions can make financial decisions harder.
We work through the agreed records and document the basis for corrections and any remaining limitations.
For research leaders
Personnel allocations, project charges, award balances, billing records, and closeout schedules may tell different stories across systems or periods.
We trace agreed discrepancies across the available accounting and project records so corrections have a documented basis.
A forensic-minded approach
Trace. Reconcile. Document.
01 · UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE
Follow the records
Trace unexplained balances and transactions to available source documents, reconciliations, and supporting schedules. Identify where the records disagree and what can be substantiated.
02 · ADDRESS THE ACCOUNTING
Work through corrections
Reconcile agreed accounts, investigate discrepancies, and prepare supported corrections to classifications or allocations. Management reviews and approves accounting changes before they are posted.
03 · MAKE THE WORK UNDERSTANDABLE
Leave a clear record
Reconstruct supporting schedules where the records permit and explain the work in plain English, including unresolved items, missing evidence, and priorities for follow-up.
The work follows the evidence available. Missing records and uncertain balances are identified explicitly; unsupported adjustments are not used simply to make an account balance.
What you receive
A documented path from concern to resolution.
Accounting work you can follow
- Reconciliations and supporting schedules for the agreed accounts and periods.
- Proposed or approved corrections, with their supporting basis and approval status.
- A record of the items addressed and the information used.
A practical handoff for leadership
- A plain-English summary of what was resolved.
- An unresolved-items list showing evidence gaps and matters requiring decisions.
- Priority observations for your accounting team and separately scoped support where needed.
Deliverables are tailored to the agreed engagement. Management retains responsibility for accounting decisions, approvals, and its financial records.
How we begin
Start with the concern. Define the work together.
01 · TALK IT THROUGH
Bring what you know
Share the question, the history, or the balance you can’t explain. You don’t need an accounting diagnosis to begin.
02 · AGREE THE SCOPE
Set clear boundaries
We consider the records, systems, accounts, periods, and complexity before proposing the work, deliverables, and fee.
03 · WORK & HANDOFF
Keep the outcome visible
We work through the agreed issues, obtain management approval for changes, and provide a documented handoff of resolutions and open items.
Project-based pricing. Fees are quoted after the records, periods, and complexity are understood. Additional periods or issues require an agreed change in scope.
Choose the right support
A clear purpose for each engagement.
Forensic Cleanup
Hands-on historical accounting remediation within a defined scope. Ongoing bookkeeping is outside this service.
Specialized Reviews
A focused evaluation of a defined concern, with findings and priorities. Cleanup and implementation are separately scoped.
Explore Specialized Reviews →Independent Internal Audit
Governance-authorized evaluation and reporting, with independence established before work begins. Cleanup work does not provide independent assurance over the records corrected.
Explore Internal Audit →“Forensic” describes our evidence-focused approach to accounting remediation. This service is not a fraud investigation, legal determination, financial statement audit, or attestation review, and provides no audit opinion or assurance conclusion. Concerns requiring an investigation are discussed and separately scoped or referred as appropriate.
Pennies Count brings more than 20 years of nonprofit accounting experience, a Master’s degree in Forensic Accounting, and prior public accounting experience auditing nonprofit organizations.
What’s on your mind?
You don’t have to know what the problem is to start the conversation.
Bring the unanswered question or the records you’ve inherited. We’ll listen without judgment and talk through an appropriate next step for your nonprofit or research organization.