User:Rwester

Curriculum Vitae

Richard L. Wester, CFE 212 SE 8th Street Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316 Telephone: (954) 524-2922 Facsimile: (954) 524-2927 E-Mail: Web Site: http:/www.FloridaCFE.Com Background:

Forensic Accounting and Investigative Services, LLC 1999 to Present

Managing Principal for the Company:  Established legal entity with the Accounting Firm of Barnes, Van Vorst, Reposa, Gosnell and Indowsky to provide: Risk Assessments, Forensic Examination of Financial Representations, Audits, Due Diligence Audits, Damage Calculations, Manage and investigate allegations of Fraud, Business Damages, Valuations, Settlement Negotiations, Mediation, Location of Hidden Assets, Insurance Damage Calculations, Analysis of Claim, Reconstruct Accounting records, Expert Witness Testimony, Identification of Departures from Professional Standards or Customary Business Practices, Ethics Violations or International Investigations to the Public. 

CPA Firm of Barnes, Van Vorst, Reposa, Gosnell and Indowsky P.A. 1997 to 1999 Associate: Charged with developing a Legal Support Section for the Firm. Responsible to work with Attorneys, CPAs, CFEs, Law Enforcement, and Private Investigators in providing the following services: Risk Assessments, Forensic Examination of Financial Representations, Audits, Due Diligence Audits, Damage Calculations, Manage and investigate allegations of Fraud, Business Damages, Valuations, Settlement Negotiations, Mediation, Location of Hidden Assets, Insurance Damage Calculations, Analysis of Claim, Reconstruct Accounting records, Expert Witness Testimony, Identification of Departures from Professional Standards or Customary Business Practices, Ethics Violations or International Investigations.

First Union National Bank 1995 to 1997 Vice President Operations: Responsible for low and mid speed processing of payments of commercial accounts (lockbox) and three cash Operation Centers. Supervised 90 people satisfying cash orders and deposits for over 700 commercial customers, 33 corresponding banks and 270 Bank Branches. Directly responsible for managing customer relations, the day to day operations, interface with internal departments, and external vendors. The operating budgets for these functions totaled over 2.4 million dollars.

American Savings of Florida, FSB 1994 to 1995 Vice President Investigations and Security: Managed the bank’s internal and external investigations as well as physical security issues with a staff of 13 and an annual operating budget of 1.2 million dollars. Guided and directed bank investigators concerning credit card, non credit and credit fraud investigations. Worked with Senior Managers and customers to develop policies and procedures to reduce losses to the bank. Revamped the Central Proprietary Station (ADT Central Scan) and branch alarm systems, physical equipment, and operating procedures. Situational authority over the Building Management and Bank Appraisal Departments. Trained other investigative officers in such areas as investigative procedures, ethics, valuations, and recovery methods.

First Union Corporation 1987 to 1994 Assistant Vice President, Audit Manager/Special Investigative Officer: Worked with Senior Management, Law Enforcement and other Financial Institutions to resolve cases of credit fraud, non-credit fraud and defalcations in South Florida. Worked with bank management to revamp policy and procedures to reduce the incidences of losses to the bank. Managed Fraud and Compliance Audits and reviewed questionable Consumer and Business loans for value and evidence of fraud. Recommended options of default, buyout or foreclosure concerning loans not deemed fraudulent to the Bank Management or managed the asset recovery process in cases determined to be fraudulent.

Citibank of Florida 1981 to 1986 Director of Security and Investigations: Responsible for the Bank’s investigative process and compliance with the Bank Protection and Secrecy Act. Managed 32 people and a budget of 1.2 million dollars per year. Coordinated the actions of outside legal with internal departments to recover full value of assets belonging to the Bank. Designed and maintained the Bank’s Security, Central Monitoring, and related equipment. Financial Planning and Budget Manager: Responsibility of directing and forecasting bank operational and business costs. Managed the organization’s operating and capital budgets. Directed four analysts and a budget of $200,000 per year.

United Brands 1977 to 1981 Division Operations Manager for Engineering: Managed payrolls, data input, and engineering operations for a 15 thousand-acre banana plantation. Managed 84 people and a budget of $4 million dollars. Presented the Divisions Operating Reports, Operations Budget and Capital Appropriations Budget to Corporate Management.

United States Air Force Management and Budget Officer for Maintenance: Managed and prepared operating reports, statistical performance studies, and manpower analysis for both the Wing and Headquarters Levels. Managed the installation of the Maintenance Management Information and Control Systems for the Southern Command.

Education: BS in Business from Florida State University. Graduate hours at Oklahoma University and Nova Southeastern University in Business and Accounting. Other: 1. Air Force commendation medal for statistical studies of aircraft ECM equipment. 2. Understand and speak Spanish. 3. Professional Associate Member of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. (Membership Number 74635). 4. Nationally Certified Fraud Examiner 20 CPE hours annually since 1989. 5. Graduated Reed School of Interview Techniques (1995). 6. Security Committee Member (1998) of the Florida International Bankers Association 7. Private Investigator (License Number C-98-00659) 8. Concealed Weapon or Firearm License (Number W 2017064) 9. Have testified as an expert in banking in both State and Federal Courts 10. Have testified as an expert witness for Business Valuations, Banking and Fraud. 11. Selected to teach advanced Fraud Investigation Techniques to the City of Miami Fraud Investigation Unit (1998). 12. Selected by the State of Florida Office of the Auditor General’s Office to do reviews of Remedial Action work performed for the In-Land Protection Trust fund. 13. Led the Investigative team selected by the Legislator of the State of Oklahoma to review and evaluate their Super Fund Clean Up program (2003). 14. Preformed work for the Attorney General for the State of Florida. 15. Guest lecturer at: Florida Atlantic University – School of Business. University of Miami – School of Law. 16. Member of the Nova Southeastern University Planned Giving Council. 17. Appeared on WLRN Television “The Business Exchange” with Dr. Stephen Goldstein. 18. Written-up in ”Accounting Today”, “South Florida Business Journal” and “Business in Broward” magazine. 19. Member of the Florida Association of Licensed Investigators 20. Round Table Scholar with the “Round Table Group” in the area of Fraud, Banking and Forensic Accounting. 21. Member of the Society of Industry Leaders 22. Chairman, Finance Committee, St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church (2007).