The Investigative Accounting Group is a CPA firm in Atlanta, Georgia, that provides financial investigation and expert witness services to attorneys and their clients – businesses, government, not-for-profit organizations, and individuals.
The firm is headed by the husband and wife team of George and Laurie Dyke, who contribute diverse experience and knowledge and share a common philosophy of service and ethics. “Our mission is to have a positive impact and provide value for all of our clients in every case.”
Since its inception in 2003, the Investigative Accounting Group has experienced growth without sacrificing the personal service that the attorneys we work with have come to expect. Our criteria for hiring staff includes an evaluation of their character and ethics in addition to their technical abilities. We continue to strive to provide superior service and exceptional value for our clients.
Laurie G. Dyke, CPA/CFF, CFE, CFC
Laurie Dyke is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) , and Certified Forensic Consultant (CFC) with 25+ years experience as a financial investigator. She was an auditor and consultant with Ernst & Young, started and managed a consulting practice for a regional CPA firm, has ten years experience as a financial executive and is a business owner.
Laurie is the founder of IAG and currently manages the firm’s professional services, in addition to being the primary expert witness in litigation cases. She has been qualified as an expert witness in multiple jurisdictions, assisted in many mediations, testified at deposition and trial, participated in criminal prosecution and served as a court-appointed receiver.
She is a member of the American Institute of CPA’s, the Georgia Society of CPA’s, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the American College of Forensic Examiners International and the Collaborative Law Institute of Georgia. In 2011, Laurie is Chair of the Georgia Society of CPA’s (GSCPA) Fraud and Forensic Conference and vice chair of the Forensic and Valuation Services Section of the GSCPA. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a B.S. in Business Administration.
Laurie has taught many seminars and is available to speak on numerous subjects including preventing and detecting employee fraud, forensic accounting techniques, Georgia child support, working effectively with expert witnesses, and related topics.
George E. Dyke, MBA, CIA, CFE
George Dyke is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and has a MBA in Finance. He has a broad business background which includes professional experience in accounting, sales, and business ownership/management. George serves as the firm’s Operations Manager, in addition to providing client service. He is a member of the Georgia chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors and the Georgia chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, where he serves on the board of directors as treasurer. George graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration (BBA) and from Georgia State University with a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA).
Karen Fortune, CPA/CFF, MACC
Karen joined IAG as a Partner on May 16, 2011, after serving as a Partner in the forensic accounting and litigation services practice of Habif Arogetti & Wynne CPA firm for several years. She has approximately 20 years experience, including as an auditor and CFO for a biotechnology firm, prior to becoming a specialist in forensic accounting and litigation support. Karen has testified as an expert witness in Federal and State courts and has assisted attorneys on cases involving corporate internal investigations, fraud allegations and securities litigation, complex financial analyses, M&A disputes, the application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)., and other matters.
Karen is a member of the AICPA, chairs the Fraud Prevention and Detection Division of the Georgia Society of CPA’s FVS Section, is active in the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, and sits on the Board of Directors of various non-profit organizations. Karen has a Master’s degree in accounting from the University of Florida Fisher School of Business.
Michele Bruce, CPA/CFF, CFE
Michele Bruce is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and has been working full time in public accounting since 2004. She has a BBA and MBA from Brenau University. Before joining IAG in May 2009, Michele was a Supervisor at Bates, Carter & Co. in Gainesville, GA where she managed governmental audits and forensic accounting projects requiring complex tracing analysis. Michele is a member of the American Institute of CPA’s, the Georgia Society of CPAs, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and is active in the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers.
Emily Akers
Emily Akers graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a major in Accounting. She is a former CPA, held internal auditing positions of increasing responsibility at Wachovia Bank for 11 years and was an Audit Manager/AVP at the time she left Wachovia in 2000 to be a stay at home mom. Emily re-entered the workforce and joined IAG in March, 2007, as an analyst.
Lisa M. Showfety
Lisa Showfety truly offers a very unique view of client service, having previously employed the Investigative Accounting Group to help her with the financial aspects of her own divorce. She uses her own experience and skills to assist our clients through the often overwhelming divorce process. Her specialty is helping clients with organizing documents, budgeting, and preparing Domestic Relations Financial Affidavits (DRFA’s). She is also the firm’s billing manager. In addition to her work with IAG, she is a regular volunteer and speaker at Visions Anew Divorce Survival Weekends. Prior to joining IAG in 2006, Lisa was a Registered Dental Hygienist, involved in church and community activities and became a certified private investigator. She graduated with a B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Joanna Stallworth
Joanna Stallworth joined the Investigative Accounting Group in 2008 and is the firm’s Office Manager and Executive Assistant. Callers to our office usually hear Joanna’s friendly voice answering the phone and she is also the Calendar Queen, charged with keeping up with Laurie’s ever-changing schedule of activities.
Adrienne Kimbrell
Adrienne Kimbrell joined the Investigative Accounting Group in 2008 as our Document Management controller, bringing over thirty years experience in the accounting field. Having worked for government agencies and in the hospitality industry, she has a keen eye for increasing efficiencies with our document management and organization.