Ross Whyte

KordaMentha is an independent advisory firm with one of the largest teams of forensic investigators, forensic accountants, and forensic technology specialists in the Asia-Pacific region.

In my current role, I have worked on a range of engagements, including economic loss, disputes, valuations, investigations, forensic payroll audits, and crypto tracings.

My work routinely involves preparing expert evidence and advisory reports that are relied upon across a range of Australian courts and legal jurisdictions.

Some of my key responsibilities include:

Forensic Analysis & Dispute Resolution

• Lead the development of financial models to assess economic damages, including comparisons between actual and hypothetical (counterfactual) scenarios.
• Apply discounted cash flow techniques and calculate net present values to quantify lost earnings and financial impacts.
  Draft independent expert reports and critically evaluate opposing expert opinions, models, and source data.
• Reconstruct and validate financial models, ensuring completeness and accuracy of underlying financial information.
• Translate complex financial and legal data into clear, actionable insights for litigation and dispute resolution.
  Valuation & Financial Modelling
  Conduct market research using platforms such as S&P Capital IQ to identify comparable companies and assess asset and equity betas.
  Prepare valuation models including weighted average cost of capital (WACC) calculations and comparability assessments.
  Draft valuation reports that support strategic decision-making, regulatory compliance, and litigation support.
  
• Investigations & Asset Tracing
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  Build and manage Excel-based models to flag, categorize, and summarize financial transactions from bank statements and other records.
  Trace financial flows including deposits and withdrawals, and prepare audit logs and summary schedules to support investigative findings.
  Analyze transaction patterns and prepare structured documentation to support forensic investigations and regulatory reviews.
  Forensic Payroll Audits
  Manage multiple audit workstreams, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to budget and work-in-progress (WIP) targets.
  Oversee and review junior staff contributions, ensuring accuracy and consistency in audit testing and documentation.
  Conduct manual compliance testing and investigate anomalies, drafting detailed reports and file notes to summarize findings.
  Engage with clients through meetings and correspondence to address audit issues and communicate results effectively.
  Personal Injury & Economic Loss Assessment
  Develop financial models to assess personal income loss and future earnings potential using discounted cash flow techniques.
  Review financial documentation and opposing expert reports to support compensation claims and legal proceedings.
  Draft clear and defensible reports for use in personal injury litigation and insurance assessments.

Cryptocurrency and Digital Asset Tracing

Utilize blockchain analytics tools, such as Chainalysis, to trace cryptocurrency transactions across wallets and exchanges.
Prepare detailed reports, appendices, and explanatory notes to communicate findings to legal, regulatory, and non-technical audiences.
Support investigations involving digital assets, fraud, and financial misconduct in emerging financial ecosystems.
Stakeholder Engagement & Business Development
Plan and coordinate professional networking events targeting young professionals and industry peers.
Maintain outreach lists, attend planning sessions, and participate in internal and external networking activities.
Build relationships through informal catch-ups and strategic engagement, contributing to brand visibility and business growth.
Deliver presentations, author policy responses, and collaborate with stakeholders on marketing and thought leadership initiatives.

Nexia Australia (now Moore Australia) is an international mid-tier accounting firm with teams across auditing, business services, corporate finance, and forensic services.

In my role, I worked as an undergraduate accountant while studying for my dual degree in Accounting and Law. My role included 2 to 3 days a week during the university semester, and full-time work during breaks.

During my time at Nexia, I primarily worked within the Forensics team. However, during busy periods, I also completed a fairly significant amount of work with the Audit and Business Advisory Teams.