Biography

Masako Asaka has over 18 years of forensic accounting and auditing experience, specializing in fraud investigations and regulatory compliance work. Her expertise includes Foreign Corrupt Practices Act/Anti-Bribery & Corruption, securities fraud, fraud risk management, third party/pre-acquisition due diligence, Anti-Money Laundering and foreclosure review for clients in a variety of industries. Masako works with external and in-house counsel, as well as management of companies to address their concerns, and has broad experience dealing with US regulators in her career.  

Masako was a lead director of a Monitorship of an automotive engineering company in which FRA’s founding partner was a DOJ-appointed independent compliance monitor. The monitorship mandate included an evaluation of the company’s implementation and enforcement of its corporate compliance, technical compliance and ethics program.

Her other previous experience includes:

  • Serving as a lead director of an aviation supply company Monitorship in which FRA was retained to provide forensic accounting support to a DOJ-appointed monitor throughout all phases of the monitorship, delivering particular expertise in respect of the company’s internal controls and compliance environment. Over the course of the monitorship, FRA worked with the company’s compliance functions, performing FCPA compliance testing and reviews across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and US.
  • Providing accounting support to independent Co-Monitors related to an enforcement action by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) for a member
    firm of a global network accounting firm which involved reviewing and assessing the audit firm’s design and execution of its system of quality control, evaluating Tone at the Top, ethics helpline system, training programs and preparing detailed reports related to observations, findings and recommendations.

Prior to joining FRA, Masako was a Director of KPMG LLP’s Forensic Service, where she was involved in various fraud and FCPA investigations. Before she became a forensic accountant, Masako was as an auditor at KPMG, providing financial statement audit services to clients for over four years, and gaining experience in financial statement audits, SOX and internal control testing. During a short-term assignment in Japan, she assisted JSOX and SOX implementation of Japanese companies.

Masako is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and holds a Certified in Financial Forensics designation from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations.

Authority experience

Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB)
US Department of Justice (DOJ)
US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Awards & Recognition

2023 Thought Leader Global Elite - Forensic Accountants, Who's Who Legal

2023 Global Leader - Consulting Experts - Forensic Accounting, Who's Who Legal

Accreditations

Certified Fraud Examiner
Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF)
Certified Public Accountant
Member of Women’s White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA)

Languages

English
Japanese

News and insights

Event

FRA International Senior Leaders Recognized in Who’s Who Legal Consulting Experts 2023

Event

FRA Women’s Network Paint & Sip Evening

News

FRA Support the United Way of the National Capital Area Initiative