Masako Asaka has over 16 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, compliance and fraud risk management, third party/pre-acquisition due diligence, Anti-Money Laundering and foreclosure review for clients in variety of industries.
Masako has provided 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 in connection with a PCAOB enforcement action which included 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.
Masako is currently 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 has been working with the company’s compliance functions, performing FCPA compliance testing and reviews across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and U.S.
Prior to joining FRA, Masako was a Director of KPMG LLP’s Forensic Services where she was involved in various fraud and FCPA investigations. Masako worked with external and internal counsel, as well as management of companies to address their concerns.
Before she became a forensic accountant, Masako was as an auditor at KPMG LLP where she provided financial statement audit services to clients for over four years. During her tenure as an auditor, she gained experience in financial statement audits, SOX and internal control testing. She had a short term assignment in Japan where she assisted JSOX and SOX implementation of Japanese companies.
Masako is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and also holds the designation Certified in Financial Forensics 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.
Masako is a native Japanese speaker, and is based in FRA’s Washington, DC office.