Areas of Expertise

  • Trust and Estates
  • Forensic Accounting
  • Accounting Malpractice
  • Damages & Lost Profits
  • Business Interruption Claims
  • White Collar Crime
  • Ponzi Schemes
  • Fraud & Internal Investigations
  • Shareholder & Post Acquisition Disputes
  • Neutral, Trustee & Interim CFO

Industries

  • Entertainment & Restaurants
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance
  • Insurance
  • Homeowners’ Associations
  • Healthcare
  • Government Entities
  • Not for profits
  • Manufacturing, Wholesale & Retail

Prominent Cases

  • Expert for Plaintiff alleging failed design in manufacturing system of snacks resulting in $21M jury award
  • Expert in reconstruction of an estate worth over $300M resulting in judge accepting my analysis as the basis for the damages
  • Whistleblower investigation resulting in the successful resolution of 16 government agencies auditing the NFP, stepped in as interim CFO and the company is still a going concern
  • Interim CFO of a troubled Public Insurance Company
  • Investigation into a business manager’s alleged theft of several famous athletes resources that resulted in the successful prosecution of the business manager

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Accounting, California University of Northridge, 1991

Designations

  • CPA
  • CFF
  • CFE
  • CGMA
  • CITP

Experience

  • 26 Years of Relevant Experience

Biography

Jennifer Benjamin (fka Ziegler) is a leading forensic accounting and internal investigations expert with more than 25 years of experience. She serves as a trusted advisor in matters and has a well-earned reputation for conducting in-depth financial research and analysis, investigating and gathering evidence, and serving as an expert witness in settlements, mediations, trials, and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. She has testified as an expert in both federal and state courts in cases involving accounting malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, business valuation disputes, fraud investigations, breach of contract, post-acquisition and earn out disputes, Trust and Estate which includes consulting and expert services that address complex business challenges regarding financial reporting and accounting issues, governmental and regulatory inquires, fraud and corruption, damage determination and white-collar crime.

Jennifer is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in California, Certified in Financial Forensics, a Chartered Global Management Accountant, Certified Information Technology Professional (all issued by the AICPA) and is a Certified Fraud Examiner (issued by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners). Ms. Benjamin graduated from California State University of Northridge in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business with an emphasis in Accounting. Prior to joining B. Riley Advisory Services (formerly GlassRatner), Jennifer held senior leadership positions with a international consulting firm and was a Partner at two public accounting firms.

Jennifer is a past Chair of the Board of Directors of the California Society of CPAs (CalCPA) in 2015/2016, a past member of the Board of Trustees of the CALCPA Education Foundation, past member and chair of CalCPA's Government Relations Committee, a member of the CalCPA's Forensic Services Section and a past Chair of the Fraud Section, a current member of CalCPA Council, past member of the AICPA nominations committee and past member of the AICPA Council for nine years. Jennifer currently is the Vice Chair of the Enforcement Advisory Committee of the California Board of Accountancy, which is an appointed position. She has also held many positions for many different not for profits providing services to the community including Domestic Violence, free services at the Los Angeles Law Library, providing books to children and income tax preparation for low income earners