This month Ben and Heather talk to forensic accountant Suzanne Delbridge about valuing a business when separating.

Suzanne Delbridge is the Director and Founder of Delbridge Forensic Accounting in Newcastle and a very experienced forensic accountant.  For listeners who may not know, a forensic account is specially trained to prepare financial information for a court of law.

At the start of the podcast, Suzanne clarified exactly what a forensic accountant does and why they are absolutely critical when valuing a business.  Ben and Heather then delved into the following questions with Suzanne:

When is it appropriate to use a forensic account, rather than simply using your company or personal accountant? (Clue:  it's never appropriate to use your company or personal accountant to value a business in divorce proceedings!)

What are the different methods of valuation?

How does an accountant differentiate between a business with significant value and one that is just a vehicle for owner income?

Why do we sometimes see a business valued at close to nothing, when similar businesses are advertised a high prices?

How do forensic accountants take into account lack of control or difficulty of sale when valuing a portion of a shared business?

Can a forensic accountant identify if a business is being used to hide wealth?

Do forensic accountants need to be involved in valuing self managed superannuation funds?

Can the settlement structure in a divorce really make a significant difference to either party's tax bill?