Page 9 - First Coast Vol 4 No 1

“I learn something new on every case, ... I learn about who I am working with and I also learn about myself, such as how to communicate
a point better or not just how to communicate it better, but when to articulate it.”
than that, the subject was highly in- teresting to Shilts and he went on to get his master’s degree specializing in forensic accounting. A er a couple of years of working for international consulting and public accounting rms in New York City and Miami, he started his own rm approximately three-and-a-half years ago.
To date, the career achievement of which he is most proud was starting his own rm and ensuring that it has continued to prosper. “ ere was no promise of a paycheck going into this and I had a family and employees to provide for. It was a wonderful accom- plishment to be able to provide for my family and my sta . Even though we have been in business a short time, we have gained recognition in the mar- ketplace. It is extremely gratifying to get recognition from peers.”
In addition to his work for clients, Shilts is also a sought-a er confer- ence speaker on forensic accounting matters. He has spoken about fraud detection and prevention, risk man- agement, data analytics, tax implica- tions in divorce, nancial planning and other topics. He does an annual lecture to attorneys for CLE cred- its, educating them about case law throughout Florida and the country and giving details on speci c foren- sics-related matters. He also writes extensively on forensics, including ar- ticles that challenge current thinking on legal matters. Additionally, edu- cating and mentoring his sta so that they grow professionally and are the best they can be in supporting clients is a priority for Shilts.
Besides educating others, Shilts also educates himself, always seeking to stay up-to-date on the latest thoughts and developments in forensics and in the legal profession.
“I read trade journals constantly,” he says. “Part of practicing is not only developing your skills, but also challenging your own thoughts and understanding where those thoughts might have aws,” he says. “I also read academic articles. Academics play a big role in pushing the boundaries of how we think.”
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SPOTLIGHT
A young professional at age 37, Shilts has already handled hundreds of forensic investigations involving business and personal disputes, as well as cases dealing with identifying and mitigating fraudulent activities. Some examples of matters he has worked on include investigating a medical practice in which over $3 million in funds was misappropriated by an em- ployee, who was later arrested, assist- ing Florida state attorneys in investi- gating and subsequently litigating a multi-million-dollar healthcare fraud case, and leading an investigation into management abuse and fraud at a public service utility company. He also provides forensics assistance on high-net-worth divorce cases, part- nership disputes, bankruptcies and much more.
THRIVING FROM CHALLENGES
A focused problem-solver, the positive and forward-looking Shilts thrives on the challenges that his dynamic career provides. He views every issue he encounters during his never static workday as an opportuni- ty to not only resolve problems for his clients, but also to continually learn and grow himself.
“One of the reasons I love what I do is because I have constant change in a complex environment,” he says. “Every engagement is di erent. I am always getting new information and having to gain new understanding. I like the fact that as a forensic ac- countant, I am constantly tested and pushed to increase my knowledge and the capacity of my knowledge. I tell people I am like an emergency room doctor in the accounting world be- cause of all the unexpected and chal- lenging issues that are up.
“I learn something new on every
case,” he continues. “I learn about who I am working with and I also learn about myself, such as how to commu- nicate a point better or not just how to communicate it better, but when to articulate it. If I am working on a case involving a fraudster, for example, it is a cat and mouse game. I have to think about who is smarter and how I can outsmart the other side.”
Shilts is energized by the pressure that his line of work entails. He espe- cially enjoys what he calls the “pres- sure cooker” environment of being on the stand as an expert witness assist- ing attorneys.
“I like being challenged by other at- torneys or other experts,” he says. “I like that confrontational and adver- sarial kind of setting because I really get to show my chops and who I am as a professional. e strategy of a litiga- tion case is always evolving, and you have to have your ducks in a row.”
While Shilts enjoys the adversity his forensics career sometimes brings, as someone who genuinely likes and respects other people, he has real em- pathy for his clients and the serious issues they face.
“As problem solvers, what my team and I do can be very di cult and technical, but we understand that there is a bigger picture, and those are the real people involved in these cases,” he says.
DISCOVERING FORENSICS
Like a lot of people, Shilts sort of “fell” into his career. His original ca- reer goal was to become a corporate attorney. He was working on an ac- counting degree when he took a fo- rensic accounting class, thinking it would be interesting because it would be all about fraud investigations. While the class was much broader
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