The Lost Coin
Faithful in the search, steadfast in the solution.
Lynnete Rhodes
Lynette began her accounting career with then prestigious Arthur Andersen & Co as an auditor. She spent nearly 10 years in various internal audit, accounting, and finance positions at Hewlett-Packard Company, and also has extensive experience as a real estate investor. She has prepared hundreds of individual and corporate tax returns and payroll tax filings. More recently, she spent two years in New Orleans performing fraud investigation and forensic accounting work for the largest class-action court ordered settlement program in the history of the United States. She also spent nearly a year investigating allegations of embezzlement at a closely-held family business, identifying stolen funds in excess of $1.6 million along with fraudulently filed corporate tax returns and quarterly payroll reports. From her public accounting roots at the largest and most respected global accounting firm in the world to her years in Corporate America to her consulting experience with small family businesses, Lynette has developed a proven track record as a well-rounded finance professional.
TaxCure
Education and Certification
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
University of Illinois at Champaign — Class of 1985
Master of Science in Economic Crime Management
Utica College, New York
(CPA) Certified Public Accountant
(CFE) Certified Fraud Examiner
(CFF) Certified in Financial Forensics
Foundamentals of Forensic Accounting Certificate (AICPA)
The Parable of the lost coin
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and
search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together
and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing
in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
-Luke 8-10 NIV
The parable of the lost coin illustrates the diligence and care required to recover what is valuable, no matter how small. Just as the woman lights a lamp and searches tirelessly until the coin is found, a CPA, CFE, and CFF approaches financial records with the same persistence—tracking discrepancies, uncovering hidden truths, and restoring integrity to the numbers.
Forensic accounting is about more than balancing books; it is about protecting trust. Each missing entry or unexplained transaction can reveal deeper issues, and the joy of resolution mirrors the rejoicing in the parable. By treating every detail as significant, this professional ensures accuracy, transparency, and justice, bringing clarity where it was once lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
“Character is much easier kept than recovered.” – Thomas Paine