Sean Holohan

About Sean Holohan

Professional Experience

Sean leads Protiviti’s Integrity Risk practice in the UK, bringing over ten years experience investigating fraud and money laundering and advising on how to reduce the threat of fraud.

Sean trained as an external auditor with KPMG during which time he gained exposure to systems and internal controls reviews for organisations across the industry spectrum. After qualifying, Sean used his experiences to focus on targeted process reviews with the internal audit delivery teams. It was at this stage that he began to specialise on fraud risk and building anti-fraud programmes.

Sean was subsequently employed at Andersen as a fraud and money laundering specialist and then BDO Stoy Hayward, where he was instrumental in setting up a dedicated fraud investigations department, concentrating on the necessary infrastructure issues – recruitment, training, administration and accounting – notwithstanding marketing and delivering the service to clients.

Sean has also spent five years as a senior inspector for the Law Society’s (England & Wales) investigation unit, investigating fraud, money laundering and dishonesty within the legal profession.

Sean has managed a number of high profile investigations in both the UK and overseas and has extensive experience in interviewing both suspects and witnesses, often in a hostile environment. He has worked closely with legal teams, the police and other law enforcement agencies, is experienced in the preparation of witness statements and affidavits and has given evidence as an expert witness in the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and in criminal court cases.

Sean is also experienced in training client personnel in fraud awareness issues as well as the use of technology in data mining, computer forensics, and other investigative techniques. He has carried out a number of vulnerability assessments on behalf of clients, focusing on fraud risk.

Experience Highlights

Financial Statement Fraud: Managed the investigation and litigation (on-going) phases on behalf of a major European manufacturer, resulting in a claim for the client in excess of £350 million

Director Disqualification: Managed the investigation team and interview programme on a six-month high profile investigation into allegations of financial statement misstatement by the directors of a public company in the automotive industry. The investigation findings were handed to the DTI.

Abuse of Charitable Funds: Acted for a public sector regulator in the investigation into certain affiliated organisations. Allegations of misuse of donated funds were investigated and the findings passed to H M Customs & Excise and the Serious Fraud Office for further action.

Contract Fraud: Investigated the activities of a director in the entertainment industry with respect to contract fraud. The investigation indicated that other executives were involved in the attempts to deceive customers, suppliers and city analysts. As a result, all losses were recovered.

Hotel Fraud: Conducted an investigation of accounting irregularities at a Middle Eastern hotel (part of an international chain of hotels). The three suspects were dismissed as a result of admissions made during the interview, in relation to procurement frauds and bribery payments.

Back Office Fraud: Acted for a bank in the investigation into the alleged improper activities of a director who committed the bank to expenditure of more than £1m on an IT contract. The investigation revealed that he placed the contract with a relative who subsequently charged five times the quoted amount and delivered products that were worthless to the bank.

Bribery and Corruption: Investigated suspected fraud in the Far Eastern procurement function of a UK electrical retailer. The investigation, which arose as a result of an anonymous letter revealed widespread bribery and corruption both within the company and with suppliers.

Investigating Dishonesty in the Legal Profession: Investigated the accounts of solicitors – responsible for carrying out unannounced visits to investigate suspected financial irregularities.

Multiple fraud in the travel sector: Acted for a travel company investigating allegations of widespread financial statement fraud. The investigation revealed fictitious hotel agreements, facilitation payments to hoteliers, false claims for fuel rebates, fraudulent seat brokering arrangements with companies controlled by one of the directors, unusual side-agreements with maintenance companies in which another director had an interest. We identified several separate frauds each controlled by a different director, attempting to defraud his fellow directors.

Airline fraud: Investigated a multi-million pound procurement fraud on behalf of a national airline. By conducting lifestyle checks alongside the forensic examination of stock records and purchase and delivery documentation, we were able to identify a warehouse employee who was single-handedly procuring stock, having it delivered to the central warehouse and then arranging for it to be forwarded onto his own address. He then sold on this stock on the grey market. He was unable to conceal his newfound wealth – he purchased a sizeable property and an expensive car that he used for work. Further investigations revealed he used the proceeds to fund the refurbishment of a bar and restaurant in the Far East, in which several items of aircraft components were found.

Vulnerability Assessment: Managing a fraud risk vulnerability assessment on behalf of one division of a large financial services company. Following the success of the initial phase, the assessment was repeated in other business units.

Raising Awareness: Conducting fraud awareness training for an overseas bank, focussing on cultural and ethical issues. Attendees were required to participate in a war game “The perfect fraud” where they were tasked with designing a fraud against their employer.

Money laundering training: Carrying out fraud and money laundering awareness training on behalf of a government regulator, assisting the in-house investigations team to be better detect and investigate fraud and money laundering.

Process review: Performing a review of the procurement process from a fraud risk point of view on behalf of a global car rental company.