A Distinguished CPA.

• Position: Finalentry

D. Paul Regan, CPA, CalCPA's 2009 Distinguished Service Award winner, is president and chair of Hemming Morse, Inc., and a director in the Litigation and Forensic Consulting Services Group in its San Francisco office. With his more than 35 years of experience in forensic accounting. Regan has written numerous white papers and taught a variety of courses within the profession, as well as been extremely active in his community as a politician, landing himself Citizen of the Year honors from the city of Hillsborough in 1995.

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Being a forensic accountant, do you see yourself a crime fighter?

Sure. Many of our cases involve determining if someone has committed a crime (or caused economic harm) and, if so, to be able to present this finding effectively to a judge or jury. This is often very sophisticated crime fighting.

Will we ever see a CSI: CPA'?

Why not? What could be more exciting than watching CPAs dig deep into ledgers, invoices, journal entries, check copies, payrolls, financial statements, footnotes, debits and credits?

You've worked on some major cases. Do you have a favorite?

Cases become among my favorites because of many factors, including great lawyers, the terrific ideas that we came up with to help solve the puzzles and present the findings, the hard-working and passionate people working on the forensic team, and colorful facts, people and companies that were involved in the underlying issues. However, to give your readers a hint of these cases, and without giving away any confidentialities, here are a few clues: Howard Robard Hughes.John DeLorean, Michael Milken, the space shuttle, Microsoft. Apple. SEC, FBI. Enron Corporation, Parmalat SpA, Larry Ellison, stock option backdating, earnings management, Guam (I testified at a trial there for six weeks).

Do you get nervous when you have to testify?

There have been times. It's usually when there are "bet the company" issues with people's careers and futures at stake while dealing with complicated issues and an aggressive opposing counsel.

You have been heavily involved in Hillsborough politics. Is it about service to your community or a secret career desire?

Absolutely no, no, no on any secret career ambition. I just believe that I can use my skills to help a great town with good people. My Jesuit training stresses being a "man for others." That's my political ambition.

Was it good to be the king ... er, mayor?

It certainly brought changes and diversity to my...