About AuditTrace Forensic Accountants
Following the money since 1999. Independent forensic accounting led by Steven P. Rider CA CPA JP.
Since 1999
Conducting forensic accounting investigations for more than a quarter of a century
27+ Years
Of professional experience across audit, tax, valuations and corporate advisory
54,000+ Hours
Of hands-on professional accounting work behind every engagement
4 Jurisdictions
Expert reports for the FCFCOA, NSW Supreme, District and Local Courts, and NCAT
When the Numbers Are Disputed, Experience Matters
Financial disputes are won and lost on evidence. When records are incomplete, structures are complex or someone has worked hard to keep money out of sight, you need a forensic accountant who has seen it all before and can explain it clearly to a court.
AuditTrace Forensic Accountants is the dedicated forensic division of Rider Accountants & Advisors, led by Steven P. Rider, a dual-qualified Chartered Accountant and CPA. Steven founded Rider Business Consulting & Advisors in Sydney’s CBD in 1999, and the firm has been conducting forensic accounting investigations ever since, from family law asset pools and shareholder disputes to fraud, property and business valuation matters.
That long history matters. Before founding the practice, Steven spent most of the 1990s in mid-tier and CBD accounting firms working on complex audit, tax and corporate advisory engagements for government bodies, private groups and national enterprises. Today the practice sits alongside Tenfold Wealth Accountants, Tenfold Property Finance and Tenfold Property Advisory in the Tenfold Wealth Group, giving AuditTrace rare depth across accounting, tax, finance and property.
What Sets AuditTrace Apart
Forensic Investigations Since 1999
More than 25 years of investigating disputed finances, tracing money trails and rebuilding incomplete records for lawyers and their clients.
ERP and Cloud Accounting Forensics
Xero Certified Advisor and Advanced Cloud ERP Consultant. We extract, interrogate and reconstruct ledger data directly from the systems businesses actually use.
Property Investigations and Valuations
Member of the Australian Property Institute, with deep experience in property portfolios, development structures and the property side of family and commercial disputes.
Business Valuations
Valuation of SMEs, trading entities, discretionary trusts and proprietary companies, including single expert valuations for family law matters.
Hidden Asset and Money Trail Tracing
Identifying undisclosed assets, corporate restructuring and complex fund flows across accounts, companies and trusts.
Tax and Structuring Insight
Registered Tax Agent and Associate of The Tax Institute, so the tax and CGT consequences of a property division or settlement are never an afterthought.
Court and Tribunal Experience
Expert witness statements, technical affidavits and single expert reports across federal and NSW courts and tribunals.
Independent and Standards-Driven
All forensic work performed in accordance with APES 215 Forensic Accounting Services and the applicable court rules.
Meet Our Principal: Steven P. Rider CA CPA JP
Lead Forensic Accountant and Expert Witness
Steven is a dual-qualified Chartered Accountant and Certified Practising Accountant with more than 27 years of experience in forensic accounting, business valuations, tax structuring and corporate advisory.
His forensic practice focuses on complex asset valuations, hidden asset tracing and financial statement analysis. He regularly assists law firms in family law, commercial litigation and tribunal matters to quantify business values, unravel corporate and trust structures, and establish the true matrimonial asset pool, preparing expert reports in accordance with APES 215.
Steven pioneered a 100% digital practice model, allowing fast, secure data ingestion and shorter forensic turnaround times for clients anywhere in Australia.
Education: Master of Professional Accounting, University of New South Wales (UNSW).
Accreditations and Memberships
- Chartered Accountant (CA): Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
- Certified Practising Accountant (CPA): CPA Australia, Public Practice Certificate holder (Licence No. 2012560)
- Registered Tax Agent: Tax Practitioners Board (No. 26194902)
- Justice of the Peace: New South Wales (Reg. No. 258204)
- ASIC Registered Agent (No. 49365)
- Member: Australian Property Institute (MAPI)
- Associate Member: The Tax Institute
- Xero Certified Advisor and Advanced Cloud ERP Consultant
Court and Tribunal Experience
Steven has been engaged to prepare expert witness statements, technical affidavits and single expert reports in matters before:
- Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA)
- Supreme Court of New South Wales
- District and Local Courts of New South Wales
- NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT)
Read about the evidentiary standards that govern our work.
Who We Act For
- Family lawyers: single expert and adversarial reports, business valuations and asset tracing in property settlements
- Commercial litigators: loss quantification, shareholder disputes and fraud in commercial matters
- Barristers and law firms: early case assessment, critique of opposing expert reports and evidence for hearings
- Businesses and boards: discreet internal investigations of suspected fraud or misappropriation
- Individuals: clarity on complex finances during separation, usually working alongside your lawyer
Put 27 Years of Forensic Experience on Your Matter
Talk directly with Steven about the financial questions in your matter. Conflict checks first, then a confidential, no-obligation discussion.