From her early days at a California law firm to her current advisory role helping accounting firms mitigate risks, Natalia’s journey is a masterclass in how trust, documentation, and clear scope can make or break a professional relationship. She also brings real-life insights from cases featured on American Greed, exploring the human psychology behind fraud and how professionals can protect themselves and their clients.
Whether you’re a CFO, accountant, or fractional finance leader, this conversation offers practical advice on protecting your firm, preventing scope creep, and setting up the right coverage before it’s too late.
Key Takeaways:
From Litigator to Risk Advisor: Natalia’s 20-year journey from defending accounting firms in court to proactively helping them prevent claims through risk management and claims advocacy.
American Greed in Real Life: She recounts handling cases that made national TV, revealing the patterns and human behaviors behind major embezzlement schemes.
The Real Duty of Care: Why most accountants face unfair blame during fraud cases, and how understanding “standard of care” can make or break a defense.
Scope Creep Dangers: The importance of documenting every engagement clearly: What you will do and what you won’t, to protect against future disputes.
Avoiding Lawsuits: Why annual client evaluations and prompt communication with your insurance broker can prevent small issues from becoming lawsuits.
Essential Coverage: The must-have insurance policies for accounting professionals, from E&O (Errors & Omissions) to cyber and crime coverage.
Documentation Is Everything: If it’s not written down, it didn’t happen. Natalia explains how poor recordkeeping can destroy even a strong defense.
Balancing Life & Law: How her career in litigation shaped her decision-making in everyday life and why she approaches even family tasks like a contract negotiation.
Noteworthy Quotes:
“If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen.” – Natalia Greene
“Scope creep feels like more money, but it’s often more exposure.” – Natalia Greene
“Engagement letters aren’t just paperwork. They’re your shield.” – Natalia Greene
“You can’t rely only on checklists. You still have to think.” – Natalia Greene
Key Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
01:15 – Introduction to Natalia Greene and her legal background
03:48 – The real-life case that appeared on American Greed
08:58 – Wild fraud story involving influencer embezzlement
14:05 – Why accountants often get blamed for fraud they didn’t cause
17:00 – Understanding standard of care and fair vs unfair blame
23:15 – Engagement letters, scope creep, and documentation
33:15 – The insurance policies every firm should consider
44:36 – Personal lessons, risk mindset, and football fandom
👉 If becoming a CFO is in your 5-year plan, get your free CFO Readiness Scorecard here: http://thecfo.scoreapp.com
📬 Get Involved
Have a question or topic suggestion?
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🔗 Connect with Guest Natalia Greene
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalia-greene-esq-cfe-476661139/
Lemme: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lemme-insurance-group-inc/
🔗 Connect with Host Wassia Kamon on
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wassiakamon/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wassiakamon/
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