About
Fraud, misconduct and business disputes can have wide-reaching effects on an organization, its employees and other stakeholders. CJ Connolly, a forensic accounting firm, takes a human approach to investigations and complex business disputes. To uncover facts, analyze complex information, develop conclusions and deliver results, strong connections with those involved is critical. The ability to build a positive rapport ultimately achieves successful outcomes.
It’s how CJ Connolly gets to the heart of the matter.
About Catherine Connolly
Catherine (“Cathy”) Connolly is a forensic accountant who gets to the heart of the matter. With more than two decades of experience, Cathy prioritizes connections with the people involved in investigations and complex business disputes.
Cathy has provided services for entities ranging from smaller, privately-owned operations to publicly traded entities with international operations. She is a committed, forward-thinking leader who recognizes that urgent and contentious situations require a trusted and collaborative adviser. Cathy is skilled in acting as a communicator and negotiator. She builds relationships with and works alongside clients, executives, board members, auditors and regulators.
Cathy brings deep functional knowledge of technical accounting, related reporting and disclosure requirements, internal controls and financial governance. She has assisted clients on matters such as asset misappropriation, financial reporting fraud and misstatements, post-acquisition and other M&A disputes, remediation and other special projects. Her industry experience includes the technology, medical devices, transportation and logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, energy, retail, professional services and non-profit sectors.
Prior to founding CJ Connolly, a forensic accounting firm that primarily serves clients in the New England region (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont), Cathy was with StoneTurn for 14 years, where she was a Partner dedicated to developing the firm’s forensic accounting practice on the West Coast. Cathy began her career at two Big Four firms.
Cathy is a member of the Audit and Compliance Committee of Old Colony YMCA (“Old Colony Y”), which serves Southeastern Massachusetts.
Cathy enjoys the Maine outdoors by rowing, trail running, and dedicating time to non-profit organizations such as ArtVan and Teens to Trails.
Education: B.S., Accounting, Bentley University
Licenses & Certifications: CPA (licensed in Maine and Massachusetts), CFE, CFF, COSO Internal Controls Certificate, COSO Enterprise Risk Management Certificate
A Human Approach
The human connection is a focal point in each investigation or complex business dispute. Here’s how we build a positive rapport with clients and stakeholders.
Connect:
Building relationships at the outset of an investigation or dispute leads to the development of an effective scope and questions, as well as the ability to obtain significant answers more quickly, efficiently, thoroughly.
Assess:
We are in a better position, having built those relationships, to carry out the assessment, which then leads to more successful outcomes.
Support, Advise & Report:
The human connection also creates a strong position from which to effectively remediate to prevent recurrence of misconduct.
Giving Back
Cathy serves on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer of ArtVan, a Maine-based non-profit that offers a safe space through a mobile therapeutic arts program to encourage youth with limited arts access to fully express their imaginations, relationships, and experiences. ArtVan’s contribution to underserved youth is immeasurable, and the ability to participate in creative process is such a moving and important aspect to a well-rounded life. Cathy is so proud to play a part in this organization, since its role and impact is sure to grow over time.
Cathy serves on the Board of Managers and as Treasurer of Teens to Trails, a charitable nonprofit dedicated to connecting Maine high school students to life-changing outdoor experiences. Athletic pursuits helped to ground and sustain a balanced life for Cathy, starting from a very young age. She hopes to give back by assisting with programs such as Teens to Trails, which bring young people to outdoor activity. Cathy is thrilled to participate in Teens to Trails’ longer-term efforts to reach as many young people as possible.
For six years, Cathy served on the Board of Directors for Mountain Play Association, where she provided financial governance oversight as Treasurer, worked directly with the executive directors and other key personnel on strategic initiatives, assisted with financial planning for shows that go on from Memorial Day to Father’s Day only. She learned so much about the impact of the contributions of theater, particularly outdoor and musical theater, on a community. The Board was hands-on, and she enjoyed participating in seating set-up and guiding attendees to their seats. Luckily for all, Cathy did not attempt any on-stage appearances.
