Bill Olsen
Principal
Grant Thornton
Excellence in Client Service
Bill Olsen, literally, wrote the book on corruption, or rather anti-corruption. Olsen, a Principal, Practice Leader of the Forensic, Investigation and Dispute Services practice for the Mid-Atlantic market of Grant Thornton and the National Practice leader for Global Investigation and Anti-Corruption services, is the author of The Anti-Corruption Handbook .
He's also consulted with organizations in developing policies, controls and procedures around compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act, as well as other regulations. And he's participated on an advisory committee that helped develop the World Bank Institute's corruption guide, the Collective Action Against Corruption .
Many of his engagements have included matters involving violations of the False Claims Act and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and he has performed due diligence investigations on entities and individuals seeking approved vendor or customer status. He's also a former member of the Special Prosecutions section N.J. Attorney General's Office and a Global Security Manager for a Fortune 500 company.
In other words: when it comes to corruption, Olsen's your man. And that's a compliment.
"Corruption is a real threat to the competitiveness of U.S. companies trying to penetrate the global marketplace. I like to think that our services help create a better business environment and level the playing field for US companies," he says.
"The willingness of U.S. companies to work with organizations such as the United Nations, World Bank and OECD to address corruption will determine their ability to
be competitive in the global marketplace in the future."
Olsen has also led numerous investigations involving management fraud, money laundering and corruption issues for multinational companies. That work involves preparation of complex financial information and forensic analysis for legal counsel, as well as asset searches and net worth analysis for clients seeking to recover losses.
"Often times I am working with clients during very stressful and challenging times," he says. "It is very rewarding when you have successfully helped them navigate through difficult issues. I have learned over time that nothing takes the place of persistence."
As far as the Top 25, Olsen is quick to point out that "this award is a team effort. It shows what happens when people work together toward a common goal and do not worry about who gets the credit."
Q&A: What accomplishments are you most proud of over the last year?
"I would have to say those would be my oldest daughter getting married and my youngest daughter graduating from college. My wife gets all the credit, but I get to be proud."
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