What function does forensic accounting serve in investigations?

Forensic accounting plays a crucial role in investigations by meticulously examining financial records to uncover discrepancies. This intensive review of financial documents is essential in legal matters, as it helps identify irregularities such as fraud, embezzlement, or money laundering. By analyzing transactions, forensic accountants can trace financial activities and link them to specific individuals or organizations, providing vital evidence that may be used in court.

The other options focus on areas outside the core function of forensic accounting. For instance, developing physical evidence typically pertains to forensic science fields such as forensics biology or chemistry, while analyzing witness credibility falls under legal or psychological evaluations rather than accounting. Predicting stock market outcomes, although part of financial analysis, is not a primary objective of forensic accounting, which is more concerned with understanding past financial behaviors and issues rather than forecasting future market movements.