Accenture employee defrauded firm of over £28,000 in ‘expenses’

An Accenture worker has been caught pocketing thousands of pounds via false expenses claims. The employee in question submitted fabricated receipts to the technology consulting giant over the space of nine months.

Former Pfizer Project Engineer Paul Fitch joined Accenture in 2016. Working as a Project Manager in the firm’s Newcastle-Upon-Tyne wing, he reportedly first began filing false receipts with Accenture in 2017 – which eventually saw him wrongfully claim a total of £28,800 from his employer.

According to local news outlet Chronicle Live, prosecutors at a hearing regarding his case in North Tyneside Magistrates' Court revealed that the offences occurred between December 2017 and September 2018. Their fraudulent nature was only exposed after an investigation was launched, and he was arrested.

Now, it looks likely that Fitch will face jail time for his actions, after pleading guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation during the hearing.

Prosecutor, Ben Woodward told the court, "I will be relatively brief because this case should be committed to the Crown Court… The likely sentencing is likely to exceed the powers of this court… The minimum sentence is 18 months."

Magistrates agreed, and the case was duly referred to the Newcastle Crown Court, where Fitch will next appear on March 2nd 2020. In the meantime, Fitch will remain on unconditional bail.

Speaking at the session, Chairing magistrate, Keith McIntosh, said, "You have entered guilty pleas to these two charges and that will be taken into consideration. Our hands are tied because our sentencing powers are insufficient for this so this matter is to go to the crown court. In the meantime, you need to see Probation, who will start doing a report, which the crown court needs.”