Michele Edwards, a Partner with StoneTurn, has nearly 30 years of combined experience in fraud and compliance risk management, compliance and monitoring and auditing. She specializes in assessing, implementing and remediating antifraud and compliance programs, including as part of corporate compliance monitorships.  She also has extensive experience conducting fraud risk assessments, fraud and compliance training, fraud detection and forensic investigations.

Michele has extensive monitorship experience, having been selected to serve as a monitor and having led numerous compliance monitoring teams across complex, high-stakes engagements. She was selected by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of the Navy to serve as Independent Compliance Co-Monitor and Navy Independent Co-Monitor, respectively, of Austal USA LLC, a ship builder and prime defense contractor, and a subsidiary of a global ship builder, Austal Limited.

Michele’s deep experience leading monitorship teams helps to seamlessly support independent monitors, overseeing day-to-day operations, coordinating with regulators and stakeholders, and ensuring the effective implementation of remedial and compliance measures. Michele leads the StoneTurn team supporting the Independent Compliance Monitor, appointed by the DOJ, of a multinational e-commerce company, related to its compliance with a Deferred Prosecution Agreement.

Michele is on the leadership team supporting the Monitoring Trustee, appointed by the DOJ, in his role related to the oversight of compliance with obligations within a Stipulation and Order and Final Judgment related to the merger of two leading wireless telecommunications service providers.

Michele leads the StoneTurn team serving as Consultant to the DOJ-appointed Monitoring Trustee of a global leader in access solutions related to an anti-trust settlement agreement related to the Monitoring Trustee’s assessment of the Parties’ compliance with various obligations under the terms of a Final Judgment and an Asset Preservation Stipulation Order regarding the divestiture of certain assets and transitional obligations.

Michele was the Chief of Staff and led the Independent Compliance Monitor and Auditor team appointed by the DOJ for Volkswagen AG, one of the largest and most high-profile corporate compliance monitorships in history.

She also served as a risk assessment subject matter expert to the DOJ-appointed Independent Compliance and Ethics Monitor to a global investment bank. She previously led the StoneTurn team serving as forensic adviser to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration appointed Monitor of a Tier-One automotive supplier and led two workstreams of a New York Department of Financial Services appointed Compliance Monitor of the largest non-bank mortgage servicer in the U.S.

Michele has assisted many Fortune 500 companies with building and assessing antifraud and compliance programs and controls through the application of a scheme and scenario antifraud risk assessment framework to identify and address vulnerabilities to fraud, by conducting fraud audits and operationalizing robust fraud detection strategies with enhanced internal controls. In addition, Michele has led and assisted companies with corporate investigations and litigation matters.

She has worked with clients across various industries, including automotive, mortgage servicing, investment banking, retail, grocery, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, telecommunications, hospitality, chemicals, consulting and construction.

Prior to joining StoneTurn, Michele spent four years with PRGX Global, Inc., where she developed and led the firm’s Fraud Risk Management Service practice, with a special focus on helping clients to detect fraud. Prior to PRGX, Michele spent 14 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the Forensic Services, Fraud Risk & Controls, and Audit practices. While at PwC, she spent six years advising assurance and advisory clients and audit engagement teams on fraud risk management; helped to develop new firm and service methodology at the peak of public accounting firm professional scrutiny related to financial statement fraud scandals; and supervised complex financial investigations.

In addition, she spent eight years conducting financial statement audits, and advising clients on initial and secondary public offerings, acquisitions, purchase price negotiations and private placements. Michele is a Certified Public Accountant (licensed in the state of Illinois) and currently serves as Co-Chair of the WWCDA Monitor/Receiver Subcommittee.