The Accountant (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Chris works for criminal organizations because his unique mathematical abilities make him invaluable to them, and the jobs come through an automated system (later revealed to be an AI). His father trained him to survive in a harsh world, and working for criminals provides both financial success and a framework that suits his particular way of thinking. Rather than cash, he accepts unusual payments like rare comics, gold bricks, and artwork, items he finds meaningful or interesting.

• Christian Wolff
• criminal organizations
• forensic accountant
• motivation
• autism

Ray King is the director of FinCEN (the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network), and he sees Chris as a significant threat to financial security. Chris works for dangerous criminal organizations, managing their finances and helping them evade detection. King has nicknamed Chris 'The Accountant' and views capturing him as a major achievement before his retirement. He even blackmails analyst Marybeth Medina into helping track Chris down, putting her own secrets at risk.

• Ray King
• FinCEN
• pursuit
• law enforcement
• money laundering

Chris's mother left because she couldn't cope with raising a child with high-functioning autism. The demands of caring for Chris, combined with the strain it placed on the family, became overwhelming. His father, a military man, decided to raise Chris and his neurotypical brother Braxton himself, believing that facing challenges would help Chris develop resilience and survival skills.

• Chris childhood
• autism
• family
• mother
• father Braxton

Chris's combat skills came from his father's rigorous training program. His father believed Chris needed to be toughened up to survive in a world that would be harsh to someone with his condition. After his mother left, Chris's father took both Chris and his brother Braxton around the globe, subjecting them to intense physical and tactical training. These skills, combined with Chris's exceptional ability to process information and patterns, make him a formidable fighter despite his social difficulties.

• combat skills
• training
• father
• martial arts
• self-defense

The mysterious voice is not a person at all, it's a sophisticated AI computer system. Chris donated generously to the Harbor Neuroscience Institute where he spent part of his childhood, and that money funded the development of this AI. The system is now used by Justine, the mute daughter of the institute's director, to communicate with the outside world. The AI has been orchestrating Chris's assignments throughout the film, connecting him to criminal organizations while ultimately serving Justine's needs.

• mysterious voice
• AI
• Justine
• Harbor Institute
• computer system

Lamar Blackburn killed his own sister Rita to keep her silent and prevent her from exposing the embezzlement scheme. Rita had discovered the truth about the missing $61 million that Lamar and the company executives had stolen by funneling money through affiliated companies to inflate stock prices. Rather than let Rita talk and ruin his plans, Lamar hired a hitman to eliminate her, revealing himself as the true villain of the story.

• Lamar Blackburn
• Rita
• killed
• embezzlement
• murder

Ed Chilton, the CFO of Living Robotics, was killed during a confrontation with Chris. After Dana Cummings discovered the $61 million embezzlement and raised concerns, Chilton dismissed her findings and attempted to silence her. When Chris investigated further and confronted Chilton about the missing funds, the situation escalated violently, resulting in Chilton's death. This pivotal moment pushed Chris deeper into the investigation despite the increasing danger.

• Ed Chilton
• CFO
• death
• Living Robotics
• confrontation

Chris sends Dana a Jackson Pollock painting as a token of appreciation and affection. Earlier in the film, Dana had joked about Chris's lack of emotional expression, and the gift serves as his way of connecting with her on a personal level. He cleverly hides the valuable painting behind another artwork, a humorous callback to their conversations about art and value, showing his unique but genuine way of showing he cares.

• Dana Cummings
• painting
• gift
• Jackson Pollock
• romance

Chris became estranged from his brother Braxton due to the traumatic way their father raised them. Their father believed that harsh, demanding training would prepare Chris for a difficult world, and this rigorous upbringing created tension between the brothers. Braxton resented the special treatment Chris received and felt overshadowed by their father's focus on Chris's development. The strain from their childhood and different perspectives on their father's methods led to their estrangement, though they eventually reconcile at the end of the film.

• Braxton
• brother
• estrangement
• reconciliation
• father training

Chris prefers unconventional payments, such as rare comics, gold bricks, and famous artworks, because they reflect his unique way of thinking and his interests. As someone with high-functioning autism, Chris often processes the world differently than neurotypical people. These unusual items hold personal value to him and represent a non-traditional approach to his work, demonstrating that he operates by his own rules rather than conventional business practices.

• payments
• comics
• gold
• artwork
• unconventional

The $61 million was stolen from Living Robotics through a fraudulent scheme orchestrated by CEO Lamar Blackburn and other executives. They funneled company money into affiliated companies to artificially inflate stock prices, pocketing the difference for themselves. When accountant Dana Cummings discovered these irregularities and raised the alarm, she became a target. Chris was hired to audit the company and uncovered the scheme, which ultimately led to his confrontation with the criminals.

• Living Robotics
• embezzlement
• 61 million
• stock fraud
• Lamar Blackburn

Justine is the mute daughter of the Harbor Neuroscience Institute's director, where Chris spent part of his childhood. She cannot speak, which is why she formed a special bond with Chris, they connected through their shared difficulty with typical verbal communication. Later, thanks to Chris's donations, Justine gained access to a sophisticated AI computer system that allows her to communicate using a synthetic voice, which is the mysterious woman's voice that gives Chris his assignments throughout the film.

• Justine
• mute
• Harbor Institute
• communication
• AI