| Forensic accounting is one of the fastest growing | | | | on staff, and more firms are specializing in forensic |
| areas of accounting jobs in the market today. This | | | | accounting to assist with shareholder and partnership |
| specialized area is interesting and dynamic, and | | | | disputes, business loss, fraud or employee theft |
| provides unlimited opportunities for the next few | | | | investigations and professional negligence issues. Other |
| decades. | | | | forensic accountants work for or with insurance |
| Forensic accountants work in two primary areas, | | | | companies to investigate business interruption and |
| investigative accounting and litigation support. | | | | other types of claims. Forensic accountants routinely |
| Investigative accounting encompasses not just the | | | | work for or with law enforcement agencies, lawyers, |
| numbers and documents of a company, but the | | | | insurance companies, business owners and |
| business environment as well. Forensic accountants | | | | government agencies. |
| investigate the financial operations of an enterprise and | | | | About 40% of the top 100 accounting firms in the |
| prepare information that may be used in a criminal or | | | | United States now have a forensic accounting |
| civil court case. Forensic accountants provide | | | | department, and the field is expected to be one of the |
| investigative services or provide support for litigation. | | | | top 20 job markets in the next few years. How do |
| Forensic accountants will often spend time at the | | | | you become a forensic accountant? A bachelor's |
| business they are investigating, collecting and analyzing | | | | degree in accounting is required, and most are already |
| financial data. Most of this analysis is done on the | | | | certified public accountants (CPA's). Additional |
| computer, so good computer skills and knowledge of | | | | coursework in areas like law enforcement and criminal |
| software is essential to this position. The forensic | | | | justice is usually required, and some legal training is |
| accountant will collect evidence and documentation | | | | helpful. You may want to pursue a accreditation as a |
| that may be used in a courtroom proceeding, and will | | | | certified fraud examiner (CFE) from the Association of |
| prepare reports to be used the management of the | | | | Certified Fraud Examiners. This is a nationally |
| company being investigated, parties to the litigation or | | | | recognized accreditation similar to the CPA designation. |
| law enforcement agencies. Often, the forensic | | | | Entry salaries in this field range from upwards of |
| accountant will be required to testify in court or provide | | | | $30,000 to $60,000, but experienced forensic |
| depositions as to their findings. | | | | accountants often exceed $100,000 per year and |
| Forensic accountants are employed by a variety of | | | | more. |
| companies and agencies. Many law enforcement | | | | So, if you are looking for a lucrative, interesting job with |
| agencies have forensic accountants on staff to assist | | | | plenty of upward mobility, consider forensic accounting. |
| with criminal investigations. Often, these accountants | | | | With almost unlimited growth for the next few |
| follow the money trail to help track and prosecute a | | | | decades, it's an accounting job with great potential. |
| criminal. Many CPA firms have forensic accountants | | | | |