For new or aspiring Certified Public Accountants (CPAs),
choosing a specialty can be an excellent way to get a job after completing the
Uniform CPA Examination. Forensic accounting is one of these specialties that
trained CPAs can specialize in.
Forensic accounting is the investigation of fraud or
embezzlement using accounting skills as investigative tools. There are many
ways to get a job as a forensic accountant. Accounting firms often employ
forensic accountants within specialized forensic divisions. Law enforcement
agencies and lawyers also hire forensic accountants to investigate potential
wrongdoing by various parties. Over the past seven years, state governments and
the federal government in the United States have been cracking down on
financial impropriety, making forensic accountants valuable and in demand.
As a CPA, you can apply to earn certification as a forensic
accountant. You can apply with the Certified Fraud Examiners’ (CFE)
certification, ensuring that you know the structures of common fraud schemes. Basically,
because fraud is usually well hidden, you have to know what to look for to root
it out. Earning this certification can lead to a salary increase of 22% over
those without the credential. Earning a CFE is not required to work as a
forensic accountant, but it has many benefits.
Barry Dufrene is a CPA with decades of experience living in
Morgan City, Louisiana. He worked for St. Mary Parish for 32 years before
retiring in May of 2012. Dufrene decided that his days as a CPA weren’t over,
however, and he went back to work as the Chief Financial Officer for Yellow Fin
Marine Services.
