Function

• Forensic accountants ensure that organizations and individuals adhere to national accounting laws. They use investigative skills to find fraud and make sure public records are kept accurately. They conduct analysis on documents and financial information to create reports and charts on their finding.
  They are also beneficial in litigation. Not only do they help with the initial investigation, they can also be a powerful asset in court as expert witnesses. Forensic accountants have been called into very high-profile cases ranging from fraud to divorce.
  
  

Types

• Forensic accountants are being hired for a wide range of fields. The industries that occupy many of these professionals are government, public corporations, private organizations, management firms, accounting firms, software developers and law offices. These are some of the types of careers that forensic accountants can obtain:
  •Fraud Investigators;
  •Public Accountants;
  •Management Accountants;
  •Government Accountant and Auditor;
  •Internal Auditor;
  •Financial Software Developer;
  •Corporate Tax Lawyer (with additional law degree);
  •White Collar Crime Lawyer (with additional law degree).
  
  

Considerations

• A degree in Accounting or Forensic Accounting is not the only requirement that may be needed to be qualified for one a forensic accounting career. For some positions, a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license is required to provide services on behalf of a public company. The Securities and Exchange Commission requires a CPA if any accountant is filing a report with them. Another certification that is needed is the CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) if a career with law enforcement or with a government agency is desired.
  While some accountant majors decide to get a Master's degree before sitting for the CPA or CFE examinations, others choose to go to law school. With an additional law degree, many other opportunities in corporate, tax or criminal law open up.
  
  

Expert Insight

• During 2006, 1.3 million jobs were available to accountants and auditors. By 2016, there will be an 18% increase in the field because of new opportunities in forensic accounting. Along with jobs in law enforcement and litigation, forensic accountants are also making their way into the informational technology field. Software companies are hiring forensic accountants to help develop new financial and tax software. Because of this new trend, colleges and universities are incorporating IT courses into their forensic accounting programs.
  
  

Identification

• Although most forensic accountants have CPA and CFE certifications, there are other certifications that identify the skill level of a forensic accountant. CMA, another prestigious certification, is the Certified Management Accountant certification and is offered by the Institute of Management Accountants. Other certifications are Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA), Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP) and Certified Financial services Auditor (CFSA).
  Along with certifications, there are four accreditations offered by the Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation; Accredited Business Accountant (ABA), Elder Care Specialist (ECS), Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP) and Accredited Tax Advisor (ATA).