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A forensic accountant is a crime fighter, sniffing out instances of money laundering, embezzlement and insider trading. The forensic accountant has a strong educational base in accounting, finance and law. Well-developed investigation techniques are a plus for the person pursuing this career path.

Training

Accountants and auditors are required to begin with a bachelor’s degree in accounting followed by certification in their chosen field. However, the learning process does not stop there.

This is a very specialized field of accountancy and requires some well-developed skills for a rewarding career experience. Many employers prefer to hire beginning accountants who have a Master’s Degree in accounting or in business administration concentrating in accounting. Becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a natural starting point and a definite plus for career advancement.

Specialization

Once established, accountants with a specialty are short in supply and long in demand. Forensic accountants enjoy an element of exclusivity, simply because they have the prestigious designation of Forensic Certified Public Accountant (FCPA). They work with law enforcement personnel and trial lawyers to stomp out fraud within the corporate structure.

The forensic accountant combines knowledge and investigative skills to expose the illegal activities of white collar workers. They are also asked to testify at trials because of their status as expert witnesses. Continuing education is an important tool in the field of forensic accountancy.

Requirements

Individuals who aspire to the level of a Forensic Certified Public Accountant must be prepared to maintain that designation once it is achieved. The basic requirement for eligibility to obtain this designation is that the individual already be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Preparation includes course curriculum and depends on a score of 70 or more on each of a five-part Certification Test. Another on-going requirement is 20 credit hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) each year in forensic accounting or fraud prevention.

The initial course curriculum description is at CPA Training Center and that course information, including tuition, is available online. The Forensic CPA Society offers the necessary courses in an effort to promote excellence and integrity within the forensic accounting profession.

Memberships

Years ago, a recognized financial entity coined the phrase: Membership has its benefits. This is very true for accountants, especially the certified forensic accountant. Most important is membership in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Forensic CPA Society (FCPAS) and your state organization for accountants.

These groups provide their members with specialized conferences, seminars and workshops which award Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits to active participants. Topics are targeted toward various specialties within the field - and there are many - including forensic accounting issues and investigative techniques.

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