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.
bobo
what are the requirements needed to become and accountant
With a degree in forensic accounting you can be an accountant. They list references and find fraud references. You can also get investigative skills with this degree.
An accountant needs to have a positive attitude to do their job. An accountant also needs to be friendly and upbeat.
A broker builds business over the long-term, but starts small and must seek-out new business-lines. A forensic accountant is usually paid per project, or hired on full-time staff within an accounting department of a larger organization. Over the long-term, forensic accountants are established at a higher salary base, and work for someone else. Because they are an employee, they will always have an upper-limit income potential unless they go private. An insurance broker works on their own behalf, so they may make less or more than a forensic accountant, but as a private enterprise, they have the potential to become very profitable... They can grow their business as much or little as the choose to. So income potential is higher, but income reliability is lower.
Investigation may occur in civil matters, such as the forensic accountant searching for hidden assets in a divorce case. Another typical example would be the forensic accountant being engaged to investigate employee theft
bobo
what are the requirements needed to become and accountant
the forensic accountant may be asked to assign an estimated value for damages sustained by parties involved in legal disputes and to assist in resolving disputes, even before they reach the courtroom.
Some careers in forensics include forensic scientist, forensic pathologist, crime scene investigator, forensic psychologist, forensic accountant, and forensic anthropologist. Each of these professions plays a crucial role in analyzing evidence and aiding in criminal investigations.
With a degree in forensic accounting you can be an accountant. They list references and find fraud references. You can also get investigative skills with this degree.
Do you mean accountANT? Become an accountant?
"It's preferred that they be a Certified Forensic Accountant in which one has to have a bachelor's degree,a current CPA license and forensic accounting experience."
You do not need a financial certification to become an accountant. To become a certified accountant you will need a financial certification, and to become a CPA you will also need to pass an exam.
-- actuary -- forensic accountant -- bookie -- physicist -- math teacher
To become an accountant you must have a degree. To become certified you must take the state test and pass.
what does "forensic geneticist" do