You can complete the certificate in as little as two semesters, acquiring the skills to identify, collect and examine evidence for accounting fraud and abuse. The Fraud Examination prerequisite courses are offered face to face on campus during the academic year and online in the summer.

• You will learn how common fraud schemes work and how to detect, deter, and investigate fraud.
• The four courses that constitute this proposed program can be taken in any order and will be offered once each academic year, thereby permitting students to complete the certificate within 12 months.
• Credits earned in this certificate program can be used toward a master’s in fraud and forensics.
• The case proceeded to a criminal complaint, and I testified at the grand jury; the eventual result was a conviction and an order for full restitution.
• The Certificate in Forensic Accounting is delivered by our approved learning centre – Brentwood Open Learning College and is accredited by the Quality Licence Scheme.
• The CPA Journal is a publication of the New York State Society of CPAs, and is internationally recognized as an outstanding, technical-refereed publication for accounting practitioners, educators, and other financial professionals all over the globe.

As the first business school in Washington, DC, we understand the value of teaching real-world skills to our students. Our certificate covers fraudulent financial reporting, fraud schemes, investigation techniques, financial statement analysis, valuation techniques, expert testimony, and more. Earn a bachelor’s degree with at least 150 hours of instruction in accounting, or complete a bachelor’s degree and enroll in a master’s in accounting degree program. The academic program for this certificate consists of four, three-credit graduate-level courses that are to be delivered in either a face to face or hybrid format that makes extensive use of the University’s instructional design services. The four courses that constitute this proposed program can be taken in any order and will be offered once each academic year, thereby permitting students to complete the certificate within 12 months.

Graduate School Requirements

Open to students with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution with a satisfactory grade point average. Complete 3 required forensic accounting courses and choose from 8 electives with the guidance of the accounting department chair. An undergraduate degree in accounting is a requirement to be admitted or undergraduate degree in finance with substantial relevant experience. Many would argue that the Certified Fraud Examiner credential is the one that organizations look for in a forensic accountant.

This certificate emphasizes the skills you need to perform data analysis, fraud detection and accounting irregularity identification. We are delighted that you are interested in the programs offered by the School of Accounting. Golden Gate University has been preparing accounting professionals for over 100 years, and our graduates are in positions of leadership in numerous public accounting firms and major corporations. Students who complete the certificate and choose to pursue a graduate accounting degree may have certain graduate requirements waived upon review by the School of Accounting. Some of the most highly sought-after “detectives” are actually forensic accountants and fraud investigators.

Online Students

“The program has given a good perspective on what forensic accounting is all about and will make a tool for expanding my career and growth.” As a certified member of the world’s premier anti-fraud organization, you will have immediate access to continuing education opportunities, training and networking opportunities, seminars, forums and professional growth. The Certificate in Forensic Accounting is delivered by our approved learning centre – Brentwood Open Learning College and is accredited by the Quality Licence Scheme. If you are interested in this certificate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event. Graduates from this program are prepared to work in large and small organizations utilizing expansive knowledge and reporting techniques needed for litigation. New England College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

In addition to experiential learning, students take courses in forensic accounting principles, dissecting financial statements, and litigation support. To be eligible for admission, students must have a bachelor’s degree and submit unofficial transcripts, an online application, a statement of purpose, and a professional resume. Northeastern University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. If SU’s fraud and forensic accounting certificate program interests you, please contact us. Contact our admissions team to learn more about the programs we offer and how they can help you get started in a rewarding career path. Forensic Accountants combine their accounting knowledge with investigative skills, using this unique combination in litigation support and investigative accounting settings.

Forensic Accounting Careers: What Is A Certified Fraud Examiner?

The College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business . Florida Atlantic University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

4According to a survey responses from over 9,200 SNHU online students conducted in the fall of 2019. Apply for ABFA membership, and share your accounting education and experience. Let us know what type of degree you’re looking into, and we’ll find a list of the best programs to get you there. Professional organizations such as the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, American Institute of CPAs, and American Board of Forensic Accounting offer job boards and networking events. Accountants may also consider specialized employment firms such as Robert Half, which allows candidates to upload resumes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the demand for all accountants and auditors to grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018. After successful completion of the program and being in good standing with the Board, you will receive the esteemed CRFAC® credential from the American Board of Forensic Accounting®.

Program Contact

Pass the online final quiz for each course with an 80% or better in order to receive a certificate. Certificate classes are $800 per credit and the total cost of the 12-credit certificate forensic accounting defined is $9600. Assistant ProfessorMatt Sherwoodearned his PhD in accounting from the University of Kansas in 2016 and teaches Financial Statement Auditing and Data Analysis.

CFE candidates must join the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, have at least two years of professional experience, and pass the CFE exam. Emerging candidates should consider additional education and training opportunities. The ACFE offers a one-week training program where a portion of the CFE exam is administered each evening after the day’s lecture. Formal academic courses or degrees in forensics and graduate studies in forensics, computer forensics, and other related courses will augment any career in accounting. Such courses can be found at an increasing number of colleges and universities, and many are now offering courses through distance learning.

Student Life

A bachelor’s provides at least 120 of the 150 credits required for candidates to sit for the CPA in most jurisdictions. An accredited master’s in accounting generally meets this requirement in full.

A CPA is a U.S. credential that is overseen by the American Institute of CPAs that allows you to provide accounting services to members of the public. Once you become a CPA, you must keep up your licensure through continuing professional education.6 Licensure requirements vary by state. Those pursuing certifications such as the CFE need at least two years of professional experience. The program covers topics like fraud, litigation services, and cybersecurity issues. Auditors may want to consider the certified internal auditor credential, administered by the Institute of Internal Auditors. Forensic accounting analysis goes beyond audits that look for adherence to standard accounting practices. Forensic accountants must trace transactions from beginning to end and review supporting documentation to identify telltale signs of fraud or theft.

Continue Your Pursuit Of Professional Growth

Specialized courses develop skills in advanced auditing, forensic accounting, and interviewing techniques for fraud investigations. Some certificates, including the CPA credential, require credits beyond a bachelor’s degree.

Students in the course should be comfortable with the principles of microeconomics and basic functionality of Microsoft Excel. Courses develop competencies in white-collar crime prevention and detection – including forensic and investigative principles/practices in accounting, economics, finance, and digital devices. International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions. Our programs are accredited by the Association to Advance College Schools of Business . AACSB accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Less than 5 percent of the world’s 13,000 business programs have earned AACSB accreditation. Graduates of AACSB-accredited programs are highly skilled and sought after by employers.

With more education and years of experience in the long-term, accountants with master’s degrees could earn closer to the 75th percentile ($97,530 per year) or 90th percentile ($128,680 per year). Eligible CPAs must hold a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in accounting, join the ABFA, and take the ABFA’s Forensic Accounting Review course prior to sitting for an exam administered by the ABFA.

• Courses in the graduate certificate in forensic accounting program are taught by practicing forensic accountants and focus on synthesizing accounting, auditing, computer, and investigative analyses into coherent, defensible conclusions.
• Learn highly marketable skills to expose bribery, embezzlement, corruption and criminal manipulation of accounting records in North’s new Accounting Fraud Certificate program.
• Financial crime and fraud is just one of many areas within the discipline/specialty of forensic accounting, but it is a significant one.
• Our contemporary program combines traditional auditing principals with information security and data analysis techniques to provide students with advanced forensics training.
• The experiential learning program at SU can provide up to one year of required practical experience toward licensing requirements, along with the tuition or loan repayment benefits of AmeriCorps service.

For example, an investigative accountant might reconstruct a business’s financial records, as in the Madoff case, or a business might call in an investigative accountant if it suspects an employee is embezzling money. Investigative accountants also work for law enforcement during fraud investigations. Investigative accounting involves using auditing, quantitative methods, and related investigative skills to reconstruct financial records and determine if fraud or other illegal financial activities have occurred. Investigative accountants are sometimes called fraud auditors or fraud examiners. Finding one’s career in a rut is sadly not uncommon in many professions, and accounting is no exception. Many CPAs’ first impulse is to expand their knowledge in their current area of practice.

Cpa Licensure And The Crfac Certification Process

It is important to consider a long-term strategy of learning and CV-building, including writing articles and making presentations to further one’s presence. Joining a regular networking group is an excellent way to self-promote and generate new business. I suggest seeking the CPA and CFE credentials at the outset, and then continuing with other related credentials.

In a hypothetical Dante’s Inferno scenario where all of the world’s white collar criminals were arranged in a descending order of wickedness, healthcare fraudsters would sit somewhere between hell’s eighth and ninth concentric rings. The criminal justice system has systemic flaws that disproportionately punish the poor and reward the rich. Enrolling in higher education courses increases your value to your employer, and, as a result, can help increase your job stability and career trajectory at your company. Our small class sizes and student-to-faculty ratio ensure that you form a lifelong personal and professional network with your peers and professors.