| Forensic accounting is one of the fastest | | | | shareholder and partnership disputes, |
| growing areas of accounting jobs in the | | | | business loss, fraud or employee theft |
| market today. This specialized area is | | | | investigations and professional negligence |
| interesting and dynamic, and provides | | | | issues. Other forensic accountants work for |
| unlimited opportunities for the next few | | | | or with insurance companies to investigate |
| decades.Forensic accountants work in two | | | | business interruption and other types of |
| primary areas, investigative accounting and | | | | claims. Forensic accountants routinely work |
| litigation support. Investigative accounting | | | | for or with law enforcement agencies, |
| encompasses not just the numbers and | | | | lawyers, insurance companies, business owners |
| documents of a company, but the business | | | | and government agencies.About 40% of the top |
| environment as well. Forensic accountants | | | | 100 accounting firms in the United States now |
| investigate the financial operations of an | | | | have a forensic accounting department, and |
| enterprise and prepare information that may | | | | the field is expected to be one of the top 20 |
| be used in a criminal or civil court case. | | | | job markets in the next few years. How do you |
| Forensic accountants provide investigative | | | | become a forensic accountant? A bachelor's |
| services or provide support for | | | | degree in accounting is required, and most |
| litigation.Forensic accountants will often | | | | are already certified public accountants |
| spend time at the business they are | | | | (CPA's). Additional coursework in areas |
| investigating, collecting and analyzing | | | | like law enforcement and criminal justice is |
| financial data. Most of this analysis is | | | | usually required, and some legal training is |
| done on the computer, so good computer skills | | | | helpful. You may want to pursue a |
| and knowledge of software is essential to | | | | accreditation as a certified fraud examiner |
| this position. The forensic accountant will | | | | (CFE) from the Association of Certified Fraud |
| collect evidence and documentation that may | | | | Examiners. This is a nationally recognized |
| be used in a courtroom proceeding, and will | | | | accreditation similar to the CPA |
| prepare reports to be used the management of | | | | designation.Entry salaries in this field |
| the company being investigated, parties to | | | | range from upwards of $30,000 to $60,000, but |
| the litigation or law enforcement agencies. | | | | experienced forensic accountants often exceed |
| Often, the forensic accountant will be | | | | $100,000 per year and more. |
| required to testify in court or provide | | | | |
| depositions as to their findings.Forensic | | | | So, if you are looking for a lucrative, |
| accountants are employed by a variety of | | | | interesting job with plenty of upward |
| companies and agencies. Many law enforcement | | | | mobility, consider forensic accounting. With |
| agencies have forensic accountants on staff | | | | almost unlimited growth for the next few |
| to assist with criminal investigations. | | | | decades, it's an accounting job with great |
| Often, these accountants follow the money | | | | potential.Jay Moncliff is the founder of a |
| trail to help track and prosecute a criminal. | | | | website specialized on Accounting Jobs, |
| Many CPA firms have forensic accountants on | | | | resources and articles. This site provides |
| staff, and more firms are specializing in | | | | updated information on Accounting Jobs. |
| forensic accounting to assist with | | | | |