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