Forensic Accountant

What is a Forensic Accountant?
A forensic accountant performs similar duties as other types of accountant however their main remit is to look for areas of waste, fraud, embezzlement, or similar criminal activity. Since legislation was passed making company directors personally liable for any deviations, it is well within their interests to employ a forensic accountant in house to go through the accounts and practices before being discovered by regulatory bodies or the IRS. Of course forensic accountants may be employed by government bodies including tax offices and may work closely with the police. They need to have a good understanding of tax laws as well as close attention to detail. Nobody likes to be scrutinized, so good interpersonal skills are necessary to get on well with work colleagues, and of course to glean any information, which may help an investigation.

Forensic accountants do not prepare financial reports, but they will study them carefully for errors or suspicious transactions. They may need to go back to original receipts and bookkeeping records, to double check data for completeness.

How Do I become a forensic accountant
Just like any other public accountant, you will need an accounting or finance degree. Most states also require you to become certified to practice. Certifications requirements vary by state, but the vast majority requires you to have one hundred fifty semester hours of coursework. You would definitely benefit from legal training too. Some forensic accountants may be expected to testify in court as an expert witness.

Schools are listed in alphabetical order by state then city.