Forensic Accounting Degree
What is Forensic Accounting?
Forensic accounting is a specifically defined area of accountancy that concerns the link between accountancy and criminal activity. Typically, you may be involved with investigating accounts and accounting practices to pick up crimes such as embezzlement, fraud, and money laundering. More often than not criminals in general, and organized crime gangs, in particular will be using methods of laundering large volumes of money gained from their criminal practices. A forensic accounting degree is designed to help you spot telltale trends, patterns and signs of this type of behavior. Clearly, you'll be expected to work closely with police forces and organizations such as customs and excise. You may be called upon to testify in court as an expert witness. Al Capone, the gangster, was famously arrested and charged with tax evasion since he and his gang were skilled in covering their tracks, and no other charge would hold.
What are the Job Prospects?
While the Bureau of Labor does not single out forensic accounting degree graduates specifically, the outlook does look good for accountants. Recent accounting scandals and making company directors personally liable for financial deviations, have brought forensic accounting into the limelight. The penalties for these crimes can be very harsh indeed. Corporations and companies are keen to investigate possible financial crimes internally rather than have errors picked up by government bodies and pay the penalty, which can run to a prison term. As more fraudsters are convicted, this should lead to increased demand for forensic accounting degree graduates.
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