• Forensic Accounting Degrees
• FBI Accountant Career
• IRS Agent Career
• Accounting & Criminal Justice

How to Become a Forensic Accountant

There has been no standard set to become a forensic accountant. Many forensic accountants started off as Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) working in audit departments. With experience they moved into formal forensic accounting job roles with accounting firms or the federal government. In 2008, some of the top accounting firms in the country reported a significant amount of their revenue was generated by their forensic accounting departments. Since the late '90s there has been considerable growth in the forensic accounting field and according to a 2002 US News & World Report article, forensic accounting is the fastest growing area of accounting. This means tremendous job opportunities for those educated, trained and certified as forensic accountants.

The first step to becoming a forensic accountant is to earn a bachelor's degree in general accounting, forensic accounting or a related area with significant credit hours in accounting. The bachelor's degree is often the minimum educational level for this profession and a master's in forensic accounting or accounting with a forensic accounting or related concentration is becoming common. With the emergence of bachelor's degree programs in forensic accounting there have been opportunities to gain specialized forensic accounting education and training while at the college or university level. Graduates of bachelor degree programs in forensic accounting or general general accounting will need to pursue certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in order to be competitive when applying for positions at the federal, private or public level. The CPA designation is also a requirement for forensic accountant professional certification such as the Certified Forensic Accountant (Cr.FA) designation offered through the American College of Forensic Examiners.

Find Degree Programs in Forensic Accounting, General Accounting and Related Areas of Study Now

What Do Forensic Accountants Do?

Forensic accountants investigate financial documents to determine if there are any accounting irregularities, fraud or improper accounting methods. They will analyze this data and prepare a report or presentation for their client or employer. The report generally provides a summary of their findings including the methods they used, their sources for of their findings and a complete analysis of their findings in a format that a no-accounting professional can understand. Forensic accountants often work in litigation support scenarios preparing for potential litigation or during litigation. Forensic accountants may also be called upon as expert witnesses or to evaluate an expert witness testimony. Forensic investigative accounting may also include fraud investigations such as employee theft, identity theft, health care fraud, insurance fraud, securities fraud, medicare fraud, kickbacks and various other fraud cases.

Once an accounting irregularity has been detected a forensic accountant may also assist in the recovery of assets process and help develop programs that can help minimize the risk of any future losses or irregularities. Forensic accountants are sometimes hired by attorneys during divorce cases to investigate any hidden assets that have been hidden by the other party. An area where forensic accountants have been used extensively is in law enforcement, primarily the federal government. The FBI, IRS, SEC, CIA and other federal agencies have employed the services of forensic accountants to help investigate terrorist financing. Forensic accountants use their skills and training to detect where the funds come from and where they go and how they can stop the flow of the money. Needless to say, the federal government is one of the major employers of forensic accountants, including entry-level accountants.

Forensic accounting salaries will vary significantly depending on locations, employer, experience, education, certification and other factors. Salaries can start at $30,000 and some forensic accountants can earn well of $100,000 a year.

Learn more about general accounting and forensic accounting degree programs by contacting the schools listed below. Take the first step toward an exciting and rewarding forensic accounting career.

Forensic Accounting & Related Degree Programs

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Kaplan University: Kaplan University offers a wide range of bachelor degree programs in finance and accounting including auditing-forensic accountancy.

BSA/Auditing-Forensic Accountancy
BS in Accounting
BSA/Tax Accountancy

Capella University: Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The FBI considers Capella University to be a preferred provider of higher education for the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA). There are only a handful of schools that hold this distinction.

BS in Business - Accounting
BS in Business - Business Administration
BS in Business - Finance
MBA - Accounting

Colorado Technical University: CTU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Request information to learn more about these programs and how they can help you start or advance your career in forensic accounting. The Financial Forensics bachelor's program includes study in the areas of money laundering investigation, terrorist financing investigation, and forensic accounting.

B.S. in Financial Forensics

Utica College: The Bachelor's in Economic Crime Investigation degree program offers courses in criminal justice, accounting and computer science, that will help students prepare for careers in forensic accounting and related fields. Utica College Graduates receive a Syracuse University baccalaureate degree and Utica College bachelor's degree, since the school was founded by Syracuse University and maintains a coeducational relationship.

Bachelor's in Economic Crime Investigation
MBA in Economic Crime and Fraud Management

Rasmussen College Online: Rasmussen College holds regional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, a Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Associate's in Accounting - Financial Investigation
Associate's Criminal Justice
Bachelor's Criminal Justice

University of Phoenix: University of Phoenix offers multiple levels of accounting and finance degrees and is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association.

A.S. Accounting
B.S. Accounting
MBA/Accounting
Graduate Accounting Certificate

Walden University: Walden offers a comprehensive finance education that will prepare you for work in most aspects of finance, from corporate to small business. The Walden programs strive to prepare students for financial leadership positions.

B.S. Finance
MBA Finance
PhD Finance
PhD Accounting

Virginia College:

Associate's - Accounting Specialist
Bachelor's - Private Sector Accounting

Florida Tech University Online:

BA in Accounting
BA Business Admin Accounting
MBA Accounting - Finance Specialization

Jones International University:

BBA in Accounting
BBA in Finance
MBA in Accounting
MBA in Finance

Strayer University: Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. The Diploma in Accounting program is designed for students that already hold a bachelor's degree and would like to sit for the C.P.A. Exam.

B.S. in Accounting
B.S. in Economics
Diploma in Accounting

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