FORENSIC ACCOUNTING CAREER

If you like intrigue, drama and mystery especially if it comes combined with arithmetic, then you are cut out for a forensic accounting career. Forensic accountants, use their financial and accounting skills to do investigative accounting for businesses and other organizations to ensure that accounting crime is not perpetrated. Forensic accountants may even be required to testify in criminal cases in court. It was a Forensic Accountant who led to the capture of Alcapone.

How to Become A Forensic Career Accountant

You will need to attain a Bachelors degree and have a minimum of 24 accounting hours.

You can choose to pursue a master’s degree course with specialization in Accounting

You should also have a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification

In addition to your accounting qualifications, you should enlist with the American College of Forensic Examiners or become a Certified Fraud Examiner.

For a good forensic accounting career path, it is important that you gain practical experience on the job. You might want to work for governmental agencies at the start of your career for instance the FBI, Homeland Security and the Treasury Department. This is because you will gain a lot of experience due to the large amounts of accounting fraud that these organizations handle.

FORENSIC ACCOUNTING CAREER Types, Description and Information

You can either chose to work in the private or public sector. Be aware that if you are working for a governmental organization, you will be under probation in your first year in that organization. Therefore, if your performance is not up to par, you will be dismissed from employment. Your career path can also deviate into different sectors. For instance, Crime and Fraud investigation, Auditing or consultancy

Qualifications: Courses, Training, Certification

You will need to take classes in auditing, finance and investigative accounting to qualify as a forensic accountant. You have the option of doingdegree courses in Business Administration, Bachelor of commerce, and Bachelor of Science in Forensic Accounting, MAcc degrees or any other degree course that offers a solid accounting base. If you are enrolling for certification online courses for Forensic Accounting Degrees, it is important to ensure they offer training in law, justice and accounting.

FORENSIC ACCOUNTING CAREER Schools/colleges, degree, education, entrance exams.

As a prerequisite, you will need to have a high school diploma to enroll for a Bachelors degree. If you have SAT and ACT scores, you might not need to do entrance exams before admission.

TOP 5 colleges/ Universities for forensic accountant career.

Florida Atlantic University offers a Masters in Forensic Accounting for those who do not have an accounting background.

Kaplan University-Online Course

American Intercontinental University (AIU)

Ashworth College

Central Pennsylvania College

Job Opportunities, Salaries/Pay.

There are many job opportunities available for those in the Forensic Accounting Career. They can work in banks, insurance companies, investigative organizations, accounting firms and legal offices.

When engaged in a government job search, be aware that you will be subjected to a thorough background check during or after recruitment.

As you begin your Forensic Accounting career, the outlook is that your salary will range between $30,000 and $ 60,000 in your first year. As you work your way up your career, your pay will increase up to $125,000-$150,000.