Forensic accountants investigate the paper trails left by accounting transactions.
You may be wondering, "What is forensic accounting?" Forensic accounting is the accounting specialty that deals in litigation. The word forensic means suitable for use in a court of law, and forensic accountants are called to present testimony in court for both the defense and prosecution in cases of insurance claims, fraud, personal injury claims and many other business-related cases. Forensic accountants investigate the paper trails left by accounting transactions.
If you like investigating data, numbers and finding answers to complex questions, a career in forensic accounting may be for you. As the business world gets more and more complex, forensic accounting is often used to search for critical information in cases of litigation for proof of a company's misdeeds. Forensic accountants may be used to prove a company's wrongdoing and also to show the opposite: that a company did not do anything wrong.
Several career paths are available in the field of forensic accounting. Forensic accountants typically work for accounting firms or as consultants to large corporations. They are needed for any type of court case that involves personal or business transactions and for the determination of fund handling, which can include business law and family law. Most careers in forensic accounting require specialization in a field such as fraud, construction, family law or royalty law.
You may want to know how to get a forensic accounting degree. In order to become a forensic accountant, you must first become a standard accountant. Accountant jobs require a bachelor's degree in accounting from a college or university. When you have your bachelor's degree, you may then take either a bachelor's or master's degree in forensic accounting.
Programs are available online from several universities at the bachelor's and master's degree level. These are considered to be continuing education courses. You may also be able to take these types of courses at a local college. To get a good feel for what type of education you need, it is a good idea to talk to a few forensic accountants at reputable accounting firms to see what they recommend. In your desired specialty of forensic accounting, you may find that certain schools or types of degrees are preferred by practitioners or courts in your area. Find out all requirements before you start school and start your path to a unique and challenging career!
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