Quick question, I'm considering doing some training courses to get some form of accountant forensic qualifications under my belt, as well as the usual digital forensics which I already have. To other forensic examiners, do you think this is a useful skill to obtain or waist of money?
I can't comment specifically - but the general rule is the more specific skills you have, the higher your salary, but the less jobs there are … I would imagine that there is a very good niche market for these skills, however, I am concious of the fact that the big firms, such as PWC, Deloitte etc. all have their own forensic departments & train their own accountants - and they might have cornered the market !
Perhaps, if this is an area that you are interested in pursuing, you might do well to contact them and see if they have any trainee roles - they'll then pay you to study & provide the framework to do it in & give you experience.
I'm not sure exactly what courses are available and how much they cost, but it's certainly useful to have some knowledge of and exposure to forensic accounting practices. Unless the course is particularly poor or over-priced I'd say it's unlikely to be a waste of money.
Thanks for you reply, I'm already working in forensics, but I constantly see a close working relationship between forensic analysts and accountants. My thoughts being, a person who can pretty much do both roles is a valuable person indeed, possibly?
If you can stomach accounting…and can qualify as a Forensic Accountant someday… The Sky's the limit …
Wait, Skyy is hiring? Does that include any … umm… company benefits? mrgreen
I hear Skynet is hiring, but rumour has it that a few years down the line they are going to Terminate everyone. 8)
Thanks for you reply, I'm already working in forensics, but I constantly see a close working relationship between forensic analysts and accountants. My thoughts being, a person who can pretty much do both roles is a valuable person indeed, possibly?
I think that it is useful to have a basic understanding of accounting principles and practices but being a digital forensics expert AND an forensic account seems like overkill to me as they are entirely different disciplines. While you might do one or the other, it is unlikely, in my experience, that you'd be hired to do both (and paid in a commensurate fashion).
I have worked side by side with forensic accountants and I see little overlap in our work except to the extent that each of us understands what the other does and needs in order to do their jobs well.
Quick question, I'm considering doing some training courses to get some form of accountant forensic qualifications under my belt, as well as the usual digital forensics which I already have. To other forensic examiners, do you think this is a useful skill to obtain or waist of money?
Take a look at the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) certification.
I'm a CFE and also have the forensics track.
I think that it is useful to have a basic understanding of accounting principles and practices but being a digital forensics expert AND an forensic account seems like overkill to me as they are entirely different disciplines. While you might do one or the other, it is unlikely, in my experience, that you'd be hired to do both (and paid in a commensurate fashion).
Agree with this. With those two areas you may work either with the Big Four, or with Investigation teams in large corporations. Like seanmcl says, you end up spending more time on one than the other.