[The CPA Kid]

I was wondering if anyone knew much about what kind of career path forensic accounting can take you on.

I start as a Big 4 associate in the forensic investigations department in the summer, but am not very clear on what to shoot for from there. Have any ideas on what skills to develop or what kind of jobs to look for in a couple of years? Even general advice would be awesome!

FAR- 82 (December 2013)
BEC- 88 (January 2014)
AUD-94 (January 2014)
REG- 84 (February 2014)

They call me the Kid

[tough_kitty]

An exciting one 😉

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

An exciting one 😉

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[fsugirl2005]

Well, there are a couple of directions you can go in. You can stay in private practice by working for a forensic accounting firm, insurance company, or go all in and work for the Secret Service or the IRS Criminal Investigations division. I envy you because that's the path I wanted to take but sickness and life got in the way.

I say after you get some experience under your belt, try making a move to the Federal level. If you're athletic and you can pass their physical agilities test, I would definitely apply for the Secret Service. The IRS is pretty cool too. Heck they busted someone who my sibling knew personally for tax preparer fraud. You could see the IRS special agents on the news walking out with boxes and boxes of stuff. If you are interested in tracking drug cartels and things like that, try the DEA. And just in case you do decide to go that route, keep your nose clean and stay out of trouble. They do crazy background checks. So if you have a shady past or you think you may just want to cut loose a bit, stick to private.

Oh and by all means, go get your CFE if you plan to stay in forensic accounting. The material is way easier than the CPA. I took Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting courses in college and they were very interesting. So much in fact I kept the textbooks and I still reference them from time to time. 🙂

AUD - 10/21/16 (75----07/2010 expired)
FAR - 10/28/16
BEC - 11/2016
REG - 01/2017

Using Gleim CPA Review, Ninja Audio, Ninja Book

[fsugirl2005]

Well, there are a couple of directions you can go in. You can stay in private practice by working for a forensic accounting firm, insurance company, or go all in and work for the Secret Service or the IRS Criminal Investigations division. I envy you because that's the path I wanted to take but sickness and life got in the way.

I say after you get some experience under your belt, try making a move to the Federal level. If you're athletic and you can pass their physical agilities test, I would definitely apply for the Secret Service. The IRS is pretty cool too. Heck they busted someone who my sibling knew personally for tax preparer fraud. You could see the IRS special agents on the news walking out with boxes and boxes of stuff. If you are interested in tracking drug cartels and things like that, try the DEA. And just in case you do decide to go that route, keep your nose clean and stay out of trouble. They do crazy background checks. So if you have a shady past or you think you may just want to cut loose a bit, stick to private.

Oh and by all means, go get your CFE if you plan to stay in forensic accounting. The material is way easier than the CPA. I took Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting courses in college and they were very interesting. So much in fact I kept the textbooks and I still reference them from time to time. 🙂

AUD - 10/21/16 (75----07/2010 expired)
FAR - 10/28/16
BEC - 11/2016
REG - 01/2017

Using Gleim CPA Review, Ninja Audio, Ninja Book

[Mayo]

Reddit had some really good posts on this in the accounting section. If I remember, some of the basic advice was to try and get some audit experience if possible. I'd try and do a search for it. Don't let it depress you though. I think the guy didn't like his job all that much *shrug*

Also, I'd skip the CFE and get your CFF. Or both…CFE has better recognition from HR, recruiters, etc. now. However, I've heard the CFF is a better certification and those who know (practitioners) go with BDO..lol…I mean those who know umderstand the CFF has more value and is a better signalling device that you're serious about the career.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

Reddit had some really good posts on this in the accounting section. If I remember, some of the basic advice was to try and get some audit experience if possible. I'd try and do a search for it. Don't let it depress you though. I think the guy didn't like his job all that much *shrug*

Also, I'd skip the CFE and get your CFF. Or both…CFE has better recognition from HR, recruiters, etc. now. However, I've heard the CFF is a better certification and those who know (practitioners) go with BDO..lol…I mean those who know umderstand the CFF has more value and is a better signalling device that you're serious about the career.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[tough_kitty]

In my other life I'd love to be an FBA or a CIA agent….

I actually could apply to be a CIA agent without an accounting degree….. Mayo, hint, hint…

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

In my other life I'd love to be an FBA or a CIA agent….

I actually could apply to be a CIA agent without an accounting degree….. Mayo, hint, hint…

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Mayo]

Persia?

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

Persia?

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[tough_kitty]

Guess you missed a lot of my posts….Nope…

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Guess you missed a lot of my posts….Nope…

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Mayo]

*sigh* been busy lately…

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

*sigh* been busy lately…

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[tough_kitty]

No problem 🙂 I just like to challenge people 🙂 Bob actually found my info somewhere….very impressive!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Author]

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