Learn How to Become a Forensic Accountant

You'll want to consider several factors when deciding if a school is right for your career path.

• Accreditation: An accredited school has met standards for delivering a quality education that will prepare students for roles in their field. Employers may look for applicants who have earned their undergraduate degrees from accredited schools.

• Relevant coursework: If you're planning to become a forensic accountant, you'll want to make sure that a school's accounting program includes a forensic concentration or at least coursework in this area. These studies can also help you secure an internship to gain experience before you hit the job market.

• Online Programs: If you'll be balancing school with work, or you have family responsibilities and need a flexible schedule, an online program might be right for you. Online programs can give you access to a program that isn't nearby and also allow you to learn at your convenience by listening to prerecorded lectures and classes.

You'll need at least a bachelor's degree to become a forensic accountant. You can start with a two-year associate degree, however, and pursue your bachelor's degree later while you work.

If you pursue a bachelor's degree, you'll find several degrees to choose from. Schools typically offer a bachelor of arts (BA) in accounting, a bachelor of science (BS) in accounting, or a Bachelor of Accountancy (BAcc). These programs cover much of the same material, but you'll want to look for forensic coursework.

You'll need a high school diploma or GED to apply to a college program. Beyond that, requirements will vary by school and program. They may require all or some of the following:

• Minimum high school GPA. This generally varies from 2.0 to 3.0 or higher, depending on the school and how competitive the program is.

• Coursework. An accounting program may require applicants to have already taken basic algebra, geometry, and calculus.

• College test scores. Some schools or programs require applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores.

Your degree will give you a solid understanding of accounting and the foundation to build your specialty. Expect a mix of business courses with a focus on accounting:

• Accounting: Learn to evaluate complex financial statements and report results.

• Auditing principles: Understand the ethical standards of auditing.

• Auditing and forensic accounting: Learn how to recognize and investigate financial crimes.

• Interview techniques: Examine the principles of conducting interviews during the prosecution of fraud.

• Business law: Explore business operations and regulation.

• Business valuation: Learn the tools and techniques to analyze the value of publicly traded companies.

• Federal taxation: Explore federal tax laws and Internal Revenue Service codes and learn how they relate to tax liabilities.

• Cost accounting: Learn concepts used to analyze how much it costs a business to produce goods and deliver services.

It's also helpful to complete an internship so you can gain experience and network to make contacts within the industry. An internship is a great addition to a resume and can help you to stand out from other candidates when applying for a job.

"Real-world experience is critical to anyone going into all types of accounting fields," says Nathan Hein, managing director of Forensic & Litigation Consulting. "Because the number of internship opportunities for forensic accountants can be somewhat limited, I often recommend trying to expand a search to also include internships in either internal or external audit. These internships will help teach someone how to test/audit account balances, as well as help provide a strong foundation on how to analyze a company's books and records from an accounting perspective. If you are looking for an enforcement role in a specific industry or area, such as an investigator at the IRS, a tax internship could also be helpful—it all depends on what type of role someone is looking for."

You can take several steps that could make it easier to find your first position. Attending job fairs and using networking sites like LinkedIn can help you connect with managers and HR professionals and find job leads. Circle back to contacts you made during your internship and let them know that you're graduating and launching your career. There may be open positions at the firm where you interned or your contacts may be able to tip you off to a position elsewhere.

You will likely need a year or two of general accounting experience before you'll be prepared to specialize in forensic accounting. "I'd recommend starting in external audit—that's where I, and many other forensic accountants, started their careers," says Hein. "These roles help teach an individual how to understand and analyze a company's books and records. These skills are critical for forensic accountants."

While you don't necessarily need a certification to work as a forensic accountant, some employers may hire only certified public accountants (CPAs). This means a CPA credential can make you a more competitive applicant—and help you earn higher salaries throughout your career.

"There are many certifications that can help with advancement, such as the CPA," says Hein. "Once obtaining a CPA, individuals can become members of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), which has several additional certifications specific to forensic accounting, such as the CFF (Certified in Financial Forensics) and ABV (Accredited in Business Valuation) that professionals can obtain."

One of the requirements to become a CPA is 150 credits, which is more than the standard 120 credits you'll earn with a bachelor's degree. You can usually earn the extra 30 credits in a master's degree program.

You don't need to put your career on hold to go back to school, though. It's common to earn a master's degree while working, and an online program can give you the flexibility you may need to manage work and school.

If you don't want to go to graduate school, you can accumulate the necessary CPA credits by attending classes at a community college.

In addition to the CPA, forensic accountants can become certified management accountants (CMAs) or earn credentials that establish them as experts in their specialty. A specialty certification can also make you a more attractive job applicant, increase your chances of advancement, and lead to higher salaries.

Here are two specialty certifications for forensic accountants.

Certified Fraud Examiner

• Who Grants It: Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)

• What It Is: The CFE credential demonstrates that you are a trained professional who has specialized skills in investigating and preventing fraud.

• Who It's For: Anti-fraud professionals all over the world

• Requirements: A minimum of two years of fraud-related work

• Exam and Prep: The CFE exam consists of 400 multiple-choice questions divided into four two-hour parts. You don't have to complete the test in one sitting. You can take a fee-based prep course or study on your own using the Fraud Examiners Manual.

Certified Financial Forensics

• Who Grants It: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

• What It Is: A certification that positions forensic accountants as experts in their field.

• Who It's For: CPAs who want to demonstrate expertise in forensic accounting

• Requirements: CPA and at least two years of professional experience

• Exam and Prep: The computer-based exam consists of multiple-choice questions. It's divided into two parts, with two hours for each section. You can use the CFF Content Specification Outline to study or take a fee-based prep course.

As with certifications, further training or education can advance your career. If you want to pursue director, executive, or leadership roles, consider pursuing a master's degree in accounting or a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in accounting.

A master's in accounting will go deeper into accounting, while an MBA will give you a broad understanding of all aspects of business and prepare you for managerial roles in accounting or other fields such as business administration or finance.