Forensic accounting sounds like something out of a crime scene investigation, and that isn’t too far from the truth. In reality, forensic accounting deals with work that can be held up in a court of law. Because of this higher bar, forensic accountants often attract higher salaries.
As a forensic accountant you will specialize in litigation, making sure you are an expert and can speak fluently on how the details of a particular transaction or decision might affect a court case. Forensic accountants might also be called upon to investigate a particular case and get to the bottom of whether or not someone was at fault based on the financial facts at hand.
There are also various areas of specialization you can pursue even within forensic accounting, including insurance, personal injury, or fraud. You can also get certified with something like a certificate of financial forensics or a certified fraud examiner credential to augment your position. These will help give you a leg up, and give you a level of expertise so that you can move into an independent practice.
Path | Role |
Big 4 | Each of the big accounting firms will have opportunities to pursue forensic accounting, where you work for lots of clients across different industries |
Private Company | Most private companies won’t have a need for forensic accounting unless they specialize in the field |
Small Firm | Smaller firms might might have a forensic team, or specialize in the area. Check with your preferred firm before pursuing a forensic accounting job there |
Independent | Independent advisers can sometimes act as forensic accountants, but they’ll typically need extensive experience with public accounting firms first |
If you are interested in learning more about forensic accounting head on over to our college search section and find the school that’s right for you.