CAREER center
Forensic accounting offers an exciting career path By Jessica Salerno-Shumaker, OSCPA senior content manager
Accountants aren't typically associated with taking down criminals, but professionals who pursue forensic accounting might find themselves doing just that. “Follow the money,” said Annette Hoelzer, CPA, interim
Franklin University is one of the few schools to offer a major
lead faculty for Accounting at Franklin University. “Because
in forensic accountancy, and Hoelzer said they are currently
almost all crime is going to involve money in some way,
working on developing a Masters of Science in Accounting
either money to help finance the crimes such as terrorism,
with a specialization in forensic accounting and fraud
or they're committing the crime to get the money, such as
examination. Hoelzer is the faculty liaison with the central
embezzlement.”
Ohio Association of Certified Fraud Examiners students subdivision, and said forensic accounting was even used
Forensic accountants work with law enforcement to examine
to catch Al Capone on tax fraud, although it wasn’t called
documents such as bank or credit card statements to lead to
forensic accounting back then.
the crime. Hoelzer said forensic accountants can work for the FBI, the ATF, the IRS, the State Auditor and more.
12 | CPA Voice
