Ever heard of forensic accounting careers? It’s not just number crunching; it’s about uncovering the truth behind the numbers. Think less calculator, more crime solver!
Essentially, forensic accounting is where finance meets CSI, minus the lab coats, plus a whole lot of brainpower. It’s about tracking down financial crimes, solving complex money mysteries, and helping real people find justice through numbers. Intrigued? You should be. Whether you’re a true crime fan, a data nerd, or just someone who loves a good puzzle, a forensic accountant career could be your perfect fit. But don’t just take our word for it; we went straight to the source.
With the help of our friends at BDO, we tracked down a real-life forensic accountant to bust some myths about accounting and share why this career path is more exciting than you might think.
Q&A: Launching Forensic Accounting Careers with Liam
To get the lowdown on what this career is really like, we caught up with Liam Drake, a Forensic Accounting Manager at BDO. From tracing money trails to working with court cases, Liam’s job proves that accounting is anything but boring. Keep reading to learn how he got started, what skills helped him get there, and why each workday is never the same.
Question: Tell us About Your Forensic Accountant Career Journey?
Answer: “I completed a Bachelor of Commerce at Curtin University, majoring in Accounting and Business Law. In my penultimate year of university study, I undertook the vacation program at BDO in the Forensic Services team, mainly to find out what Forensic Services entailed!From there, I was offered a graduate role at BDO in the same team. I’ve been at BDO since then (almost 6 years) and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it!”
Question: What Are Forensic Accounting Careers?
Answer: “Forensic accounting is a broad term but generally involves the investigation of fraud or financial manipulation and brings together accounting, auditing and investigative skills.
“We spend a lot of time tracing money, looking through ‘dodgy’ accounting records and preparing expert reports that can be used in court proceedings during disputes. Forensic accounting careers also involve asset tracing in family law matters, underpayment investigations and quantification of losses caused by contract breaches.
“Our team is made up of licensed investigators who are trained in interview techniques, surveillance and export report writing.”
Question: What Does a Typical Day at Work Look Like For You?
Answer: “No two days are ever the same, that’s what I enjoy most. We work with clients from various industries, all with different concerns. This keeps us on our toes; constantly learning and adapting to the information that is in front of us. We spend a lot of time combing through financial statements, general ledgers and bank statements.”
Question: What Subjects in High School Helped You Get Where You Are Today?
Answer: “Throughout high school, I studied Politics & Law and Economics which have been beneficial throughout my career. Learning how to read and interpret legislation assists when undertaking underpayment investigations, contract audits and assisting in any civil and criminal matters.”
Question: What Kind of Personality or Skills do You Think Are Important in Your Role?
Answer: “Apart from the obvious technical accounting skills, we place importance on our attention to detail and accuracy, which is vital for any report or findings that may be presented in court proceedings.
“We deal with a range of clients from different backgrounds and, due to the work we do, we regularly have clients who have suffered financial loss of some description. For that reason, it is essential to combine our technical skills with sympathy and understanding for our clients.
“Regularly, our clients aren’t entirely sure where problems have occurred or how large the misconduct is when we are engaged. For that reason, being curious and having an inquisitive mindset is imperative; if we are too narrowminded, we may miss vital information.”
Ready to Explore Accounting?
Accounting can open doors to way more opportunities than you know, from digital forensics to global investigations. If you’re curious, love solving problems, and want to make a real impact, forensic accounting might just be your perfect match.
So, what are you waiting for? Learn more about BDO’s Early Careers opportunities in accounting and launch your forensic acc
