I live in Connecticut and I am returning back to school to obtain my Masters
Degree in accounting with a focus in forensics. I previously worked for one of
the largest CNC manufacturing companies in their accounting department. I
started in an accounts receivable position and worked my way up to an
assistant controller when COVID hit and I had to leave to care for a sick
family member during the pandemic. Since leaving my job I have held various
freelance accounting roles with small local businesses and work annually
through the tax season filing for friends and family.
I've always been passionate about helping the little guy like mom-and-pop
shops and working-class people. I see such importance in helping others
understand their financial position and how to protect and stretch their dollar.
A scenario that stands out to me when I think of why I want to work in this
field is the Enron scandal. Enron Corporation, the energy company based in
Houston, Texas, employed fraudulent accounting practices to raise their
revenue on paper and hid their trading losses and debts. They took advantage
of shareholders and lost billions of dollars when their bankruptcy came to
light.
During a research study in 2009 three groups of individuals (CPA's in the
forensic field, attorneys, and accounting professors) were surveyed to find the
key characteristics and skills needed to work as a forensic accountant.
Analytical was thought to be the most important trait among professionals in
the forensic accounting field. Following that was detail-oriented and ethical.
Another top trait was scepticism which I found interesting (Rufus et al., 2015,
p. 11). Specific accounting skills that were found to be the most important
were Analysing and interpreting financial statements and information and
fraud detection (Rufus et al., 2015, p. 14). Critical thinking is a skill highly
important to most workforces, specifically accounting but building a greater
understanding of the field will create a better foundation for which an
individual can apply their critical thinking skills.
References:
Rufus, R., Miller, L., & Hahn, W. (2014). Forensic accounting. Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Pearson Education.
