The resources provided are great! According to our text, forensic accounting
encompasses many areas of expertise. For example, investigative, financial statement
fraud, and asset misappropriation. Also, litigation surrounding divorce or business
valuation, detection, and preventative measures. Moreover, our text states a forensic
accountant must possess characteristics and skills such as critical thinking, investigative
intuitiveness, and the ability to communicate effectively. (Rufus, Miller, Hahn, 2014)
Our video resource: What Makes A Good Forensic Accountant, describes how a
forensic accountant should encompass professional skepticism, curiosity, thick skin, or
calm under pressure, in addition to being detail-oriented.
I found the AICPA resource: Characteristics and Skills of the Forensic Accountant
most interesting, where the importance of essential traits and characteristics are measured
or ranked by attorneys, academia, and CPAs. Only two characteristics are rated in the top
5 categories. Analytical ranks #1 across the board, and ethical ranks #2 & #3. Core Skills
also encompassed only two skills ranked by attorneys, academia, and CPAs across the
board. Critical/strategic thinking and investigative abilities are ranked in the top 5.
(AICPA, n.d.)
AICPA gives a comprehensive list of characteristics, traits, and core skills
pertinent to forensic accounting. Overall, a forensic accountant should encompass all of
the above and more. It may also be conducive to a chosen specialty in the field to
understand perhaps the expectations needed to fulfill a job. I think investigative
intuitiveness, thinking outside the box, and being fearless is seriously underrated.
References:
AICPA. American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2,
2023, from https://www.aicpa.org/InterestAreas/ForensicAndValuation
Rufus, R., Miller, L., & Hahn, W. (2014). Forensic accounting. Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Pearson Education.
