The demand for forensic accounting continues to grow almost on a daily
basis. Accounting and business publications alike predict the trend requiring
more forensic accountants will only continue. Forensic accounting
has been described on many campuses and within many public accounting
firms’ recruiting offices as the hottest area of accounting sought by candidates
eager to enter the field of accounting. In response, colleges and
universities have been feverishly adding courses and degree programs at
the certificate, undergraduate, and graduate levels, trying to address the
demands of students anxious to learn more about this field.
Simultaneously, more and more instances of financial crime and
accounting-related litigation have been occurring, expanding both the contexts
and the venues in which the skill set of a forensic accountant or fraud
investigator can prove invaluable toward resolving the matter.
While most people may possess a basic understanding of what traditional
accounting may entail, few have any understanding about forensic
accounting and fraud investigation. Financial and nonfinancial people alike
have an interest in learning more about these highly specialized fields of
accounting, as cases of corporate or individual greed regularly dominate the
media. Having a requisite background in accounting would be required for
most of the books and materials available for these topics, many of which
are excellent resources to those of us practicing in these fields.