[Almost Done]

Is there anyone out there with prior law enforcement experience, either currently or in the past? Care to share your career experiences and how the CPA has helped, whether it be in the Government or as a transition to the private industry?

Anyone considering law enforcement? As is the forensic accounting area with the government?

Trying to figure out where I want the CPA to take me.

I have a feeling I’m going to hear crickets.

BEC: Passed
REG: Passed
FAR: Passed
AUD: Passed

[jeff]

Law Enforcement Experience: I once helped the cops chase down a dude who stole my car stereo.

Relevance to this discussion: I was working in public accounting and was wearing a suit at the time.

🙂

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[henryv]

I don't know if it is applicable with working in a government, but the main point in forensics is the consent. Financial institution will be hard to deal with without subpoena/any legal papers to disclose the information. REG will help because you'll have a general idea of the sources of assets when looking at the tax return. I haven't looked into books yet for forensics though, maybe someone has a different opinion.

FAR - 92 02/2013
AUD - 90 05/2013
REG - 85 10/2013
BEC - 80 12/2013

I'M DONE. THANK YOU LORD!

[Anonymous]

No personal experience, but Special Agent positions with the federal government are always in need of CPA's. I've seen job postings from the FBI, DEA and IRS whom both love CPA's and of course law enforcement experience are pluses.

FBI actually has a hiring announcement right now (ends 3-15) for 2014 hiring.

DEA had there announcement end of last year. IRS had there announcement early 2012.

^^ dream jobs!!

[J]

I went through the hiring process for the Special Agent position with the United States Secret Service. I actually made it all the way through and was approved for hire, only to be caught by the budgetary freeze where almost no hiring was done in 2011 and 2012 and my application was put on the shelf. Passed all the interviews, polygraph, medical, home interview, etc. I was actually told to expect to go to FLETC within a few months after my home interview.

I think that my experience as a small business owner and the fact that I already had my MBA helped me through the initial process (initial application, initial interview, panel interview). Furthermore 2011 was when I had returned to school to do the accounting classes necessary to sit for the CPA, and I had told them that the CPA was eventually in my plans. I don't know exactly what information you want, but to give you an idea of the time frame, I sent in my initial application in January 2010 and the process was concluded in June 2011.

What is amusing is that after I was blocked by the freeze, I basically forgot all about it and moved on. A couple of months ago, USSS called me and e-mailed me to see if I was still interested in the position. I told them thanks but no thanks.

If you're looking to go the government route, there are plenty of positions for which the CPA designation would give you a significant edge… USSS, FBI… the IRS has a Special Agent position as well for enforcement motives.

[whatamidoing]

To answer your question bluntly, yes, a CPA will definitely help in getting a job either in forensic accounting or as an agent in federal law enforcement. Like most jobs, having “CPA” on your resume really makes it stand out. I would, however, keep in mind that with sequestration, its harder than ever to get a job right now in the federal government.

F - 85 (11/2012)
R - 87 (1/2013)
A - 92 (2/2013)
B - 90 (4/2013)

DONE!

[Anonymous]

“Hear crickets.” Too Funny! Especially since this “Kricket” has prior law enforcement experience. I was a deputy for about 4 years. I worked in a prison, administrative position, but I still had to be trained just like any other deputy. I'm weapons qualified and at one time had arrest powers. But a few weeks after I got married there was an “incident” where an inmate wasn't properly restrained and he tried to attack a guard when the guard's back was turned. I was the first to see what was going on, and, well, that's when the fight started. I came home looking pretty beat up and had a few stitches in my head, but the inmate looked worse! Hubby freaked out and wanted me to quit. So I left that job for a position in another Parish.

I hated that job because there was one female employee that went out of her way to be a real (insert dirty word here) to me. So I quit and decided to stay home with my son who was 3 at the time. Every day for 2 weeks the Chief Criminal Deputy called me begging me to come back to work. I kept saying no. Finally, the Chief Civil Deputy called me to ask me to come back to work to help her because the employee who had been such a (insert dirty word here) had been arrested for embezzlement of inmate trust funds and she needed help. That's when I found out that the State Police investigator had told this employee that I had been hired specifically to investigate her. Which explained her attitude towards me, but once I found out she was a thief, I really didn't care! I knew NOTHING about any of this or that they even suspected her of stealing money from the inmates. I agreed to go back and that was the first time I got to “clean up” an accounting mess. We discovered that the amount actually stolen was a little over $150,000. I had never done any accounting before and I loved every minute of it!

This is why I went back to college to get a degree in accounting. I would love to take the Fraud Examiners test after I'm done with the CPA exam, but I just don't know if I have it in me to study any more. I can tell you that most states have a special branch of their State Police that do nothing but investigate accounting related crimes. I even applied to the LA State Police but they were only taking applications from CPA's at the time.

I've caught people stealing during audits and, if you despise a thief as much as I do, then you will love auditing. Tuesday, I actually caught the Asst. Manager of a client's business stealing money from the daily cash receipts. Yeah, she was immediately fired! The only thing that upsets me about that situation is that they aren't going to prosecute her.

So, you asked about law enforcement experience and that's my experience!

[Anonymous]

@Kricket Woooohoooo! Git R Done girl!!! LMAO!!

[rugger246]

I got 8.5 years in as a forensic accountant for a federal law enforcement agency. Here are my thoughts for what it is worth:

1.) Currently not a CPA, thus I did not need to be one to get hired. I will say CPA along with other credentials and work experience will make you competitive…that goes for any job.

2.) Early in my career I had a 20+ year veteran agent who was a CPA tell me that “federal law enforcement has taught me nothing about being a better accountant”. He was right. Rarely does a forensic accountant need to be able to cite FASB or prepare a tax return. I will say that having an understanding and knowledge of accounting issues (i.e. stuff covered on the exam) will help in making you a better investigator. The accounting knowledge is something you will not be taught. One of the best forensic accountants I work with came in with 30 years of experience in public accounting, banking, and industry. This is now his second career. His breadth of knowledge has truly added to the investigations he assists on.

3.) I have decided to pursue my CPA license. The benefits certainly outweigh any costs. It will provide me the ability and option to move into other areas if I so desire. It is not a requirement for me to keep my job. In fact, I have had many co-workers ask why I am doing it and assume I will quit my job once I pass. I have testified in criminal trials and feel that adding the CPA will add to my credibility on the stand. To considered an “expert” witness the court considers education, work experience, and certifications. In my opinion CPA is definitely gold standard when it come to accounting certifications. Additionally, passing will not give me a pay increase as I am already at the highest grade in my job series.

4.) I love my job. I get the opportunity to work many white-collar type cases. A huge variety of fraud schemes makes everyday exciting and different. Like most jobs it is what you make it. Couple that will the fact I get paid a decent wage and no crazy busy season hours.

Hope this helps.

AUD - Passed
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed (Perfect Score of 75 to finish it off)
REG - Passed

[CPA_Runner]

I work in industry now, but I would love to get into investigations. I will be going to get a second degree in criminal justice once I'm done with this lovely test 🙂

AUD - 80 (05/23/2012)
FAR - 75 (08/09/2012)
BEC - 81 (12/05/2012)
REG - 71 (10/16/2012); 70 (02/12/2013); 78 (04/08/2013)
Ethics - 98

[henryv]

I would love hearing more about rugger's experience!

FAR - 92 02/2013
AUD - 90 05/2013
REG - 85 10/2013
BEC - 80 12/2013

I'M DONE. THANK YOU LORD!

[Anonymous]

rugger246 – You are AWESOME!! When (if) I ever grow up, I wanna be like you! I will admit that there is a certain thrill that you get when you catch someone with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar, but you get to see it from beginning to end. I envy that!

[ParanoidAndroid]

I took a class (Fraud Examination), which was taught by a CPA, FBI agent. He carried a gun! so I used to sit by the door in case he went loco..

CPA for life...

[Anonymous]

I have always been interested in a career in forensic accounting, just have no idea how to get in. Currently, I work at the District Attorney's office, but only work with your regular budgets and stuff, nothing case related. Rugger, how did you get your start?

[Almost Done]

Wow. All interesting posts, thanks for the feedback.

I work in LE now with a major local law enforcement agency doing technology integration projects and I eventually want to transition to the private industry either with a big four firm or a boutique financial investigations company like Navigant or FTI. I told myself that I would reevaluate after 10 years at my current position, so here I am with 9 years in and beginning to look around. I also have prior investigation experience as well as data analysis, forecasting, trending, etc for both LE and a major bank.

@Rugger, or anyone else for that matter, have you ever thought about switching to the private sector? Do you know anyone who has? Are big four firms willing to hire without prior auditing experience? All I hear about with the big four is that they want prior public auditing experience. Is this true?

How do the big four firms treat potential candidates for employment with law enforcement experience and zero public audit experience? Would you be hired as a junior associate? manager? I'm on a fact finding mission at this point.

Anyone ever work for, or know anything about FTI or Navigant?

BEC: Passed
REG: Passed
FAR: Passed
AUD: Passed

[rugger246]

@Kricket – truth of the matter is most all frauds are historic cases. Law enforcement is reactive…it is auditors and those within organization that sniff these things out to begin with, they truly are at the beginning. The best and most cost effective ways to deter fraud from occurring is to prevent it in the first place.

@bhmnrhpsdy – You could say I was pushed into it.

I did an internship the summer of 2001 with Arthur Andersen and received a full-time job offer to begin working in audit starting fall 2002. Beginning in November 2001 it all started to unravel and eventually led to a BAM and WHACK!!!

BAM was Enron and WHACK was Andersen…both went down.

I week after graduating in May 2002 I received a letter rescinding my offer. Luckily I caught on with another firm. Could never shake the reality of what happened…and figured while I am still young why not become a Fed? So after two years working in public accounting started applying and here I sit today. One of the best decisions I ever made…now if I can pass this CPA exam that will be another great decision.

Word of advice – 100% of the jobs you never seek out or apply for; you will never get.

AUD - Passed
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed (Perfect Score of 75 to finish it off)
REG - Passed

[Author]

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