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Let’s Cut Through the “Noise” About Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation Programs

West Virginia University’s Forensic Accounting & Fraud Investigation (FAFI) program, in the College of Business and Economics, is one of the most recognized and respected programs in the world. Period.

At WVU, our program is:

• based upon knowledge gained from leaders in forensic accounting-public accounting, industry, education and government, including U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
• geared toward exposing students to best practices in an expanding field of opportunities
• created by our faculty, who facilitated guidelines for the National Institute of Justice
• leading research in forensic accounting and fraud examination through the Institute for Fraud Prevention (IFP)

And we’re tailoring our graduate certificate program to fit your life — by giving you the option of enrolling in a traditional classroom program or an online program (the on-program includes two, two-day residencies on WVU’s main campus). Either way, your residencies include moot court, pitching cases to prosecutors and CSI-F (Crime Scene Investigation – Financial) experiences exclusive to WVU.


There’s a lot of white noise out there about forensic accounting and fraud investigation programs, and most of it is just that.

When the Internal Revenue Service needed to train its people in best practices for detecting fraud, identifying the real thing and collecting evidence to use in court, the agency came to WVU. The WVU Forensic Accounting & Fraud Investigation program offers:

• hands-on case investigations
• experiential learning
• extensive exposure to outside professionals
• moot court experience
• CSIF event
• your choice: traditional classroom or online program with on-campus residencies

And if you’re a non-West Virginia resident, you are eligible for a $4,000 scholarship.

West Virginia University’s College of Business and Economics even has the nation’s first-ever Ph.D. program in accounting that offers a specialization in forensic accounting and fraud investigation. Credibility, curriculum, commitment. That’s WVU.

The bottom line is that you want a program that is going to dramatically increase your skill set, make you a more valuable asset to your company and help move your career upward. Done.

True Confessions from the Server Room: Why “Good Enough” Isn’t Good Enough in Practice Management

Are you in your office? Good. Then take this article with you back to your server room. Look around. Then ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you see any floppy disks?
2. Is there a stack of printouts in the corner?
3. Does it take more than one hand to count the anagement applications you have running?

Don’t be embarrassed. Tech anachronisms like these are the mullets of the IT world, but most of us have a few of them lying around. And chances are they’re not part of your zoomy new secure client portal, your mobile-friendly website, or any other client-facing piece of technology. No, the skeletons in your server room are probably related to the ugly stepchild of tax and accounting technology: practice management.


If you’re like a lot of firms, your practice management technology has languished for years in an ugly jumble of disparate systems that has been “good enough” since the early Clinton administration. I feel your pain. But the sad fact is, “good enough” just isn’t good enough anymore.

You can’t afford to have staff entering the same data over and over. You can’t afford to wait overnight for updates to run. You can’t afford to tell clients “I’ll check the printout and get back to you.” You can’t afford to ask your employees “How long do you think that took you?” And you certainly can’t afford their answers.

The good news is, you don’t have to. Not with the new crop of integrated practice management software that integrates thorny components like time and billing, a/r tracking, and management reporting onto one slick platform. Your staff will enter data once and make it available across the entire firm in real time. You’ll be able to see the status of all your projects, who’s working on them, and who isn’t working on much of anything, all on one convenient dashboard. You’ll have the information you need to give your clients the instant answers they demand. And since your new practice management application will be capable of operating in the cloud, it will all be available to you anytime, from any Internet connection, and even on your smartphone.

Like a lot of the recent advances in cloud-based computing and mobile technology, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it. But it’s more than just cool. Instant, anytime-anywhere access to practice management information is an essential survival tool in the lean new reality of tax and accounting. And so are the reduced IT expenses that come with cloud-based software.

There’s never been a better time to exorcise the skeletons from your server room, particularly with the advances being made in integrated practice management technology. “Good enough” just might be costing you more than you think.

Learn more about what the new generation of integrated practice management software can do.

Job of the Day: You’re Good Enough for Government Work

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for hire me2.jpgThe word on the street is working in government isn’t a bad move. Plus, Texas doesn’t have an income tax.
Check out the details for a financial examiner position for the Credit Union Department for the State of Texas located in Houston, after the jump.


Company: Credit Union Department – State of Texas
Title: Financial Examiner IV
Location: Houston, TX
Experience: 3 – 5 years
Compensation: $50,000 – $70,000
Description: Professional examining position with the responsibility for conducting examinations of complex credit unions with persistent problems, in addition to routine examinations. Work involves examining and verifying financial and operating statements, analyzing and interpreting financial and statistical data, ascertaining compliance with applicable state and federal laws, rules, bylaws, and sound business practices, and evaluating management performance. Functions as the Examiner-in-Charge of large team examinations or provides oversight responsibility for a specific function of the examination. May be an examiner with extensive experience or expertise in one or more areas of the examination process, such as accounting, specialized lending, management consulting, or investments.
Responsibilities: Verifying the accuracy of accounting records and related financial statements; reviewing a sample of loan files to ascertain proper documentation and adequate procedures; reviewing board policies and verifying compliance; verifying investments and determining that investment policies are adequate and appropriate; verifying compliance with applicable sections of the Texas Finance Code, Commission Rules, and Bylaws; verfying compliance with other related laws or applicable federal regulations; and evaluating management effectiveness and internal controls.
See the entire description over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.

Job of the Day: We won’t rest…

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for hire me2.jpg…until you’re all gainfully employed. Except maybe the last week of the year. Nobody does a damn thing that week.
Check out the details for a financial analyst position at BBVA in New York, after the jump.


Company: BBVA
Title: Financial Analyst
Location: New York City
Responsibilities: Analyze daily/monthly fluctuations in P&L (by entity, business lines, and product), prepare explanations of significant changes, and investigate any open items; Prepare monthly management reporting package, including reporting of adjustments, suspense items and reconciling items; Identify any errors (system or manual) in the daily P&L and work closely with the Operations department and Front Office to ensure they are corrected in a timely manner; Assist in preparation of budget and expense allocation; Review monthly report of suspense items and obtain explanation and target dates for clearance of aged items;Prepare various analyses by products (Loans, Fees, Fixed Income, FX, IRS, etc.); Assist in preparing support for various audit requests; Other ad-hoc projects, as needed
Qualifications: Bachelors or Masters in Accounting or Finance, CPA preferred; Three to Five years of experience in the Financial industry (Banking preferred), with an emphasis in management reporting or accounting; Possess knowledge of U.S. GAAP and/or IFRS, standard accounting concepts practices and procedures and ability to understand and solve complex accounting issues; Fluency in Spanish preferred
See the entire job description over at the CG Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.

Job of the Day: If Nothing Else, the Title Sounds Impressive

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for hire me2.jpgSure you’ll be neck deep in the new codification but somebody’s got to do it, amiright?
Check out an Investment Accounting Policy Manager position at BlackRock, after the jump.


Company: BlackRock
Title: Investment Accounting Policy Manager
Location: New York City
Description: Direct accounting policy related to BlackRock’s nearly 2,000 investment products, including mutual funds, i-Shares, private equity funds, CDOs, structured products and other alternative products, including real estate funds, hedge funds and hedge fund of funds.
Responsibilities: Document existing policies for investment companies, working closely with fund administration teams and product CFOs; Assist in structuring new products; Monitor the firm’s compliance with SFAS 167; Assist in general corporate policy matters, including SFAS 123(R), SFAS 109, SFAS 141(R), SFAS 142 and SFAS 160, SFAS 157 and SFAS 52.
Qualifications: B.A. / B.S. degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA required; 7 to 12 years related work experience (Big 4 experience in a policy or technical accounting role preferred; Asset Management specialization necessary); Knowledge of new and proposed professional accounting guidance; IFRS expertise preferred, but not required.
See the entire description over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.

Job of the Day: Global Asset Manager Needs Someone Who Loves GAAP

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for hire me2.jpgWhich should be all of you. Okay, tax peeps, you got us but take a peak anyway.
Ashton Lane Group is looking to place someone in a senior accounting analysis and reporting position for a global asset manager in New York. The position requires at least 5 years experience and offers a competitive base and bonus.
Check out more details after the jump.


Title: Financial Reporting Accountant
Location: New York City
Responsibilities: Analysis and documentation of complex transaction terms and accounting treatment, which involves interaction with Business, Legal and Finance; Conducting accounting research and formulating application of the US GAAP framework to transactions, financial instruments, and hedging programs; Keeping current on new relevant US GAAP requirements; Assisting with the implementation of new US GAAP pronouncements and formulating relevant accounting policies; Participation in future implementation efforts around IRFS framework
Other requirements: 5-8 years in Public Accounting (Financial Services Industry exposure a strong plus) or 6-9 years of work experience in the financial services industry; Strong command of the US GAAP framework associated with: consolidation, derivatives, hedge accounting, transfer of financial assets, fair valuation of financial instruments; CPA license a strong plus.
See the entire job description over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.

Job of the Day: What Exactly Does a Consultant Do?

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for hire me2.jpgThey consult, naturally. We can’t really get into more detail at this point. But if you consider yourself a renaissance man/woman in the financial realm (and don’t mind some travel), a consulting gig may be right for you.
Check out the details for both senior and staff finance consultant positions at Infrastructure Management Group, Inc. in Bethesda, MD after the jump.


Company: Infrastructure Management Group, Inc.
Title: Finance Consultant
Location: Bethesda, MD
Requirements: All candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with at least some coursework in finance, economics, and/or accounting and have a strong interest in infrastructure finance. Fluency in Spanish is a plus. Some domestic and international travel may also be required for some projects.
Senior Consultant Profile: At least two years of finance experience preferably with an investment or commercial bank, accounting firm, or construction/development firm; Experience with cash flow financial models, using net present value and IRR functions; Master’s degree preferred but not required.
Staff Consultant Profile: Entry-level position; Graduating college senior or recent graduate; Some coursework in finance and accounting.
Check out the entire description for this listing over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.

Job of the Day: Spanish or Portuguese-Speaking Auditors Report

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for hire me2.jpgToday on the job hunt we bring you an audit associate position at BNY Mellon in Boston. Bonus points for those of you that are fluent in Spanish or Portuguese. Check out the details after the jump.


Company: BNY Mellon
Location: Boston
Title: Audit Associate
Description: Performs high quality, risk-focused fieldwork, in accordance with Internal Audit policies, methodologies and standards, in order to identify meaningful issues, risks and other exposures in the Asset Management sector.
Qualifications: Three to six years of relevant auditing experience preferably in Asset Management or related financial services areas, preferably working towards CPA, MBA, and/or CIA designation or already qualified. Fluency in Spanish or Portuguese would be an asset.
Check out entire description over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.