Forensic Accounting Credential Popular With CPAs

With 42 years of CPA experience, Grand Rapids CPA Dennis Echelbarger was a good match for the new forensic accounting credential.

• bankruptcy and insolvency
• computer forensics
• economic damages
• family law
• fraud investigations
• litigation support
• stakeholder disputes
• valuations.

“Anytime we’re doing a job that requires digging for facts, such as attest, litigation support and consulting work, we bring into play the skills that are representative of the CFF,” said Echelbarger. “Those skills include, but are not limited to, a heightened level skepticism. It’s almost a ‘burning’ need to get to the bottom of whatever it is you’re looking at.”

“As an auditor, you must have skepticism during an audit, particularly in times like these when people are doing things they normally wouldn’t do,” he adds. “With CFF work, you have to go beyond that level of skepticism.”

To qualify for the CFF credential, a CPA must be an AICPA member in good standing, have least five years' experience in practicing accounting, and meet minimum requirements in relevant business experience and continuing professional education. The application also takes into account CPE and education in forensic accounting as well as credential reciprocity in related fields.

To maintain the credential, CFF credential holders must meet a CPE recertification requirement by obtaining at least 60 hours of CPE over the preceding three-year period in forensic accounting subjects. Verification is accomplished by the CFF holder attesting to his or her compliance with this requirement.

For more information on the CFF credential and the application process, visit the AICPA Forensic & Valuation Services web site at http://fvs.aicpa.org and click on the Membership tab.