Forensic Accounting

Another quarter has come and gone. I am so close to being finished, well... with my Accounting BS, then another quarter for my Business Admin BS, and then another 9-12 months taking the CPA exam..but who's counting?

This quarter I was able to take the Forensic Accounting class I've been awaiting, and it basically confirmed that if I take the accounting route I will wind up in this branch. I'm most interested in Business Valuations or Damages which means I would do the following:

1) Give an objective third party valuation of a business for a buy-sell agreement
2) Determine equitable distributions for divorces, estates, gifts, etc.
3) Determine loss damages for commercial lawauits or insurance claims
4) Determine actual reconstructed income of Tax fraudsters (don't cheat on your tax returns, the IRS have so many ways to catch you and so many employees to do so. Did you know they can drive by your house to take a look at your "lifestyle" if they suspect you aren't reporting income?)
5) Provide expert testimony for disability or injury claims (of course not until i'm an expert)

Basically forensic accounting is determining a value based on clues, assumptions and hints with the goal of arriving as close to the truth as possible. A puzzle.

Who would have thought I would wind up here? Certainly not I, but for time I love it and hope I do it for at least a while. It's fun, challenging, requires creativity and quick thinking, helps victims, helps society and is like being part of Crime Thriller!