Forensic Accountant Salary & Career Outlook

Crime leaves clues, and in the case of forensic accounting, the evidence is in the numbers. Forensic accountants help disrupt large-scale crime. For example, in 2009, Bernie Madoff was convicted of a Ponzi scheme for stealing tens of billions of dollars from thousands of people over 17 years. Forensic accountants were credited with determining fault in this case and explaining the complicated financial transactions that led to this high-profile conviction.

For better or worse, the increased instances of fraud and computer-based crimes are helping drive the demand for forensic accountants. Financial accountants are tasked with analyzing all facets of financial crime to prevent fraud and uncover intentional or accidental mistakes. Their responsibilities include physical and digital evidence collection, funds tracing, asset identification, and due diligence through internal and external financial audits.

The American Board of Forensic Accounting (ABFA) defines this position as “a professional who performs an orderly analysis, investigation, inquiry, test, inspection, or examination to obtain the truth and form an expert opinion.” The ABFA’s mission is to preemptively address financial inefficiencies, proactively address financial fraud, and promote forensic reporting.

A forensic accountant is a certified public accountant who can examine financial records and accounts that could then be used as legal evidence. Forensic accountants often work in areas where they can help prove or disprove insurance claims and personal injury claims. This type of accountant can also help resolve business disputes, divorces, and fraud cases. In some instances, the accountant may also be able to help with criminal cases. Accountants who work within this specialty can also testify in court as experts.

Forensic accountant specialty can be interesting for those who desire to do meticulous work with numbers while also working to solve interesting problems and uncover hidden or missed details. Furthermore, career growth in this field will increase steadily in the coming years.

Read on to learn more about becoming a forensic accountant, including a step-by-step career guide, salary, and career outlook.

Meet the Expert: Kip Holderness, PhD, CPA, CMA, CFE

Dr. Kip Holderness is a professor of accounting at West Virginia University. He teaches managerial and forensic accounting and works extensively with doctoral students, conducting various research projects. Holderness also serves as the director of research for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Research Institute.

Dr. Holderness’ research focuses primarily on the impact of fraud and employee deviance on individuals and organizations as well as improving detection methods. He also examines the effects of personality and generational differences in the workplace. He has published in practitioner and academic journals in fraud and forensics, auditing, managerial accounting, information systems, and accounting education. In addition, he has received numerous research grants from the Institute for Fraud Prevention and the Institute of Management Accountants.

Dr. Holderness graduated from Brigham Young University in 2009 with a bachelor of science degree in accounting and a master’s of accountancy. In 2013, he graduated from Bentley University with a PhD in accounting.

Forensicscolleges.com: What do you wish the public understood about forensic accountants?

Dr. Holderness: I wish people understood that forensic accountants aren’t just number crunchers. This career is a bit different. Forensic accountants play a critical role in uncovering many different financial crimes, whether it be fraud, corruption, or other white-collar crimes.

Professionals in this field have to understand both accounting and investigative techniques. They’re the detectives of the financial world tasked with figuring out how people are committing crimes and then providing the information necessary for the government to prosecute these fraudsters.

Forensicscolleges.com:What advice would you give to aspiring forensic accounting students?

Dr. Holderness: You must cultivate a strong foundation in accounting and these investigating skills. I have many people from an accounting background who understand how companies report their financial performance. However, they’re still missing a significant portion of what they need for this career: investigative skills. You can gain those skills either with job training or in programs like the one we have here at West Virginia University.

I’d also say prospective students must be curious. They must have a mindset for critical thinking. I don’t think that’s natural for people and students in general, but it can be developed. You have to learn not to take everything at face value. You’re not just looking at what the numbers say, but you’re looking at what the numbers don’t say and what the numbers might be hiding.

Students should also know that there are some very useful credentials and certifications. Many people go the CPA route, which is an excellent background for this field, but there’s also the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), which can be advantageous in this field.

Finally, I would tell students to make sure they get out there and get internships or on-the-job training because there’s nothing like real-world experience. West Virginia University really focuses on experiential and hands-on learning. We’re working through cases. We’re trying to approximate the real world as closely as we can so that when they graduate, they have the skills necessary to excel in this field.

Career Outlook for Forensic Accountants

The future looks promising for forensic accountants, with a steady outlook for career growth projected in the coming decade. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024), growth in the accounting and auditing career is expected to be 6 percent from 2023 to 2033. In 2024, there were over 1.5 million accountant jobs, and the projected growth could add 91,400 new positions nationwide.

Forensic accounting is a sub-specialty that is not specifically tracked by the BLS and will have fewer job openings. However, because accounting is such a solid field, those who want to pursue this specialty may be able to obtain a job as a CPA and eventually specialize after gaining experience, education, and certification in forensic accounting.

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) offers help for those looking at forensic accounting career paths. In addition, organizations such as the National Association of Forensic Accountants (NAFA) offer training and certification for those entering the field. Both organizations offer training opportunities that can lead to better job opportunities for skilled and certified professionals.

Forensic Accountant Salary

According to the BLS (May 2023), the average annual wage for the over 1.4 million accountants and auditors in the United States was $90,780. However, various factors can affect accountants’ salaries, such as the accountant’s experience in forensic accounting, geographic location, and where the individual works.

Here are the latest percentiles for accountants and auditors across the country:

• 10th percentile: $50,440
• 25th percentile: $62,720
• 50th percentile (median): $79,880
• 75th percentile: $103,990
• 90th percentile: $137,280

Step-by-Step: How to Become a Forensic Accountant

Significant training is involved because of the law’s intricacies and accounting standards necessary to be an effective forensic accountant. While the steps an individual takes may not necessarily mirror the following exactly, this is the most common path to becoming an accountant due to government regulations.

Step 1: Earn a high school diploma or GED (four years) – A successful career as a forensic accountant starts in high school. It is crucial to earn a diploma (or get a GED) and focus on any available advanced math or business courses to gain admission into an accredited undergraduate program in accounting.

Step 2: Earn an undergraduate degree (four years) – Accountants of any specialty must earn an undergraduate degree. Studying accounting may be most helpful, but it is possible to major in something like economics or business. Prospective CPAs should consider the CPA requirements for their state before deciding upon a major.

For example, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offers an online bachelor of science in forensic accounting. This 120-credit program teaches strong foundations in traditional accounting with a concentration in forensic accounting and fraud examination.

Courses include business law, finance, business systems analysis and design, and strategic management. Graduates from this program are eligible to sit for the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exam, which can increase graduates’ job prospects. This program also prepares graduates with a solid foundation for CPA exam eligibility.

• Location: Manchester, NH
• Duration: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Step 3: Become licensed as a CPA (timeline varies) – To work in any specialty, an accountant must earn the Certified Professional Accountant credential. Every state has its requirements (consisting of different levels of experience and training) to sit for the CPA exam, so prospective CPAs should familiarize themselves with the state’s Board of Accountancy requirements where they want to work.

According to the BLS, most states require licensed CPAs to meet the following criteria:

• Complete 150 hours of college coursework (which is approximately 30 hours more than what most bachelor’s degree programs require)
• Take and pass a four-part Uniform CPA Examination offered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
• Once earned, maintain CPA licensure with continuing education

Step 4: Gain experience in accounting (timeline varies) – Accounting graduates can often find internships or entry-level work while studying for the CPA exam. Some forensic accountant certification exams require a minimum number of years of experience to be eligible to take the exam. For example, before applying to take the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exam, applicants must be members of the ACFE and have at least two years of fraud-related work experience.

Step 5: Consider advanced education (two to four years) – An advanced degree is not a requirement for working as a forensic accountant. Still, it can help individuals to specialize further and advance their careers. Master’s in forensic account degrees are available for those dedicated to learning more about this specialty.

An exemplary graduate program is West Virginia University’s (WVU) online master of science in forensic and fraud examination (FFE). The 30-credit program curriculum is developed with the National Institute of Justice.

Students take ten courses, including six content courses in auditing, information technology, and financial and managerial accounting. The remaining four courses include electives in simulated case studies and MBA business courses. A CFE exam prep course is included in the tuition for this program.

• Location: Morgantown, WV
• Duration: 12 to 24 months
• Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Step 6: Pursue forensic accounting certification (timeline varies) – Forensic accountants may pursue professional certification in addition to advanced education. Here are three organizations offering forensic accounting credentials:

• The American Board of Forensic Accounting (ABFA) offers credentialing programs to forensic accountants, bookkeepers, and auditors, such as the Certified Forensic Accountant credential. To be eligible, applicants must apply for membership, which costs $165, prepare for the test with the Forensic Accounting Review (FAR) course, which costs $695, and pass the certification exam, which costs $585. Candidates are tested in five areas: practice and theory, fraud, litigation, cyber, and valuations.
• The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) offers the CFE or Certified Fraud Examiner credential. To be eligible for this exam, applicants must join the ACFE and prepare for the CFE exam with a self-paced online or in-person preparation course. The third step is to take the exam, which is determined by the ACFE’s eligibility calculator. The CFE exam costs $450 or $350 for those who purchase a CFE exam prep course.
• The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) offers a Certified Financial Forensics (CFF) credential. To take this exam, candidates must have a valid and unrevoked CPA license or state-issued certificate, fill out an application demonstrating 1,000 hours of business experience in the past five years and show 59 to 75 hours of forensic accounting professional development, and pass the CFF exam.

In summary, depending on how in-depth one wants to go with their training, a high school graduate will have at least four years of college, followed by the time it takes to earn a CPA license before truly starting work as a forensic accountant. Indeed, many successful forensic accountants go even further to pursue a master’s degree and certification, which can take two years.

Please see our guide to Colleges with Forensic Accounting Programs for a comprehensive list of forensic accounting degree programs, including associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and certificate programs.

Forensic Accountant Tasks and Responsibilities

Forensic accountants have unique skill sets that help them do their jobs well. These include the ability to think analytically and pay attention to accuracy. Math skills are essential, as knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations changes frequently. In addition, forensic accountants must keep detailed and organized records for their clients in the event of an audit.

Skills and tasks a forensic accountant must master to succeed in their work include:

• Uncovering and investigating financial evidence
• Building applications to streamline financial analysis
• Determining the value of assets
• Writing reports about the evidence they find and analyze
• Communicating to business owners, law enforcement, or other employers about the evidence they have found
• Testifying as key witnesses in legal proceedings

Licensure and Certification for Forensic Accountants

Most forensic accountants will want to become CPAs or certified public accountants. Forensic accountants and fraud examiners can increase their chances of getting more job offers or promotions with multiple certifications. In addition, professionals who file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) must be licensed CPAs.

In addition to the forensic accounting certifications in the step-by-step guide above, there are credentials available:

• Certified Forensic Accountant (CRFAC): This credential is offered by the American Board of Forensic Accountants to CPAs with at least two years of experience in forensic accounting. Applicants must be approved for the required course and exam to earn the credential.
• Certified Forensic Auditor (CRFAU): This is another credential offered by the American Board of Forensic Accountants. It covers forensic accounting, fraud, litigation services, cybersecurity issues, and valuations.
• National Association of Forensic Accountants (NAFA): National Association of Forensic Accountants (NAFA) members are eligible for certification upon completing that group’s specialized training course.