Curious as a 20 year old college student if there was any Forensic accountants on here. I would like to speak a little bit to help me decide if this is the major i want to settle on. Thanks

I work with them. Maybe I can help you?

Well first i would like to know what they fell the pro's and con's of their job are. I think a general brief background of their career would help also. Just trying to get a feel for what they do day to day.

I am not a forensic accountant by any means but have done work as one, and I am also a CPA that works in a public accounting firm that has them.

Basically you are an auditor, nothing more nothing less, instead of producing an audit report at the end of the engagement, you will produce a report that details what ever was requested of you.

Forensic accountants are hired for a number of different reasons, but when it all boils down to it, you are verifying whether or not the information either employees, clients, or other business have given your client isaccurate.

Once you determine yes or no, it is up to the client to do what he will with the information.

^^^ What he said, but it can have a little more variety than that.

I've seen entry level (and not so entry level) forensic accountants spend days or weeks reading 1000's of emails, looking for anything out of the ordinary.

I've also seen them get out-of-town assignments that have them living in a hotel Monday through Friday and flying home on weekends for up to 6 months consecutively. (Which is not a fun thing, in case you are young or crazy and think this sounds exciting!)

It is like basic accounting and auditing, but a few years down the road, you may find yourself writing reports for attorneys that will be used in court to prove someone's innocence or guilt, or the extent of damages, etc.

Most of the fresh-out-of-college to ~5 years people seem to be working on CPAs and/or CFAs. I think beyond that you pretty much are expected to have a CPA, and a CFA is a nice extra, but not required.

Thank you much guys. That was helpful information.