2008 Woodie Awards
Forensic accounting arrives
Alexander Raymond '08
Issue date: 12/8/06 Section: Features
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In the last several years, the importance of preventing and detecting fraud has been brought home like never before. Last year, $660 billion was spent by U.S. companies as a result of fraudulent activities within the corporate world. The presence of corporate fraud has developed a high demand for accountants to provide services outside of the traditional realm of auditing and taxation. Forensic accounting has grown, particularly in light of companies like WorldCom and Enron. Forensic accountants are responsible for corporate investigations, arbitration, litigation, and business interruption cases worldwide. This area of the profession is growing at a significant rate and needed to be addressed in the classroom to prepare students for new aspects of accounting offered in the business world.
Although experienced forensic accountants are said to be in short supply, Saint Joseph's University, through its partnership with the Super 4 accounting firms, has been able to develop a forensic accounting curriculum. "The topics that comprise fraud accounting are not typical areas of study for accounting students," said associate professor Joseph Ragan, chair of the accounting department. "As a result, the accounting department had to partner with firms that offer a specialty in the forensic accounting area." PriceWaterhouseCoopers, a leading international accounting firm, stepped up to the plate in assisting with the delivery of the course. Anthony Conti, managing partner of PWC's Philadelphia Office, arranged a team of partners and directors to deliver the material. The team from PWC has been involved with countless corporate investigations including WorldCom, Tyco, Waste Management, and Adelphia. Corporations come to PWC for resources they cannot find elsewhere. The talent and expertise among the professionals on the team makes them the industry's worldwide leaders. Among the leaders are Geoff Osbourne, PWC Disputes Analysis and Investigations Partner, Mark Gerber, PWC Investigations Director, and Darren Tapp, Disputes Analysis Partner.
Although experienced forensic accountants are said to be in short supply, Saint Joseph's University, through its partnership with the Super 4 accounting firms, has been able to develop a forensic accounting curriculum. "The topics that comprise fraud accounting are not typical areas of study for accounting students," said associate professor Joseph Ragan, chair of the accounting department. "As a result, the accounting department had to partner with firms that offer a specialty in the forensic accounting area." PriceWaterhouseCoopers, a leading international accounting firm, stepped up to the plate in assisting with the delivery of the course. Anthony Conti, managing partner of PWC's Philadelphia Office, arranged a team of partners and directors to deliver the material. The team from PWC has been involved with countless corporate investigations including WorldCom, Tyco, Waste Management, and Adelphia. Corporations come to PWC for resources they cannot find elsewhere. The talent and expertise among the professionals on the team makes them the industry's worldwide leaders. Among the leaders are Geoff Osbourne, PWC Disputes Analysis and Investigations Partner, Mark Gerber, PWC Investigations Director, and Darren Tapp, Disputes Analysis Partner.
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