Career

Nigel Palmer, CFE

Nigel Palmer, CFE, might be a native of Wales (and a dedicated rugby player), but he’s quite comfortable in the Middle East and Africa. As a former Royal Marines Commando, he learned strategies that he still applies to challenging fraud battles as security director at Mars, Inc.

If the shoe fits ...

My career journey has been a wonderfully long and winding road through incredible roles in a wide range of industries. I’ve audited, investigated and led large global teams of people whose services kept businesses running, including IT, finance, human resources, marketing, procurement and more. I’ve been lucky enough to work with leaders and teams that have inspired me to learn crucial career lessons along the way. As I think about those lessons, I’ve distilled them down to my top three.

Erik Anderson, CFE

Fighting fraud for Erik Anderson, CFE, is so much more than conducting an examination. “I fight fraud by making sure what we’re doing is right,” says Anderson. “Whether I’m on the front lines of an investigation or using the principles of a fraud examination to better understand the risk to the organization, being a good fraud examiner is about challenging yourself to stand up for what’s right and seeking that out with passion.”

Mentoring can move your career forward faster

Whether you’re at the beginning of your career — or second career — or you’ve had years of fraud examination experience, consider entering into a mutually beneficial mentor-mentee professional relationship. This article is for both of you and everybody in between.

ACFE research director finds inspiration from passionate CFEs

When Andi McNeal, CFE, CPA, was in graduate school finishing up her master’s and researching doctorate programs, she read an article written by Dr. Joseph T. Wells, CFE, CPA, founder and Chairman of the ACFE, in the Journal of Accountancy that mentioned the fraud examination course he was teaching at the University of Texas at the time. “I was trying to find a path to focus my doctoral studies on fraud — the intersection of accounting and human behavior has always fascinated me — and I ended up emailing Dr. Wells to find out if he had any suggestions or guidance about where I could find a Ph.D. program in white-collar crime,” she says.

Dave Cotton, CFE

The ACFE presented Dave Cotton, CFE, the Certified Fraud Examiner of the Year award at the 29th Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference in June. Cotton, who’s the chairman at Cotton & Company, LLP, has played a significant role in developing best practices in anti-fraud controls.

Fraud fighters power up at the 29th Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference

More than 3,000 anti-fraud professionals gather at the largest anti-fraud conference in the world to power up their knowledge, networks and careers.

They empathize because they do what you do

The ACFE Board of Regents offer their counsel and ruminate on the dynamic anti-fraud profession during the 29th Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference.

Africa needs solid education to fight fraud

When corruption thrives and dirty money is kept in offshore accounts, Africa’s high levels of poverty remain. How do we reverse the trend? The solution lies in reviving countries’ primary educational standards and increasing fraud awareness and education.

Johanna Duenser-Mardook, CFE

Johanna Duenser-Mardook, CFE, who’s always loved solving puzzles, says the fight against fraud is a never-ending puzzle to identify missing pieces in cases or internal controls. As the vice president, business initiative fraud policy manager at Citi, Duenser-Mardook says she thrives on closing loopholes that help prevent serious damage to a person or business, financially or otherwise.

Power of presence

Leaders at all levels should daily use such high-level soft skills as collaboration, creativity, curiosity, problem-solving, communication skills, conflict management skills, strong work ethic, adaptability, social awareness, empathy, emotional intelligence (the arbiter between the rational brain and emotional brain) and clear self-expression (the ability to clearly express ideas, thoughts and opinions in a variety of media).

Jadon Fox, CFE

Jadon Fox, CFE, head of fraud control services at Taylor Fry, has analyzed countless transactions using sophisticated technologies and techniques, but he’s most proud of his relentless pursuit of dreams that live outside of the office. “My wife and I’ve always wanted to live overseas,” says Fox. “So, six years ago we sold our dream house, traveled 9,000 miles from home, settled in Australia where we knew no one and I began a job at Commonwealth Bank.”