Career

Marcel Simonis, CFE

“Fighting fraud isn’t a career for individualists or opportunists,” said Marcel Simonis, CFE. “Fighting fraud is a team effort that includes a lot of hard work, and involves employees with complementary skill sets who can effectively communicate, listen and share their opinions, and work collaboratively to achieve the best results for the business.”

Once upon a time

Whether we’re teaching how to interview, give expert witness testimony or prepare clients’ reports, storytelling is an integral component. How can we provide memorable experiences for our students while making sure that we cover foundational information successful fraud examiners need to know?

Cristiane Soares, CFE

“My greatest achievement is my ability to reinvent myself as I encounter different points in my life,” says Cristiane Soares, CFE, senior investigator at TD Bank. Soares reinvented herself when she moved from her home country of Brazil to Canada to study English.

27th Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference

In one week in June, more than 3,000 fraud fighters met in Las Vegas to fill up their tanks and charge their batteries with hours of practical anti-fraud techniques and networking with peers. And to revel in their value to the anti-fraud profession.

Should you start an ACFE student chapter?

As a former student member of the ACFE, I can’t think of a better way for budding fraud examiners to explore the profession than as members of university ACFE student chapters. They not only learn valuable anti-fraud skills, but they meet professionals and make contacts that can lead to internships and jobs.

Strengthening the link between the classroom and practice

Future fraud fighters, whatever their specialties, benefit greatly from having opportunities to practice skills such as interviewing and expert-witness testimony. Who better than a practitioner to help bring these activities to the classroom?

ACFE Foundation awards scholarships in 22nd year of Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program

The ACFE Foundation has awarded $55,000 to college and university students through the Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program for the 2016-2017 school year. Each recipient also will receive a one-year ACFE student membership.

Charles Washington, CFE

Charles Washington, CFE, has learned over his many years in the anti-fraud profession that it takes tenacity, patience and good communication to discover and remediate fraud. As a director – global security, Americas, Washington is responsible for drug diversion and drug discount pricing fraud investigations at Pfizer.

Ask me a question, part 2

In this column, we’ll discuss the details of how instructors can prepare in-class practical applications so students can develop and practice their interviewing skills. I’ll supply the specific steps of preparation and execution of the in-class practical interview exercise. (See sample copies of the scenario outline and related documents discussed below at fraudscenarios.com.)

A CFE reflects on his approaching 25th anniversary

As I walked up to the podium to make a presentation at a fraud seminar at the Rutgers University Business School, I looked out into the audience. I saw students, law enforcement veterans, New Jersey ACFE Chapter members, auditors and accountants. And I wondered how many sitting there were going to be our future CFEs.

Why not getting the job offer isn't all that bad (it's fixable)

What? You didn’t get that job offer you were hoping for, even though you followed all the right strategies and tactics (hopefully the ones I’ve previously recommended in this column)? Well, you have no control over some of the variables in the hiring process, such as the economy, the fraud examination profession and regulatory compliance that stymies job growth, among others.

New Regents join board during its semi-annual meeting

Sidney P. Blum, CFE, CPA/CFF, Leah D. Lane, CFE, and Nancy E. Rich, CFE, took their oaths of office as newly elected members of the Board of Regents during the board’s semi-annual meeting on February 25 at ACFE headquarters in Austin, Texas.