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Elms College MBA Program Offers Forensic Accounting Certificate

CHICOPEE — The MBA Program at Elms College is offering an advanced graduate-studies certificate program in forensic accounting to prepare accounting professionals, auditors, and law-enforcement personnel who may support litigation teams on cases related to economic fraud.

Forensic accounting is a specialized field of financial detective work that assists law enforcement in the investigation of white-collar crime. It is one of the fastest-growing areas of accounting, according to a report by industry analyst IBISWorld. This type of complex accounting examination expands far beyond a typical audit and demands a specialized skill set in forensic-accounting expertise.

Consisting of five courses, the Elms College MBA program in forensic accounting combines accounting knowledge with auditing and investigative skills to view the reality of the whole business situation. This graduate certificate program requires a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field, with a minimum of two years exposure to accounting practices. The program provides an understanding of what forensic accounting and fraud examination are and the role an accountant plays in these examinations; how to use information technology to uncover fraud; and how to conduct, manage, and document a forensic engagement. The program is taught by industry executives on the front lines of managing forensic engagements.

“If you already have an accounting MBA, only four courses are needed to complete the certificate,” said Kimberly Kenney-Rockwal, director of MBA Programs at Elms. Also, completion of the introductory course “Principles of Forensic Accounting” may be applied toward an Elms MBA. For more information, visit www.elms.edu/mbaforensic.