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What path would I follow to end up with a career in forensic accounting?

I am currently an accounting major, but do I need a minor in criminal justice in order to get a position??

career-path spring25 criminal-justice accounting forensic forensic-accounting
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Thomas’s Answer

You don't need a minor in criminal justice to land a forensic accounting job. Check if your school offers any forensic accounting classes; they can be incredibly beneficial. At my school, these classes included a mini internship with the Sheriff's Department's white-collar crime unit, where I spent one day a week working alongside the team, learning, and assisting in investigations. The head officer there had an accounting degree and began his journey by becoming a police officer, eventually working in white-collar crimes. This could be an exciting path for you if you're interested in that field.

If law enforcement isn't your preference, don't worry! You can still pursue a career in public accounting, focusing on audit and assurance. You might also find a firm that specializes in forensic work and express your interest in joining their team. Experience in audit and assurance will set you up well for a future in forensic accounting. Keep exploring and stay determined—you're on the right track!
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Nashwat’s Answer

A major in Accounting is more than enough for college. Once you graduate, you will want to purse your Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) license.
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Tyler’s Answer

Echoing the others, a criminal justice minor is not required. Most large accounting firms have a significant forensic accounting practice which you can join without a criminal justice background. That said, the firms will want you to be a CPA in addition to obtaining potential other fraud specific certifications (potentially the CFE). This will likely be the most direct path into the field given the large number of college graduates the large accounting firms hire each year. Even if you cannot get a job directly out of school in forensic accounting, your interest in the field should allow you to work your way into the practice with some networking and hard work.

That said, if you have an interest in criminal justice and know you need additional credits to reach the 150 needed for a CPA license, adding the minor could allow you to pursue the interest and work toward your CPA at the same time! I would just ensure you are obtaining all necessary accounting credit requirements for your state. You can check NASBA's website for your state's requirements.
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Jamie’s Answer

Like everyone has noted, a criminal justice degree is not necessary to become a forensic accountant. I am a forensic auditor, and I currently have a bachelors degree in accounting and a masters degree in accounting (although this is not necessary to get a job as a forensic accountant). I do think the masters degree helped me stand out when I interviewed for my current role but not required. Several people on my team have their CFE, which is also an option to help you stand out. I would say that forensic accounting is a very niche career path, but every company usually has a team of forensic accountants/auditors. The teams may be smaller; therefore, jobs may be a little more difficult to find. However, there are usually not as many qualified applicants. So, this balances out. I absolutely love what I do, and I'm so glad this is something you are interested in!
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Lisa’s Answer

You don't need a criminal justice degree to become a forensic accountant. If you join a big firm, let them know you're interested in forensic accounting. Fraud is a big issue, and accounting firms are eager to find people who want to move from regular accounting to something more specialized, like forensic accounting.
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Scott’s Answer

You do not need a criminal justice degree, I would recommend seeking a graduate level accounting degree, obtaining your CPA license, and going to work in the audit practice of a public accounting firm. Alot of the forensic techniques are rooted in audit theory and methodology so its a great foundation. Most larger accounting firms will have a forensic practice that would also be a great place to start, but those opportunities are more limited than audit practice positions. As noted in the previous answer, ultimately, you will want to pursue your CFE license - there are some work experience requirements to be mindful of as you navigate obtaining that certifications. Lastly, if you are interested in a law enforcement career, organizations like the FBI have a long history of recruiting accounting majors - so that could be another possibility with an accounting degree.
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