Sharyl (Shari) L. Chamberlain, a CPA financial forensics expert with Walter & Shuffain, P.C., has recently been awarded the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) credential by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and the globally-preferred Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).

The CFF credential was established in 2008 by the AICPA. The credential is granted exclusively to qualified CPAs with considerable professional experience in financial forensics who are members in good standing of the AICPA, which binds them to the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. A national, professional association of CPAs, the AICPA has more than 350,000 members, including CPAs in business and industry, public practice, government, and education. It sets ethical standards for the profession and U.S. auditing standards for audits of private companies; federal, state and local governments; and nonprofit organizations. In addition, the AICPA also develops and grades the Uniform CPA examination. Headquartered in New York, the AICPA maintains offices in Washington, D.C.; Durham, N.C.; and Lewisville, TX.

In order to become a CFE, an anti-fraud professional must meet a stringent set of criteria and pass a rigorous exam administered by the ACFE. Chamberlain joins the ranks of more than 23,000 business and government professionals worldwide who hold CFE certification. CFEs have the ability to examine data and records in order to detect and trace fraudulent transactions, interview suspects to obtain information and confessions, write investigation reports, advise clients as to their findings, and testify at trial. They also must be well-versed in the law as it relates to fraud and fraud investigations, and have an understanding of the underlying factors that motivate individuals to commit fraud. More than 1 million suspected cases of civil and criminal fraud have been investigated by CFEs on six continents.

Article Date: 25th January 2010