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Join your local ACFE chapter, you’ll have to get a CFE to sponsor you which would open job opportunities for you.
Get CFE, think about how you can frame any work experience from a fraud perspective. If there are an resume points about verifying SSNs, background research on clients, looking for abnormalities in information provided on previous returns which could be red flags to take on the client, that kind of stuff will help get in the door in a forensic role.
I’m a 15+ year forensic accountant at top-20 firm:
*CPA is a need to have. Demonstrates mental aptitude and provides credibility when testifying as an expert.
*CFE is a nice to have. Shows you’re serious about the field and not just “running away from audit/tax to the fun stories” (which many applicants are). Your degree helps in this regard.
*Tax background (vs audit) can be scary to some. Not a dealbreaker, we’ve had some successes with former tax people, but it likely means you’re going into the interviews as the underdog. How much depends on the book of business composition where you’re applying (there are many types of forensic accounting practices/services, some favor audit heavily over tax, some it’s not as relevant). You learn skills in audit (interviewing, some writing, doc review, analytics, etc…that you typically don’t in tax).
*learn those skills ^^^ so you can include on your resume to proactively alleviate any concerns about the tax background.
*Be tenacious (but balance so as not to be burdensome) with contacting the forensic team where you want to work. A key skill in this field is being able to get stuff done when encountering obstacles (as there almost always are in litigation/investigations). So, demonstrating you’re not a pushover and don’t give up easily will keep you top of mind and inadvertently demonstrate a critical skill.
Hope that helps!
This was excellent advice. Also, I advise you to do it sooner rather than later. Depending on where you intend to work, you will have to "catch up" on experience more and more each year you don't make the move. And there becomes a point where your rate makes it challenging to staff you on a project if you don't have the relevant experience.
I moved into forensic accounting with no masters. It was thanks to a supervisor that helped me move into the group. I would suggest making connections with your local CFE chapter or TMA chapter to find job referrals. It also helps to have your CPA and open to getting your CFE.
I did the same but then was told to have any hope of working in forensics I had to have at least a masters if not more. But that was just what I was told.
I’ve not seen this (at our firm, or competitors) unless maybe it was in reference to getting the 150 hours for CPA?
I'm currently studying for my CPA now that the move is over and we're mostly unpacked. I was thinking of getting my CFE after that.