Georgia Southern will co-host Fraud and Forensic Accounting Education Conference

May 7, 2007

More than 150 accountants and educators from as far away as California and South Africa will be in Savannah May 10-12 for the Fraud and Forensic Accounting Education Conference, co-hosted by the Center for Forensic Studies in Accounting and Business at Georgia Southern University.

‘The growing number of online transactions has increased the opportunities for fraud,” said Thomas Buckhoff, associate professor in Georgia Southern’s School of Accountancy. ‘Forensic accountants serve two purposes: they help the victims of fraud assess the extent of their losses, and they provide evidence that can be used by law enforcement. There’s a shortage of CPAs nationally, so forensic accounting is a good field for students to consider.”

The material and content for the upcoming conference are based on a National Institute of Justice Curriculum Model and are designed to enhance skill development and best practices in the classroom and in the field. Those who attend can earn up to 20 continuing professional education (CPE) hours.

The conference, also co-hosted by West Virginia University, will include a general session titled ‘Forensic Interviews and Interrogations” and a variety of breakout sessions presented by fraud and forensic accounting professionals. Sessions run the gamut from basic to advanced topics in fraud and forensic accounting, and presenters include representatives of the four largest accounting firms, federal agents, the Internal Revenue Service, and the FDIC.

All conference sessions will be conducted at the Savannah Marriott Riverfront. More information about the conference program, costs, and forms for registration are available at http://coba.georgiasouthern.edu/pdf%20files/fraud_conf.pdf.

Questions about the conference may be addressed to Cynthia Parrish at cparrish@georgiasouthern.edu or call 912-681-5679.