Law Times

law Times • July 23, 2012 FOCUS Forensic organizations looking to join ranks N BY JUDY VAN RHIJN For Law Times avel-gazing seems of forensic investigators. Con- cerns over unnecessary divisions in membership, the challenges of attaining costly designations, and the lure of economies of scale have the Association of Certifi ed Fraud Examiners (ACFE), the Associa- tion of Certifi ed Forensic Investi- gators of Canada (ACFI), and the organization off ering certifi cation in investigative and forensic ac- counting reassessing their roles and their futures. Currently, there are three main be the order of the day for organizations that represent the interests to organizations that represent the interests of forensic investigators. Chartered accountants, for exam- ple, can become certifi ed special- ists in investigative and forensic accounting. Th ose practising fo- rensic law or doing any other type of forensic work are eligible to join a Canadian chapter of the Amer- ican-based ACFE or the home- grown and not-for-profi t ACFI. Th e three groups aren't mutu- ally exclusive and many members are in more than one organiza- tion. However, the community of forensic investigators is small. At present, the groups have com- peting conference dates, dinner meetings, and courses. Th e orga- nizations have all reached a simul- taneous conclusion that the time is right to re-examine their man- dates and make eff orts to attract more members. strong, managing director of Froese Forensic Partners Ltd. and a long- term board mem- ber of the ACFE, says that even though the groups are all chasing af- ter the same thing, "We're not back- stabbing anyone. I'm of the school that thinks it' Bruce Arm- to join ranks and strengthen ourselves." He points out that even the ac- s time the Canadian Institute of Char- tered Accountants, doesn't have the critical mass it' s part of existence as a splinter group of the ACFE that broke away over concerns about a lack of Canadian content and the administration of charitable money. "Th ose issues are all in the past," says Armstrong. "I am personally in favour of Th e ACFI actually started its " he says. the groups joining forces again." One of the issues that may be putting off new members is the high threshold of the designations handed out by the groups. Arm- strong recalls that all of the groups started with a grandfathering sce- nario to get them off the ground. "Th at was years and years ago. Now everyone who joins has to go through a rigorous training program." Th e accounting two-year group is currently go- ing through a review that' in investigative and forensic s examining the diploma ing. "Th e profession changes and the landscape account- 'There is not that big a mar- ket, so hopefully we can work together more,' says Ken Froese. counting group, the Alliance for Excellence in Investigative and Forensic Accounting that' "None of the groups have it indi- vidually when perhaps they could have it collectively, d like to have. as far as the work we do, changes peal to the broader family of char- tered accountants and specifi cally the newer, younger members who are interested in expanding their horizons and being exposed to this area. Not everyone wants to go down the onerous road to be- come IFAs but they want expo- sure to this kind of work. It is an exciting part of practice. "We are asking whether we ap- of forensic examiner and foren- sic investigator are also under review. Ken Froese of Froese Fo- rensic Partners Ltd. is heading up the ACFI task force looking into the issue. "Th e ACFI is a broader innovation that covers diff erent backgrounds and specialties, so we need lower levels of designa- tion across the diff erent areas than the IFAs," he says. While there' Th e less onerous certifi cates " make the courses more acces- sible, no one wants to see the standards lowered or the quali- fi cations of those who have al- ready obtained the designations s a desire to ville, chairman of the alliance. " says Ted Basker- devalued. "We're the standard bearer globally and we're proud of that," says Baskerville. "I don't think we will see a halfway designation emerge from the review. ering grandfathering some very experienced people and develop- ing courses and programs that prepare people for the exam. Th e bottom line for all the or- Th e ACFI task force is consid- " ganizations is that they're facing a lack of individuals necessary for succession planning. "We need board members and committee members. We constantly get the same people, director Alan Langley. Armstrong has exactly the " says ACFI executive same concern for the Toronto chapter of the ACFE. "Th ere is no question that the course content and material off ered are excellent and well attended, but no one is coming forward for leadership positions." a huge potential source of new members in light of the merger talks taking place in that profes- sion with plans underway to unite the chartered accountants, the certifi ed management accoun- tants, and the certifi ed general ac- countants under the globally rec- ognized designation of certifi ed professional accountant. Although Froese says it' Th e accounting group has the ACFI's objective to attract peo- s an ob- s not ple who can't or don't want to do the accounting course, it' vious source of new members for the other two groups. Still, Froese maintains the agenda is comple- menting rather than competing. " PAGE 11 the ACFI, not so much for the designation but for the broader dealings with police and lawyers. Th ey can network and learn from them. Th ere is not that big a mar- ket, so hopefully we can work to- gether more. 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