Forensic Accounting Certificate

Upcoming Forensic Accounting Informational Webinars

Attend one of the following free interactive, live webinars to ask questions, get answers and apply. For more information about the forensic accounting webinars or to register for one of the webinars, please click here.

Forensic Accounting Profession Determines the Need for Education

The program development of the 15-unit Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting follows the authorization in May 2008 by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) of a specialty credential in forensic accounting: the "certified financial forensic" (CFF). Explicit in the requirements for CPAs to qualify for the CFF is continuing professional education, and GGU is ready to provide the technical knowledge needed by both attorneys and accountants working in the forensic field.

Experts Design GGU's Forensics Curriculum

An advisory board of subject-matter experts designed the forensic accounting curriculum which includes courses in bankruptcy and insolvency, economic damages, fraud investigations, stakeholder disputes, valuation and lost profits. CPAs looking for forensic accounting expertise and attorneys who need to know the vocabulary of forensics, as well as what questions to ask during complex discovery and litigation, are both expected as students in the forensic accounting certificate program. Forensic courses will be eligible for CPE and MCLE credit, as well.

Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting

A total of 15 units of forensic accounting courses must be completed at Golden Gate University with a B average (3.0 grade point average) or better to earn the certificate and at least a C- in earned in each course. Please note that some courses taken as part of the forensic accounting certificate will have prerequisites. These prerequisites must be satisfied (through transfer or equivalent course work or through courses taken at Golden Gate University) before the certificate can be completed.

REQUIRED COURSE (9 units)
ACCTG 311 Fraud Auditing (3 units )
ACCTG 372 Introduction to Financial Forensic Accounting (3 units)
ACCTG 374 Damages (3 units)

ELECTIVE COURSES (Any combination for a total of 6 units)
Elective courses will be taught by experts in each topic. One-unit courses will be offered over a five-week period, so that three may be taken consecutively within one trimester.

ACCTG 373 Forensic Accounting in Family Law (3 units)
ACCTG 375A Economic Damages (1 unit)
ACCTG 375C Forensic Valuation (1 unit)
ACCTG 375D Bankruptcy and Insolvency (1 unit)
ACCTG 375G Construction Claims (1 unit)
ACCTG 375I Lost Wages and Employment Litigation (1 unit)
ACCTG 375J Disputes in Mergers & Acquisitions (1 unit)
ACCTG 375K Intellectual Property (1 unit)
ACCTG 375L Financial Statement Investigations (1 unit)
ACCTG 375N Complex Discovery and Data Management (1 unit)
ACCTG 375O Expert Testimony (1 unit)
ACCTG 375P Role of the Expert and the Expert Report (1 unit)
ACCTG 375R Allegations of Audit Failure (1 unit)
ACCTG 376 Special Topics in Forensic Accounting (1-3 units)

Enrollment Information

Admissions information, including the online application process for the certificate in forensic accounting, is available here. If you would like to take just one or several forensic accounting courses, but do not want to complete all of the requirements for the certificate, please register for class by using open enrollment. Information is available regarding the academic calendar, course schedules, class descriptions (including prerequisites), tuition, registration and assistance paying for your courses. Any questions or requests for additional information may be directed to the School of Accounting at 415-442-7800 or info@ggu.edu.

Forensic Accounting Advisory Board

Arthur Perkins Consulting
Arthur Perkins Jr.

Burr, Pilger Mayer
Curtis Burr (BA 74, MBA 76)

Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP
Joe Zier

DZH Phillips
Gary Phillips

Ernst & Young
Marcus Wong

Five Corners Group
Jed Greene

FTI Consulting
Christine Beliveau
Eric Poer
Ed Westerman

Glenn & Dawson
Don Glenn

Hemming Morse, Inc. CPAs
Steven Boyles
Vanessa Hill
Monica Ip
Greg Regan
Paul Regan (MS 79)
Caroline Van Alst (MAC 02)

Mako Strategies
Karl Bemesderfer
Dennis Mandell

Matson, Driscoll & Damico
Dixon Grier

Navigant Consulting
Mark Wescott

NVDIA
James Long

Maree Gannoway

Lori Jackson

Donald Kintzer

Stuart Weil, JD, CPA

Advisor Paul Regan (MS 79) said, "I am so pleased the GGU School of Accounting is leading the profession by establishing this certificate. I have been happy to be involved in its design and implementation, as have others from my firm. We are excited that the specialized knowledge needed in forensics will be available at Golden Gate University."