School of Accounting / Graduate Forensic Certificate  
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Forensic Accounting Certificate

The School of Accounting now offers a specialized graduate certificate in forensic accounting, which can now be completed entirely online. For those in the San Francisco area, courses are also offered in-person at our downtown San Francisco campus. The development of the Graduate Certificate follows the 2009 authorization 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.

Upcoming Forensic Accounting Informational Webinars

Attend one of the free upcoming, 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.

If you were unable to attend any of our previous Summer 2010 webinars, you can view the presentation materials through the below links. For any questions about the program, courses we offer, or assistance with registration and enrollment, please contact the School of Accounting and an advisor will be able to help.

Forensic Accounting Profession Determines the Need for Education

The School of Accounting began a new graduate specialty certificate in forensic accounting in January 2009. The move followed 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.

Academic Requirements and Course Work

A total of 18 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. 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 (3 units)
ACCTG 372 Introduction to Financial Forensic Accounting (3 units)

ELECTIVE COURSES (Any combination for a total of 15 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 311 Fraud Auditing (3 units )
ACCTG 373 Forensic Accounting in Family Law (3 units)
ACCTG 374 Damages (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 415-442-6559 or accounting@ggu.edu.

Forensic Accounting Advisory Board

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

Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP
Joe Zier

DZH Phillips
Gary Phillips

Glenn & Dawson
Don Glenn

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

Huron Consulting Group
Christine Beliveau

LECG
James Long
Eric Poer
Ed Westerman

Mako Strategies
Karl Bemesderfer
Dennis Mandell

Matson, Driscoll & Damico
Dixon Grier

Navigant Consulting
Mark Wescott Marcus Wong

Perry-Smith LLP
Lori Jackson

Seiler LLP
Maree Gannoway
Jed Greene

StoneTurn Group
Steven Boyles

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."
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