My next big challenge – Certified Fraud Examiner

Fraud word cloud

It’s been longer than usual between posts, and, unfortunately, it might not get much better for a the next few months. While I don’t usually get too personal here, I’ll fill you in on what’s been going on and what’s on the horizon.

Just before Christmas I injured some ribs in one of those crazy in-home falls. If anyone has ever experienced a rib injury, you know how painful it can be and how long it takes to heal. I’m finally healed enough to resume my normal activities, but for the past couple of months the blog needed to take a back seat to more pressing matters, especially client projects.

And now I’m embarking on a new challenge – something that will again take time away from writing. I’ve started studying for the Certified Fraud Examiner exam, which, for those of you familiar with this credential, is no small feat. According to the ACFE, the exam requires about 35 hours of study and practice exams. Once certified, I’m required to complete 20 hours of continuing education per year.

So, why bother at this stage of my life and my career with such a long-term and challenging commitment? I have several reasons:

Better serve my existing clients  – Being in the fraud prevention business, as a CFE I will be better trained to spot potential red flags and address client risk.

Attract new clients – I honestly don’t know where it will take me, but, as the industry gold standard, the CFE will open my business to new markets and new possibilities.

CFEs are cool – Everyone I’ve met through the ACFE has been smart, professional, and always willing to help a newbie.

I love and need to keep learning – A Master’s degree during middle age and now a new credential after 16 years in business. I call it age-prevention.

What does this mean, and why am I telling you about it? First, between trying to run a business, schedule serious study time, and occasionally have a life, it might be difficult to post each week. And, second, when I do post I’ll be writing about my CFE journey: what I’m learning and how I’m progressing. Hopefully, I can keep the time between posts short.

In the meantime, I’d love to hear from any CFEs who want to share insights about your favorite part about being a CFE and how this credential has affected your career or business. And if you have any study tips, I’ll take those too!

 

 

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