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Forensic Accountant

A Forensic Accountant analyses financial data for legal cases, identifies discrepancies, and presents findings related to fraud and insolvency.

How do I become a forensic accountant

Get qualified to work as a forensic accountant with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.

Common questions

In Australia, a full time Forensic Accountant generally earns $2,000 per week ($104,000 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.

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The accounting industry has seen an increase in employment numbers in Australia over the last five years. There are currently 195,800 people employed in this field and a small number of them are hired as Forensic Accountants. Forensic Accountants may find work across all regions of Australia.

Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights

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If you’re interested in starting a career as a Forensic Accountant, an Advanced Diploma of Accounting could be the right course for you. This qualification covers various aspects of business and commercial accounting and includes topics such as working with financial systems, preparing financial reports, auditing financial records and interpreting financial statistics.

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Further reading

What can you do with a Diploma of Accounting?

29th September 2021

Career Spotlight: Accounting and Taxation Professionals

9th October 2019

What can you do with a Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping?

18th August 2020

Forensic Accountant careers

A Forensic Accountant analyses financial information for legal or court cases. You might have to go through accounting data to look for discrepancies or inaccuracies and prepare a report on your findings. Forensic Accountants often have to present information in cases involving fraud, insolvency, bankruptcy or valuations. Reviewing and auditing financial data will be a big part of your job and you may work for a range of investigative organisations.

A Forensic Accountant needs to have strong auditing skills and excellent attention to detail. You’ll have to be focused, organised and able to manage several cases at once. Forensic Accountants should be able to prepare detailed reports and communicate their findings confidently. You’ll have to be able to navigate a range of financial systems to find the information you need.