Forensic accounting is one of the most fascinating career paths in the world of corporate governance, blending technical accounting expertise with investigative problem-solving. Whether it’s tracing financial fraud, supporting dispute resolution or assisting with litigation, forensic accountants play a vital role in uncovering “the truth behind the numbers”.
But how do you actually break into the field?
Decide where you want to focus: investigations, disputes, or both?
Forensic accounting covers a wide spectrum of work. Some practitioners specialise in fraud investigations, working closely with compliance, regulators, or law enforcement. Others focus on dispute advisory, supporting commercial litigation or arbitration.
Many firms will allow you to gain exposure to both, but being clear about where your interests lie will help you target the right employers. For example, Big Four firms often cover the full range of forensic services, whereas boutique firms may be more litigation- or investigation-focused.
Graduate programmes: pros and cons
It is possible to join a forensic accounting team straight from university, but this route comes with trade-offs.
Pros:
- Direct entry into your chosen career field.
- Early specialisation gives you focused technical development.
Cons:
- Very few firms actually offer forensic graduate programs.
- You’ll be highly specialised from day one, which may make career changes later more difficult.
If you are certain that forensics is the career for you, this can be a good path. But for most people, there’s a stronger option.
Train in audit or tax first
A more common and often more strategic route is to begin your career in audit or tax for two to four years, obtain a CPA or CA qualification, and then transfer into forensics.
Why?
- Audit gives you a strong grounding in accounting fundamentals and financial reporting.
- It makes you a more rounded professional, equipping you with skills that are highly transferable.
- It keeps your career flexible; from audit you could move into finance, internal audit, risk management - or other areas, if your goals change.
Many of today’s forensic accountants look back and see their early audit or tax experience as the foundation of their success.
When to make the move
The vast majority of forensic accountants transition into the field at the senior associate or senior consultant level, usually after 2 - 4 years of total accounting experience. At this stage:
- You’ve qualified as a CPA or CA.
- You’ve demonstrated strong core accounting skills.
- You can show a genuine interest in forensics - whether through case studies, secondments, or further studies
Firms are often very open to hiring auditors or tax accountants into forensic roles at this level, provided you bring both technical ability and clear enthusiasm for the career switch.
Making the transition with Leonid
At Leonid, we work with many firms that are actively hiring auditors and tax professionals into their first forensic accounting positions. We understand the skills firms value and the paths that lead to success. If you’re considering a career in forensic accounting - whether through graduate entry or via audit/tax - we can help guide you towards the right opportunities.
For further information on our forensic accounting recruitment, please get in touch with Adam Nelson for a friendly chat!
