Professional Resume Template for
Forensic Accountant
Kendra M. Sterling
Chicago, IL
(312) 555-0143
kendra.sterling@email.com
linkedin.com/in/kendra-sterling-cpa | kendrasterling.com
Professional Summary
Methodical Forensic Accountant with 5 years of track record executing financial investigations, fraud detection, and litigation support for corporate and legal clients. Expertise includes reconstructing complex transaction flows, tracing asset diversions up to $8M, and performing economic damage assessments. Successfully uncovered $2.4M in misappropriated assets and reduced audit cycles by 20% through automated database query templates. Proficient in SQL, Excel, IDEA, and Tableau.
Work Experience
Forensic Accountant — Vance Investigative Group
Chicago, IL | January 2024 – Present
- Led 14 corporate fraud investigations, identifying $4.2M in unauthorized wire transfers and tracing asset diversions across 6 international jurisdictions.
- Reconstructed 4 years of falsified general ledgers for a litigation support engagement, uncovering $1.8M in tax evasion schemes and reducing trial prep time by 22%.
- Standardized SQL-based transaction query templates, decreasing forensic audit cycle times by 30% for a team of 8 investigators.
- Authored 12 expert witness and investigative reports detailing complex shell company structures for corporate counsel and law enforcement agencies.
Associate Forensic Analyst — Beacon Litigation Services
Chicago, IL | June 2021 – December 2023
- Scrutinized 50,000+ bank transactions and ledger entries using IDEA software to isolate patterns of billing fraud, recovering $850,000 in vendor overpayments.
- Conducted forensic interviews and document reviews for 18 partnership disputes, assisting in the settlement of claims totaling $5.5M.
- Built interactive Tableau fraud-risk dashboards that reduced internal compliance review times by 15% across 3 client corporate offices.
- Verified compliance of 40+ financial disclosures and SEC filings, identifying reporting discrepancies that resolved a major regulatory inquiry 10 days ahead of deadline.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
DePaul University · Chicago, IL · 2021
Skills
Fraud investigation, Asset tracing, Litigation support, Corporate compliance, Economic damage assessment, Partnership dispute resolution, Bank reconciliation, Reconstructing ledgers, SQL, IDEA data analysis, Tableau, Microsoft Excel (advanced formulas), SEC reporting, CFE preparation
Projects
Bankruptcy Asset Recovery
Role: Lead Investigator
Tools: SQL, IDEA, Excel, Tableau
Uncovered a hidden network of 5 shell companies, recovering $2.1M in transferred assets for a major retail bankruptcy trustee within 4 months.
Corporate Embezzlement Audit
Role: Forensic Auditor
Tools: IDEA, SQL, Microsoft Access
Identified a vendor kickback scheme involving 3 internal employees, saving the client $620,000 in annual recurring losses and providing litigation reports for prosecution.
Certifications
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) (2023)
- Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) (2022)
Additional information
- Languages: English (Native), Polish (Conversational)
- Professional Affiliations: Member, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE); Member, Illinois CPA Society
- Availability: 3 weeks notice
Job Market Insights
Market data and opportunities for
Forensic Accountant
Job Market Insights
$82,000
-
$128,000
Avg:
$98,000
Growth Outlook:
The employment of forensic accountants, categorized under accountants and auditors, is projected to grow by 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. The demand is heavily propelled by the rising complexity of corporate fraud, cybersecurity threats, and international regulatory compliance requirements. Specialized credentials like the CFE or CPA with a forensic focus are expected to see the strongest hiring interest.
5% growth from 2024 to 2034
Key Skills Required
Focus on these skills when customizing your resume for recruiter screenings.
Search Jobs
Explore live openings for
Forensic Accountant
roles and tailor your resume to match the market demand.
Search
Forensic Accountant
FAQ
Common questions about the
Forensic Accountant
position