Investigation & Prevention of Commercial Fraud

Certificate Program

An increasing number of companies and organizations are being victimized by internal fraud. As a result, accountants, auditors, lawyers and other professionals are seeing the rising need to establish fraud prevention systems and to comply with securities and other laws that prohibit fraudulent financial reporting. The Investigation & Prevention of Commercial Fraud Certificate Program at Northwestern University helps professionals meet these growing challenges.

This program is designed for accountants and internal auditors; attorneys; law enforcement officers; government investigators; audit committee members; executive management and owners of small and mid-sized companies; and career changers that have an interest in taking fraud courses and exploring this growing field.

Students will learn:

• Varied forms of financial statement fraud including billing schemes, cash larceny, bribery and corruption
• The legal requirements for fraud prevention within an organization and Sarbanes-Oxley fraud prevention requirements
• Data investigation techniques utilized during the course of fraud investigation
• Various interview and interrogation techniques commonly utilized in fraud examination
• How to utilize forensic accounting, data analysis, and computer forensics to conduct a fraud investigation

To earn a certificate, participants must complete four classes from the six offered within one year. Students may "fast-track" the program by taking two courses per term, or may select a longer option involving one evening course per week over the duration of the program. There are no pre-requisites, enabling professionals to enroll in individual courses as professionally needed. While not required, a basic understanding of accounting and financial reporting is recommended. Those interested in additional accounting skills may consider attending the Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers course. Students continuing in the field of Forensic Accounting may also be interested in the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) Review course, offered in partnership with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Students may also take any courses desired to expand their knowledge base or attain continuing education credits.

Custom Programs

The School of Continuing Studies works with corporate partners to develop custom Investigation & Prevention of Commercial Fraud programs to meet their specific needs. This program can be held at your company location.

Northwestern Excellence

• Northwestern University is a preeminent university recognized internationally as a hallmark of academic excellence.
• School of Continuing Studies programs provide students with exceptional opportunities for intellectual, professional and personal growth.
• SCS instructors bring outstanding academic credentials and relevant professional experience to the classroom to create a highly interactive, collaborative, and challenging learning environment.
• SCS students study with peers who have rich, diverse backgrounds and can provide lifelong learning connections.

Continuing Education Credits

C.P.E. credit will be offered to Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), and CE credit will be offered to insurance professionals, internal auditors, and Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs).

Registration

Registration information can be found on the course listings page.

Whom can I contact for more information?

For further questions regarding this program, students may call 847-491-3225 or email pdp@northwestern.edu.