Forensic accounting has become a critical discipline in safeguarding the integrity of public resources and reinforcing accountability within government agencies. Unlike traditional audits, which focus on compliance and financial accuracy, forensic accounting emphasizes investigation, evidence, and the detection of intentional misconduct. This course provides government auditors with a comprehensive understanding of forensic accounting concepts, investigative methods, and specialized tools tailored to the public sector environment.
The course begins with an overview of the role of forensic accounting in government oversight and the distinctions between financial audits, performance audits, and forensic engagements. Participants will explore fraud risk frameworks, with emphasis on vulnerabilities specific to governmental operations such as procurement and contracting, grant management, pension and benefit programs, vendor relationships, and public asset misappropriation.
Participants will examine the legal and ethical dimensions of forensic accounting in government, including chain of custody requirements, working with investigators and prosecutors, and preparing audit documentation that may serve as evidence in administrative, civil, or criminal proceedings.
The program will illustrate common fraud schemes in the public sector and demonstrate how forensic accountants can assist in their detection and resolution.
Publication Date: June 2026
Designed For
This course is designed for government auditors, inspectors general, internal auditors, and professionals engaged in oversight of public sector financial activities. It equips participants with both the theoretical grounding and the practical skills to identify fraud, deter misconduct, and promote accountability in the stewardship of taxpayer resources.
Topics Covered
- Fraud detection and risk assessment – Identifying red flags and patterns in government programs
- Evidence gathering and preservation – Ensuring admissibility of financial, digital, and documentary evidence
- Data analytics and forensic technology – Leveraging electronic records, transaction testing, and anomaly detection tools to uncover irregularities
- Interviewing and interrogation techniques – Developing effective skills to obtain reliable information from employees, contractors, and third parties
- Tracing funds and reconstructing records – Following the money through complex transactions, shell entities, or hidden accounts
Learning Objectives
- Differentiate forensic accounting from traditional audit approaches in government settings
- Apply forensic methodologies to detect, investigate, and document fraud in public programs
- Explain how to use data analytics and technology to identify irregularities in large and complex data sets
- Explain the legal considerations in forensic engagements, including evidence handling and litigation support
- Explain how to strengthen audit quality and public trust by integrating forensic practices into government audit functions
Level
Basic
Instructional Method
Self-Study
NASBA Field of Study
Accounting (Governmental) (1 hour), Auditing (Governmental) (1 hour)
Program Prerequisites
None
Advance Preparation
None
Instructor
Lynn Fountain
Lynn Fountain has over 38 years of experience spanning public accounting, corporate accounting and consulting. 20 years of her experience has been working in the areas of internal and external auditing and risk management. She is a subject matter expert in multiple fields including internal audit, ethics, fraud evaluations, Sarbanes-Oxley, enterprise risk management, governance, financial management and compliance. Lynn has held two Chief Audit Executive (CAE) positions for international companies. In one of her roles as CAE, she assisted in the investigation of a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme perpetrated by a vendor that spanned 7 years and implicated 20 employees. The fraud was formally investigation by the FBI and resulted in 5 indictments estimating a $13M fraud loss.
Ms. Fountain is currently engaged in her own consulting and training practice. She is a highly sought-after trainer and international speaker. In addition, Ms. Fountain has assisted numerous companies with enterprise risk management frameworks, internal audit processes and financial accounting. She also serves as a discussion leader for the AICPA for numerous classes finance, accounting and risk management topics.
Ms. Fountain is the author of three separate technical books. Her first book released in 2015 by the Institute of Internal Auditors Foundation is entitled “Raise the Red Flag – The Internal Auditors Guide to Fraud Evaluations”. Her second book “Leading the Internal Audit Function” was released in October 2015 by Taylor & Francis Publications. This book serves as the initial launch for a series of leading practice internal audit and information technology publications. Her third book “Ethics and the Internal Auditor’s Dilemma” was released in December 2016.
Ms. Fountain obtained her BSBA from Pittsburg State University and her MBA from Washburn University in Kansas. She has her CPA, CGMA, CRMA credentials.