Q & A with Hillary Crane

Hillary Crane of New York recently became a CFE after attending the CFE Exam Review Course in New York. When Hillary is not working, she loves spending her free time hunting, fishing, and coaching T-ball. This past October, however, she put some time aside to accomplish her goal of obtaining the CFE credential. Hillary believes the certification will enhance her role in her company and that maintaining the credential will help keep her up-to-date with new fraud trends and investigation techniques.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?  

Crane: I received my credential officially on April 28, 2016.
 
Coach: You attended the CFE Exam Review Course in New York and following the course you sat for the CFE Exam on-site.  Please describe your experience of participating in the 4-day course and then sitting for the exam immediately after.

Crane: The review course was extremely beneficial to my success with the exam. The information covered was explained clearly. It was a casual and comfortable environment with friendly instructors. I looked forward to putting pencil to paper after each review session, as I knew I was going to pass.
 
Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course?

Crane:  The instructors of each session were very engaging. I think it is important to grasp the attention of such a large group during initial introductions, and that is what occurred. Sitting in a conference room for an entire day can be draining. If you have an enthusiastic instructor promoting you, the course, and the exam every step of the way, you will take the exam with confidence.
 
Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?

Crane: If I back up to the reason why I joined the ACFE, that is the answer to this question. I strive to perform my work in fraud and security diligently. All of the ACFE principles are relative to my current profession—I use some of them every day. Involvement in this association was necessary to me. The certification has enhanced my role in my company. With continuing education, the CFE will help keep me up-to-date on new fraud trends and investigation techniques.

Coach: How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site? Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day?

Crane:  I reviewed the material we covered in class during breaks and in the evening. When it came time for the exam to begin each day, I did not study just before taking it. I felt that I would not have applied for the exam if I had not been ready to take it. With the review course, I felt more prepared and excited to get through each part. I am happy to report I only had to take each part once!
 
Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?

Crane: I have recommended this course to colleagues and friends alike. It’s an exciting process.
 
Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Crane: I went to college for criminal justice. I wanted to become a law enforcement officer when I was younger, but circumstances prevented me from achieving this goal right away. I was offered a great job with a financial institution and worked in mortgages for years. When a position in the fraud department opened, I read the description and applied immediately. I just knew this was where I was meant to be. 
 
Coach: Now that we know what you do professionally, what do you like to do for fun and what do you find enjoyable about it?

Crane: I love to spend all of my free time with my family. We hunt, fish, and boat, and the kids are very active in sports. I coach T-ball, and I also love to cook. My work is important to me and we all spend many hours at the office, but it’s great to go home at the end of each day to start a new adventure.

Coach:  Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?

Crane:  I would suggest you utilize the interactive Prep Course software. I would follow the instructions in the Prep Course: Study each section in its entirety and answer every review question correctly at least once. The interactive software is an excellent resource. It tracks your progress and gives you the ability to control how and what you study while also showing you areas you need to review more.