Q&A with Megan Chalk, CFE

Megan Chalk of Tennessee recently became a CFE after attending a virtual CFE Exam Review Course. This past fall, Chalk took some time off to pursue her goal of becoming a CFE. When Chalk is not working, she enjoys being in nature and outdoor activities. Some of favorite activities include camping and kayaking. Chalk feels that her new CFE credential will be beneficial in her current role as the operations manager for the Treasury’s Division of Investigations.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Chalk: I received my CFE credential on November 5, 2020.

Coach: Please describe your experience of attending the four-day virtual CFE Exam Review Course. What did you like most about the course?

Chalk: The virtual CFE Exam Review Course was an in-depth, voluminous four-day course. There were two instructors who taught multiple different sessions over the four-day course. Each had a unique teaching style, which was nice and gave variety to the training.

I participated in this course virtually while in my home office. During this trying time of COVID-19, I have participated in quite a few virtual trainings and seminars. Of those trainings, I enjoyed the format of this four-day Review Course the most. The layout of the virtual software was very user-friendly. It was easy to view the instructor, slideshow, and chat all at the same time.

I most liked getting the instructors’ feedback; it was the greatest benefit as a participant in this course. The instructors were really able to highlight areas of focus and explain tough concepts in detail. While taking certain sections of the CFE Exam, I pictured the instructors in my head and their portrayal of a video played that related to a concept. I can’t say this enough, but the instructors are really the most valuable part of the Review Course.

Coach: Please describe your experience of taking the CFE Exam each day after class.

Chalk: The last thing I wanted to do after a full day of virtual training was to sit and take an exam. However, I highly encourage future participants to take the exams in this way. I figured that while the material was still fresh in my mind, it was beneficial to sit and take the exam almost immediately after the Review Course ended each day.

The exam took me between sixty and ninety minutes each evening after the Review Course. I tried to not get hung up on the questions I didn’t know and just continue forward with the exam. It did take a couple of times getting into the Examity (proctoring) software to get comfortable with the whole process, but after that, it was a breeze! It was great getting the exam scores back the same evening after testing, as well. My plan was to retake the exam section later in the evening, if necessary, after receiving the test results, but luckily for me, my advanced studying and participation in this training aided me in passing each section on the first try!

Coach: Did you review the CFE Exam Prep Course prior to attending the Review Course? If so, how often did you study?

Chalk: Yes, I followed the guidance of the early Review Course emails and studied in advance of the course. A month prior to the Review Course and taking the exam sections, I began studying. I studied a few hours per week and multiple hours the weekend prior to the Review Course and CFE Exam.

Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?

Chalk: The CFE credential will be beneficial to me in my current role as the operations manager for the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury’s Division of Investigations. It is valuable that I have a deeper understanding of fraud schemes and the law surrounding fraud examinations. As someone with a non-accounting background, the basic accounting principles taught in the study materials and Review Course will also give me an advantage. Having the CFE credential also gives me credibility among other fraud professionals and criminal justice personnel. Overall, the CFE credential only strengthens my understanding of fraud and provides another resource (the ACFE) in my fraud fighting tool belt!

Coach: Would you recommend the virtual Review Course to your colleagues?

Chalk: I would absolutely recommend this course to colleagues and other fraud professionals. While it is concentrated, the ability to study, complete the Review Course, and pass each of the four CFE Exam sections in a matter of weeks is a great setup for people who have busy schedules and a lot on their plate. For some, the idea of studying and testing for months can be daunting—to those people, take this Review Course! Before you know it, you will have put in the work and achieved the CFE designation!

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Chalk: My first career was with the local prosecutor’s office. In my role there, I worked hand in hand with crime victims by aiding them through the criminal justice process. I built relationships with these individuals as their cases went through the system. Seeing firsthand the devastation fraudsters can cause to their victims was impactful. From that time onward, I chose to pursue professional opportunities that allowed me to fight against fraud and bring to light fraud’s terrible destruction to those impacted. In my current role with the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury’s Division of Investigations, I feel very fortunate for being able to continue on this path of fraud discovery and anti-fraud education.

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?

Chalk: I am a big fan of the outdoors! I like almost all outdoor activities, but my favorites are camping, hiking, and kayaking. I enjoy the calm that comes with being in nature. After a busy week, it is relaxing to float the river on my kayak or go for a long hike. I don’t mind being out of cell phone range every once and a while too! Unplugging and living in the moment comes very easily to me when I am enjoying the great outdoors!

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

Chalk: To aspiring CFEs, may I suggest following the plan! The ACFE knows what it is doing! Should you choose to participate in the Review Course, take the time and put in some studying hours in advance. That way, when the instructors teach different topics, none of the information is foreign to you. I also suggest really leaning in to the Review Course. Turn off your work and personal email notifications and don’t take calls (unless urgent). Allow yourself to give 100% focus and attention to the instructors. If you study some ahead of the Review Course and participate/engage in it fully, then I have no doubt that you will ace each exam!