Jason Addison, CFE

Jason Addison of Oklahoma recently became a CFE after attending an in-person CFE Exam Review Course in Austin this past fall. Addison is in the audit field and feels that the knowledge he gained while working toward his CFE credential has helped him develop test plans for fraud risks during audits. Read more about Addison’s experience below.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Addison: I was certified on November 23, 2021.

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

Addison: This was my first experience attending a live Review Course. Not knowing what to expect, I was surprised by how well coordinated the schedule was and how closely the instructors were able to keep on track. The facility was very nice as well. Oh, and the meals were top-notch! My favorite part was how well the daily schedule matched to the actual daily experience. The staff and instructors were all about making this a comfortable learning environment.

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

Addison: We were highly encouraged to take the exams daily as they did not count against us; they did a good job putting us at ease in this sense. I pre-read the next day’s coursework and did the practice questions the night before. This helped me focus on the areas I did not understand well during the pre-read or in the practice questions. Once the daily coursework ended, I would take five to ten minutes to relax, gather my thoughts, and go straight to the exam. There was plenty of time allotted for us to take the exam, so that helped ease any concerns of running out of time. I felt that I could take my time, review each test question carefully, and then mark the appropriate answer.

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

Addison: Yes, I spent about four hours each day during the week, prior to the course, reviewing the Fraud Examiners Manual and utilizing the Practice Exam questions.

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

Addison: This CFE training allows me to be a point of contact within our company/audit department for fraud risk assessments and assist with investigations. Additionally, it helps me develop test plans for fraud risks during routine audits.

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

Addison: Yes, I would absolutely recommend this course. My actual test scores were, on average, ten points higher than when I took the Practice Exams without having the course knowledge.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Addison: Growing up, I was intrigued by fraud; I would go to the library and check all the fraud videos (Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, etc.). I was fascinated about the psychology of fraudsters, the rationalization, and how most think they will get away with it. Listening to victims’ stories of losing life savings or the impact that frauds have on the economy (raising costs for all) is heartbreaking and lights the fire within me to help combat it.

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?

Addison: I really enjoy attending auctions of all kinds  (i.e., estate, farm, and government auctions). It is the thrill of bidding and buying something at a discounted price and then driving across the country sometimes to pick it up. In 2020, I bought a 2006 Ford F-350 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Utah for about half the market price. It doesn’t get much better than that!

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

Addison: Get a familiarity with the subject areas prior to attending in person, or virtual, even if five to ten hours total is all you have; something is better than nothing. Do as many practice questions and tests as you can. During the course, I found that pre-reading helped with being able to correct any misunderstanding. I was able to improve my practice exam scores versus my actual exam scores by ten points because of the course.