Q&A with Lisa Jason, CFE

Lisa Jason of Washington, DC, became a CFE after attending a CFE Exam Review Course. Jason feels that the CFE credential will give her the recognition and integrity she strives for in her profession. When Jason is not working, she loves to shop and spend time with family and friends.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?
Jason: I received my CFE credential on September 27, 2019.

Coach: Please describe your experience of participating in the four-day course and sitting for the exam immediately afterward.
Jason: The Review Course was truly an informative experience. When I first thought of pursuing the CFE credential, I purchased the CFE Exam Prep Course but was unaware of how to use it, so I decided to attend the on-site Review Course for a clearer understanding of each section. The online Prep Course was a good tool for me to use. Participating in the four-day course was valuable due to the opportunity for note-taking to study.

Coach: What did you like most about the Review Course?
Jason: What I liked most was how the instructors explained each section in great detail. The instructors helped decrease the level of test anxiety for those who have challenges with test-taking.

Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?
Jason: I review and audit contracts for a health care agency and having the CFE credential allows me to receive recognition.

Coach: How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site?
Jason: I purchased the online Prep Course to begin my process. I began reviewing the sections, but I didn’t understand the process clearly until I attended the Review Course. After each day of the course, I read the material that was provided at the beginning of each day, which allowed me to create my personal notes file for future reference.

Coach: Would you recommend the Review Course to your colleagues?
Jason: Of course, I would highly recommend the Review Course to my colleagues.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?
Jason: Integrity is what we strive for in our profession. The lack of integrity in some people drives my strong desire to ensure that I maintain integrity in everything I do in my day-to-day duties, and I am passionate about 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?
Jason: What I love to do is shop. I think I missed my calling as a buyer because I truly enjoy fashion. I also enjoy spending time with my family and friends.

Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?
Jason: I highly recommend that each candidate research and review each section carefully before taking the CFE Exam. If you have questions, reach out to the CFE consultants for study tips. Make sure that you allow yourself enough study time before taking the exam. Being ahead of the game helps reduce test anxiety.

Q&A Charles T. McMurray, CFE

Charles T. McMurray of Virginia received his CFE credential this past fall after preparing with the CFE Exam Prep Course. McMurray feels that the CFE credential will help him once he retires and seeks employment in the private industry. When McMurray is not working, he enjoys competing in the Highland Games and is the reigning National Legends Champion in his age group.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

McMurray: I was certified on November 21, 2019.

Coach: Please describe your experience using the CFE Exam Prep Course.

McMurray: I found the Prep Course to be very helpful in allowing me to focus on my weaknesses and study the material that I needed the most.

Coach: What did you like most about the Prep Course?

McMurray: I liked the simplicity of the Prep Course the most. I liked that I knew exactly what to study and where to find the concepts in the Fraud Examiners Manual.

Coach: How long did it take you to complete the Prep Course?

McMurray: I completed the Prep Course in two weeks; however, it took me a month and a half to pass all parts of the exam. I passed the first three parts on my first attempt but struggled with Fraud Prevention and Deterrence. Not having worked directly in the auditing field, I struggled with some of the concepts and terminology. By reviewing the material over and over and studying the manual, I was finally able to pass that last part.

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

McMurray: As a special agent with the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, it has made me more aware of other areas of fraud that I might not deal with on a day-to-day basis. It will benefit me tremendously once I retire and seek employment in the private industry.

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

McMurray : Absolutely, just as several of my colleagues recommended it to me.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

McMurray: Years ago, there was a local sheriff who was under investigation for corruption, wire fraud, and money laundering. He used his position as sheriff to benefit himself by diverting funds away from the sheriff’s office and city for his personal use. He ultimately committed suicide before being prosecuted. That was the first experience I had with fraud and financial investigations.

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?

McMurray: I am a world-class Highland Games athlete. I compete in the masters division (40+), and I am currently ranked number one in the world in the 50–54 age class. I am the reigning National Legends Champion for ages 50–54, and I finished second in the 2019 Masters World Championship Highland Games for ages 50–54 in Tucson, Arizona. I am scheduled to compete in Killarney, Ireland, in June at the 2020 Masters World Championship Highland Games. I enjoy the competitiveness, as well as the comradery, with my fellow competitors. It allows me to work out and keep in shape.

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

McMurray: Follow the course suggestions. I studied ahead in order to finish early. I struggled with auditing since it was not something that I do on a day-to-day basis.

Q&A with Alexandra Luchenko, CFE

Alexandra Luchenko of Canada received her CFE credential this past fall after attending a CFE Exam Review Course. Luchenko feels that the CFE credential has expanded her legal tool kit within her law practice. When not fighting fraud, Luchenko trains at the gym, which helps her to keep up with her young, active children.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Luchenko: I was certified in September 2019.

Coach: You recently attended a Review Course, and, following the course, you sat for the CFE Exam on-site. Please describe your experience of participating in the four-day course and then sitting for the exam immediately afterward. 

Luchenko: Going into the course, I was uncertain if I would even sit for the exams on-site, but my instructors were very encouraging about doing so, and I was glad I did. Thanks to their encouragement and excellent teaching, I was able to pass all four exams on-site.

Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course? 

Luchenko: My instructors were able to translate concepts into very practical examples by drawing from real-life experiences. This made digesting a great deal of information not only possible but also enjoyable. 

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

Luchenko: My law practice involves investigation, fraud detection, and asset tracing. There is a natural synergy with the CFE credential that expands my legal tool kit.

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

Luchenko: Absolutely. I think anyone who is contemplating the obtainment of the credential would be well served by learning through the course’s format.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud? 

Luchenko: Fraud prevention is contributing to the community, generally, in a way that benefits everyone—large corporations, the government, and individuals.

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?

Luchenko:  I put my CFE skills to good use during my free time by detecting bad behavior in my young kids. When I’m not doing that, I am training at the gym or a yoga or Pilates class, so I can keep up with them.

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

Luchenko: While there is definitely a lot of material, which I found intimidating at first, it is just a matter of jumping in and getting started.

Q&A with Karen Branson, CFE

Karen Branson of Washington, DC, became a CFE after attending a CFE Exam Review Course. Branson became interested in fraud after working for the Office of the Inspector General. Branson says that obtaining the CFE credential enabled her to ask more fraud-specific questions to her staff. When Branson is not working, she enjoys working out, reading, and going to the beach.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Branson: I was certified in August 2019
 
Coach: You attended the CFE Exam Review Course in San Francisco, and following the course, you sat for the CFE Exam on-site. Please describe your experience of participating in the four-day course and sitting for the exam immediately afterward.

Branson: The Review Course reminded me of a Bar Review Course, and sitting for the exam was like sitting for the Bar Exam. The review course covers a large amount of information every day and requires full concentration. If you do not think you can commit your full attention to the program, I recommend that you attend when you can.
 
Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course?

Branson: What I liked most were the instructors and their passion about this type of work. They were knowledgeable and funny (it helps to get you through sitting in a chair all day for four days). I also appreciate that the instructors can advise on the probability of the types of questions to expect.

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

Branson: The CFE credential will enable me to ask more fraud-specific questions in my interactions with staff, and it will allow me to provide more substantive feedback when conducting legal sufficiency reviews and rendering legal advice.
 
Coach: How did you prepare yourself to sit for the CFE Exam on-site? Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day?

Branson: I took the online pre-assessment on the CFE Exam Prep Course. Based on those results, I knew where I would have to spend the most amount of time preparing for the exam, and I tried to review those areas the night before the review session. I studied every day after class. 
 
Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?

Branson: Absolutely. If fighting fraud is part of your career portfolio, then you have to understand what it looks like and how it works, not just how it’s defined. This course will help you gain that understanding.
 
Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Branson: My career found me. I applied for an attorney vacancy that happened to be in an Office of the Inspector General (OIG). I had no idea what an OIG was, so I arrived with a steep learning curve. Within about 18 months, I was promoted to the General Counsel. I am also a Certified Inspector General. Fighting fraud is one prong of the OIG’s mission. I love what I do because I can see the direct benefits of our work and I know that the work benefits the entire community.
 
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?

Branson: I love to work out; it’s my stress relief and self-care commitment. I love the beach; the water renews my mind and spirit. I love to read; I can be in another place but never leave the house. Currently, I am on a YouTube how-to journey for decorating ideas, which fosters my creativity.
 
Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?

Branson: If you can, read and review course materials before the daily review sessions. Take the exam after the review session is complete when the material is fresh; there is no downside to doing so. In the event you do not pass a section of the exam, you can retake that component.

Q&A with Jessica Ory, CFE

This past fall, Jessica Ory of Texas put some time aside to focus on accomplishing her goal of obtaining the CFE credential. After attending a CFE Exam Review Course, Ory was certified in August 2019. She feels that her new credential gives her a higher level of credibility when speaking with leaders. When Ory is not working, she enjoys reading and traveling with her family.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Ory: I was certified on August 29, 2019.

Coach: You attended the CFE Exam Review Course in San Francisco, and, following the course, you sat for the CFE Exam on-site. Please describe your experience of participating in the four-day course and then sitting for the exam immediately afterward.

Ory: I enjoyed the CFE Exam Review Course because I felt that it gave me an opportunity to focus on and ask questions about exam items that were difficult. It also helped me immensely to have the material fresh in my mind before taking the test.

Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course?

Ory: I think that having a person explain the concepts was extremely helpful. I really enjoyed the real-life examples that they were able to provide.

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

Ory: I currently investigate fraud at BNSF Railway, and I feel that the Review Course helped me to polish and refine my skills. In addition to making me a better investigator, I feel that the CFE credential provides a higher level of credibility when briefing leaders that I have not had the pleasure of working with in the past.

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

Ory: I reviewed the material briefly after each review session, prior to taking the test. It was a way for me to refresh everything that was discussed that day. I think that taking those twenty to thirty minutes each day really helped me to better remember the concepts.

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

Ory: Absolutely, I think that having an instructor explain the concepts and give examples is very helpful. I have a colleague that will be attending a Review Course next year.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Ory: About two years ago I became the administrator of the ethics hotline. Working in close conjunction with the fraud investigators in the compliance department really sparked my interest in this field.

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?

Ory: I enjoy reading and spending time with my family. We love to travel and explore. We recently welcomed a very rowdy Labrador puppy into our family, so every day is an adventure.

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

Ory: While the instructor was teaching, I found it helpful to highlight all the main concepts in the CFE Exam Review Course Workbook. I suggest bringing a red pen to mark the items that the instructor calls out as important, and then review those highlights and red marks prior to taking the exam.