Q&A with Matt Christopher, CFE

Matt Christopher of Georgia recently became a CFE after attending the virtual CFE Exam Review Course. Christopher feels that his new CFE credential will increase his knowledge and skill set in all areas involving fraud. When Christopher is not working, he is active with his children’s activities and golfs with friends.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Christopher: I received my CFE credential on November 9, 2020.

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

Christopher: The four-day virtual CFE Exam Review Course was a great experience. My original plan was to attend the live version of the CFE Exam Review Course in April 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the course was canceled. I was excited when I found out that a live virtual version would be offered. The virtual CFE Exam Review Course covered a lot of information, but it allowed me to thoroughly focus on the material in each section of the exam. Preparing to take and pass the exam was what I liked most about the course, and it worked!

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

Christopher: I took the exam immediately after class each day. I felt very prepared for each section of the exam, and I wanted to attempt the exam while the information was fresh in my mind. My goal was to pass each section of the exam before the class moved on to the next section. Taking the exam each day after class made for a very long day, but it was well worth it. 

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

Christopher: Yes, I previously purchased the Prep Course and attempted to obtain my CFE credential through self-study. Due to work and family obligations, I never seemed to have time to complete my goal. Once I registered and received the virtual Prep Course materials, I studied in the evenings prior to attending the virtual CFE Exam Review Course.

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

Christopher: As an investigator with the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, the CFE credential increased my knowledge and skill set in all areas involving fraud. The CFE credential also shows that I am serious about fighting fraud and allows me to stand out in my career field.

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

Christopher: Absolutely, I actually had two other colleagues attend the Review Course with me after I notified them of the course. 

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Christopher: My background is in criminal justice with some accounting, and fighting fraud was the connecting link to both fields for me. 

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?

Christopher: I enjoy spending time with my family and playing golf with friends. I coach my son’s soccer team and volunteer at my daughter’s swim meets. I truly enjoy being a dad. 

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

Christopher: Use your time wisely and do not procrastinate when pursuing the CFE credential. If you are like me and time is always stretched thin, then I would highly recommend the virtual or live version of the Review Course.

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!

Q&A with Raymond Anderson, CFE

Raymond Anderson of Virginia recently became a CFE after attending a virtual CFE Exam Review Course. Anderson found the virtual Review Course to be extremely helpful and feels that the CFE certification provides another level of professional experience. When he is not working, Anderson enjoys exercising and visiting local wineries.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Anderson: I was certified on November 6, 2020.

Coach: Please describe your experience of attending the four-day virtual CFE Exam Review Course, and what did you like most about it?

Anderson: I found the course to be extremely helpful, as you were able to get clarification on any issues you were uncertain about. It also provided a focused study effort, rather than a cover-to-cover review of the study material.

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

Anderson: After some initial technical issues, which were extremely stressful to work through before taking an exam, I found the methodology of testing for each block of the course that same night to be very effective.

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

Anderson: I reviewed the Prep Course for two to three hours per week, starting a month out from the exam.

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

Anderson: The CFE certification provides another level of professional experience that will allow me to expand into other positions within my field.

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

Anderson: Yes, absolutely. I will recommend this course.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Anderson: I started investigating fraud while I was a detective with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Once you see the second and third order of effects on innocent people that result from fraud, waste, and abuse, it’s hard to sit idly by.  

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?

Anderson: In my spare time, I enjoy exercising and visiting local wineries. 

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

Anderson: Definitely take the virtual Review Course because it will help you overcome the fear and anxiety you develop once you receive the study materials after signing up for the test. Taking a section of the exam at the end of each day worked great for me and made the challenge less daunting.

Q&A with Jean-Pierre Siouti, CFE

Jean-Pierre Siouti of Canada recently became a CFE after attending a virtual CFE Exam Review Course. Since becoming a CFE, Siouti feels that the credential has broadened his understanding of the risk of fraud while working on internal audits. When Siouti is not working, he enjoys keeping up with the latest modifications of his favorite performance cars.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Siouti: I was certified on September 16, 2020.

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

Siouti: I enjoyed taking the virtual Review Course, and I found it to be very well organized in an efficient manner that made good use of the time allocated for the four days of the course. The breaks were well-timed and the transition from one topic to the next was efficient.

I found the instructors to be very knowledgeable about the topics being taught, and they provided good examples to help us understand the topics. The instructors were nice and approachable when we asked questions, and they kept our interest at a high level, despite the course being taught virtually.

I found that the course achieved its objective in helping us prepare for the CFE Exam.

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

Siouti: I found it was the most effective and timely assessment of how well I learned the curriculum during the day.

Taking the exam made for long days that ended in the evening after completing the course during the day. However, as I completed each day of the course, I found that my enthusiasm and determination grew stronger. By the third day, I was motivated to get through the last two sections in a marathon-like stretch.

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

Siouti: Yes, I completed the Practice Exams in the Prep Course for each section during the four weeks prior to attending the Review Course to establish a baseline assessment of which sections and subsections I needed to spend more time on. Then, I read through the slide book that was provided with the course and completed all of the practice questions for each section. Finally, I retook the Practice Exams for each section a few days before the Review Course began, and on days two through four of the Review Course, I retook the Practice Exams in the morning before the course started. I think this strategy helped ensure my success on all four sections.

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

Siouti: I think the CFE credential has broadened my understanding and perspective of the risk of fraud when I work on internal audits. The Fraud Triangle and the prevention and detection sections of the curriculum will help me better appreciate how the risk of fraud might impact the underlying root cause for internal audit observations that we identify.

The curriculum in the Law section helped me to grow my knowledge and better appreciate the different legal systems and their processes.

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

Siouti: Yes, I found the virtual Review Course to be efficient and highly effective in helping me prepare for the CFE Exam.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Siouti: As part of the risk assessments that our team works on, we assess and monitor the risk of fraud throughout the phases of the internal audits that we complete. I wanted to learn more about this risk to be able to better assess its implications on our planned audit approach. The CFE credential provided me with new knowledge that will enable me to provide more insightful and timely advice to senior management for audit observations related to the risk of fraud.

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?

Siouti: I have been passionate about performance cars since I was 13 years old. I always keep up with the latest technology and aftermarket performance modifications for my favorite performance cars, such as the Dodge Viper and Chevrolet Corvette. I also manage my personal portfolio of investments that I research. I jog and do weight training at least five times per week to help maintain my physical health and mental sharpness.

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

Siouti: I recommend that they complete as many of the review and practice questions as they can to help build their knowledge of how the questions are structured.

I found that debriefing the questions that I did not do well on in a timely manner helped increase the probability of my success on the CFE Exam.

Having at least a few years of experience before attempting the CFE Exam will help candidates better understand and appreciate the curriculum being tested in the exam questions.

Q&A with Denise Crowley, CFE

Denise Crowley of Canada recently became a CFE after attending a Virtual CFE Exam Review Course. As an analyst, Crowley feels that the CFE credential gives her more insight in working with financial institutions and stakeholders. When Crowley is not working, she enjoys long hikes and teaching yoga.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential? 

Crowley: I was extremely elated and relieved when I received my email of congratulations from the certification team on September 16, 2020, stating that I had achieved my CFE credential.

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

Crowley: The overall virtual Review Course experience was very good. It was nice to not have to travel anywhere and be comfortable in my home environment. At first, I was apprehensive as to how it was going to work, as far as technology goes these days with glitches and hiccups, but it actually went very smoothly. Each session was delivered perfectly and paced nicely. I felt ready to take the CFE Exam at the end of each day. I enjoyed the instructors’ humor and engagement. I especially liked how they gave examples or scenarios to support the concepts. I found that this is the way I learn best. It was comfortable to be in my home environment, and I had no trouble staying engaged each session.

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

Crowley: At the end of each day I felt prepared and ready to take the exam on that day’s section. My work computer did not allow Examity® the access to proctor the exams due to firewalls, so I had a bit of a panic finding an alternative with a webcam, but once that was straightened out, it went very smoothly. 

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

Crowley:  I reviewed the Prep Course prior to attending the virtual Review Course and took the Practice Exams to know where I needed to focus. I dedicated some time each day for two weeks before the virtual Review Course to study. The Review Sessions were extremely helpful and a great way to study. The workbook and slide book were very appreciated and great to have to follow along and make notes on during the Review Course. 

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

Crowley: As an analyst in a criminal/fraud investigation world, I think the CFE credential gives me some further legitimacy outside of our organization in dealings with financial institutions and stakeholders. The daily ACFE Community forum will be a great resource and fantastic networking opportunity, both nationally and internationally. 

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

Crowley:  I have already recommended this course to colleagues, and I know two of our fraud investigators are planning to take the Review Course next fiscal year.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud? 

Crowley: I began my career in fraud investigations in the administrative line of work, and part of my duties was transcribing witness and victim interviews. The trauma and loss that victims suffered affected me. As I learned more about our fraud investigations and discovered the magnitude of white-collar crime in just our province alone, it astounded me. Every day we hear more and more elaborate and sneaky ways in which fraudsters are victimizing people, sometimes even through family and friends who are duped or tricked into releasing private information or sending money online, which is extremely worrisome and frustrating. About five years ago, I became intrigued with the analyst role in fraud investigations, and, gratefully, my organization supported me in pursuing that avenue with success. I love what I do.

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?  

Crowley: Outside of work, I enjoy long hikes with the dog on country trails; teaching yoga in my home, which is actually done virtually through Zoom; trail biking; and hanging out with friends and family, which usually involves good food.

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

Crowley: I would suggest that they take the Practice Exams in the Prep Course to get a sense of the content inf the four sections and an idea of where to focus their studying. The Review Sessions are extremely helpful.