Career Connection Not Just For Job Seekers

GUEST BLOGGER

LaDonna Wernli, CFE, PHR, CBP

ACFE Human Resources Manager

“A teacher’s best gift is a student anxious to learn.”

The quote above was the reply from my mentor of more than 10 years when I took a few minutes one afternoon several months ago to send him an e-mail thanking him for the countless ways he impacted my career and my growth as an employee. Just when I thought he couldn’t get any better, he hits me with a response like that, reminding me once again of all of the many valuable lessons he taught me.

Even though I am still learning every day, I know that it would be selfish of me not to pass on the professional advice and tips I have received throughout my career. This year, I will be working in the Career Connection at the 22nd Annual ACFE Fraud Conference, June 12-17, with the hope of sharing and planning the next steps for those looking to apply, learn or even dig a little deeper into their career growth.

Here are a few of the highlights you can expect to see at the Career Connection:

• Featured employers: representatives from some of the nation’s top employers like Bank of America, FINRA and Walmart will be on-site. In exchange for a resume, you will receive a book written by one of our career strategists. The book exchange is limited to the first 100 resumes received. All resumes will be circulated among the featured employers for consideration with open positions.
• Career strategists will answer questions related to the anti-fraud profession. Carl Wellenstein and Tony McKeon are prepared to speak with attendees about career decisions like phasing into a new career, transitioning from public to private sector, elevating your role within your current organization, establishing yourself within your new role and defining your professional goals.
• Professional development-related presentations: 15-minute presentations focused on starting your own fraud examination practice, maximizing your job search efficiencies and more. 
• On-site resume review sessions: author and veteran hiring manager J.T. Kirk will review your resume and provide recommendations that will help it stand out from the competition ($30 for 30 minutes). 

I hope to see you in San Diego next month. Whether you are searching for a job, searching for advice or searching for a friendly handshake, be sure to come see me at the Career Connection in the Exhibit Hall.

Internal Auditor Defines True Professionalism of a CFE

MEMBER PROFILE

Luise Odenheimer, CFE, CICA, Internal Auditor

Seminole Tribe of Florida

Tampa Bay, Fla.

After her first taste of fraud-fighting satisfaction, Luise Odenheimer, CFE, CICA, decided to beef up her anti-fraud knowledge by earning the CFE credential. Today, she fights fraud in the gaming industry for the Seminole Tribe of Florida — eager to learn new laws and policies, and dedicated to her chosen path as fraud examiner and auditor.

You’ve been to two recent annual ACFE Fraud Conferences. What do you find most useful among the benefits of attending?

As an internal auditor, I have always exposed myself to at least one annual professional seminar or conference in hopes of taking something new back with me. After attending my first ACFE conference, I realized that I was taking a whole bag of ideas back with me. From the speakers’ presentations, hand-outs, networking sessions and speaking to exhibitors, I realized that it wasn’t just me wanting to expand my fraud knowledge, but there was a whole group of people and products devoted to that same exact reason I was.

What are some ways you’ve been able to apply your CFE training to your job?

When I audit, I feel that I see more than what an average internal auditor may see. With my CFE training and strong fraud knowledge, I look at a control weakness as an opportunity for fraud to occur.

Describe your most memorable fraud case and its resolution.

It was a routine operational audit at a Miami movie theater location for the company I was working for. I stumbled across some ticket sale figures that just didn’t align with the theater’s history and the current market’s ticket sales average. Through my investigation, I discovered that a theater manager was selling tickets at a discounted face value, but charging patrons the full amount. The per-ticket misappropriation was only about $2. However, I realized that the manager was defrauding guests for several summer months when movie theater attendance and film grosses are at their highest. The actual fraud amount was estimated in the thousands of dollars.

What advice would you give to someone just starting their career as a CFE?

Have a plan and educate yourself with book knowledge, but also get that good mix of practical business experience in there. It isn’t all about the books. True professionalism of a CFE comes from being able to support your findings with textbook cases and proving that fraud does take place.

To read more member profiles, go here.

To read more about Odenheimer, download the ACFE’s 2011 first quarter Resource Guide.

And the ACFE Award Goes To...

AUTHOR'S POST

Mandy Moody

ACFE Social Media Specialist

Submit Your Nominations for the ACFE Awards

While gossip-hungry paparazzi may not follow them around, and Joan Rivers may not meticulously judge them for their fashion mishaps, fraud-fighters do get to share in the most valuable part of the award season: the nominations of the ACFE awards. As the Hollywood Foreign Press Association deals with the recent bribery allegations related to the Golden Globe picks, and the Academy prepares for the Oscars next month, we at the ACFE are proud to recognize our own anti-fraud stars who have displayed exceptional achievements in the anti-fraud profession in 2010.

Nominations are now being accepted in the following categories:

• Certified Fraud Examiner of the Year: presented to a CFE who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of fraud examination
• Educator of the Year: presented to an ACFE educator member who has made an outstanding contribution in anti-fraud education
• Chapter of the Year: presented to an ACFE Chapter that is active and in good standing with the ACFE
• Chapter Newsletter of the Year: presented to the Chapter Newsletter that is of highest quality and is delivered to recipients on a regular and timely basis
• Achievement in Outreach/Community Service: presented to an ACFE member who has made an outstanding contribution in the community

Award winners will receive a unique, etched glass award, recognition in Fraud Magazine and on ACFE.com and honored at the 22nd Annual ACFE Fraud Conference & Exhibition in San Diego, Calif., June 12-17.

Submit your nominations here. A follow-up questionnaire will be sent to each nominator via e-mail to obtain more information. All nominations and questionnaires are due by April 3.