You Are Not Alone: Finding, Changing and Growing a Career

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AUTHOR’S POST

Mandy Moody
ACFE Social Media Specialist

I still remember the questions that ran through my mind when I heard the president of my former company say, “Mandy, we are going to have to let you go” back in the spring of 2009. How will I make my car payments? What could I have done differently? Where is the nearest bar?

As a life-long perfectionist and overachiever, I was dumbfounded to discover that I was “one of those people,” a casualty of a dwindling economy and unpredictable layoffs. All of a sudden the future did not look as bright as the keynote speaker at my college graduation promised it would be.

However, after picking my ego up off of the floor, seeking out advice from experienced professionals and researching resume best practices, I was able to rebound quickly and find a job that eventually led me to the front door of the ACFE. In the end what appeared to be a dark cloud turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Granted, I know it is not that easy for everyone, but I was thankful for the expert advice I received from people just like those that will be on-hand, ready and willing, to help attendees at this year’s Career Connection at the ACFE Annual Fraud Conference & Exhibition, June 17-22 in Orlando.

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

  • NEW! Career Fair: representatives from some of the nation’s top employers like Capital One, Walt Disney World and ING Direct will be on-hand at the Career Connection’s first-ever Career Fair in the Exhibit Hall, Monday evening, June 18 from 3:00-7:00 p.m.
  • Career strategists will answer questions related to the anti-fraud profession. Schedule a private  session to discuss career decisions like phasing into a new career, transitioning from the public to the private sector, elevating your role within your current organization, establishing yourself within your new role and defining your professional goals ($50 for 50 minutes). There will also be two strategists on hand for quick walk-up appointments.
  • Professional development-related presentations: 15-minute presentations focused on pitfalls to avoid in your career, negotiating a salary without leaving money on the table and more.
  • Opportunity to win a free Comprehensive Résumé and Cover Letter Review ($75 value). Veteran hiring manager Donn LeVie Jr., who has helped thousands of job-seekers create attention-getting cover letters and résumés, will provide you with an annotated résumé and cover letter evaluation that includes detailed suggestions for improvement. Stop by the Career Connection booth to enter the drawing. 

 We look forward to seeing you in Orlando. Whether you are searching for a new job, a career change or just looking for some advice, be sure to stop by the Career Connection in the Exhibit Hall.

Manager Cites CFE Credential as Greatest Career Achievement

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MEMBER PROFILE

Tracy McLaughlin, CFE, Manager
Heinfeld, Meech & Co., P.C.
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
 
To Tracy McLaughlin, CFE, manager at Heinfeld, Meech & Co., the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential has proven to be much more than just a simple acronym she could add to the end of her name. Since earning her credential in January 2010, McLaughlin has already taken advantage of several membership resources like webinars, newsletters and training that have armed her with better interviewing tactics and new methods to teach her governmental and nonprofit accounting and auditing firm's clients how to perform effective risk assessments.

What advantage does the CFE credential give professionals in the accounting and auditing fields? What specific advantage has it given you in your career?
The CFE credential illustrates that the auditor/accountant has received additional training to assist them in thinking outside of the box. This better allows them to review, modify, create and advise in regards to controls. These controls help clients in prevention and detection of fraud. The training and continual resources provided by the ACFE through webinars, newsletters, conferences, etc. have helped me in expanding my knowledge when assessing sources provided by a client.
 
What are some of the major differences between auditing a government agency and auditing a nonprofit?
A nonprofit tends to have more flexibility in establishing procedures and policies that are specific to the organization's core mission. Government agencies are more prone to having documented policies and procedures. This doesn't necessarily mean that government agencies follow them better, though. Governmental agencies have a structured framework of the required procedures and policies that must be followed at a minimum, and then those procedures and policies can be tailored to the government's unique mission.

When working with both types of agencies it is always critical to make sure you are familiar and versed in the uniqueness of each agency and their particular procedures and policies. There are times when I have to remind myself and the team that this is one type of agency or the other and to not confuse the two when reviewing items and determining if there is a breakdown of internal controls or a lack of procedure and policy.

Read Tracy's full profile in our Career Center here.