Olalla accountant Jim Hudspeth, C.P.A., has earned the coveted Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) professional designation from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). The group’s board of regents awards the designation only to select professionals who meet a very stringent set of criteria including strict character, experience, and educational requirements.

CFE candidates must pass a rigorous exam designed to assess their knowledge of four topics: financial transactions; the legal elements of fraud; criminology and ethics; and fraud investigation. Candidates must receive approval from the ACFE to even take the exam based on education and professional experience. Of those approved, only one in five pass the exam on the first attempt.

Hudspeth, who is well known for his community activities in South Kitsap, joins over 25,000 business and government professionals who have earned the CFE certification. CFEs are responsible for resolving a wide range of allegations of fraud and white-collar crime. They have the expertise to obtain evidence; take statements and write reports; testify to findings and assist in all aspects of detecting and preventing white-collar crime. CFEs are employed in a variety of industries, including the investigative divisions of corporations, private businesses, and government agencies.

The designation is one of the ACFE’s fundamental efforts against white-collar crime. Other efforts include training seminars on a wide variety of fraud issues; self-study courses; customized in-house fraud training for businesses and agencies; and the Uniform CFE Examination.

As the professional organization for fraud examiners, the ACFE’s international membership consists primarily of accountants auditors, investigators, criminologists, lawyers, and law enforcement personnel. Joseph T. Wells, a CPA and former FBI Special Agent, founded the Association in 1988 for the purpose of reducing the incidence of fraud and white-collar crime.

Hudspeth may be reached at (253) 857-9147 or jim@hudspeth1.com.