Program Overview

Program Overview

The Master of Forensic Accounting (MFAcc) program was created to respond to the future demands on forensic accountants. The program replaced the Diploma in Investigative & Forensic Accounting (DIFA) in September 2017.

Evolution of the MFAcc Program

The Diploma in Investigative & Forensic Accounting was initially developed in response to a need identified by the Alliance for Excellence in Investigative and Forensic Accounting of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. The program was designed to provide practitioners in the field of Investigative & Forensic Accounting with a sound educational background.

Key Developments

• The program was developed based on the "Body of Knowledge", later replaced by the "IFA Competency Map".
• The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants provided the initial development funds to launch the program.
• In 2013, the DIFA Program was accepted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) as fulfillment of all the academic requirements for the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) designation.

Competency Map

Based on the definition of investigative and forensic accounting, IFAs must have:

• critical thinking, analytical and presentation skills,
• knowledge of and ability to apply appropriate investigative techniques,
• the ability to evaluate financial and accounting information systems even when these are complex and disorganized,
• the ability to assess the legal and economic context of a business transaction and its implications for the parties involved.
• a keen sense of ethics and professional ethical behavior,
• an ability to make cogent, persuasive reports in writing and verbally as an expert witness in court or other legal proceedings.
• a mind-set of professional skepticism to ensure that the information worked with is accurate and objective.

Program Details

The MFAcc program continues to evolve to meet the needs of the Investigative and Forensic Accounting community, their clients, and the legal profession at large. The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in forensic accounting, including critical thinking, analytical, and presentation skills. The program is open to accountants with a wide variety of professional designations in different career settings, and students are resident in numerous jurisdictions, both inside and outside of Canada.