Summiting Success: A Journey Through Mentoring and Its Impact on Career Progression

I first learned of the ACFE in 2013. Earning my Master of Accountancy at Western Carolina University, I attended a lecture with a guest speaker, Don Rabon. He spoke about interviewing fraudsters, and I was hooked. It had never occurred to me that the FBI hired accountants, nor that there was a whole field of forensic accounting. Who knew there was an exciting side to accounting?

So, I entered a contest for students to submit an essay to win entrance to the ACFE Global Fraud Conference in Las Vegas that same year. I wrote about how I wanted to work for the FBI or pursue a career as a forensic accountant. I was coming into accounting as a second career and saw the importance of accounting as it applies to fraud examination.

Despite having a background in liberal arts, and writing many an essay in undergrad, I was still surprised—and elated—when I learned that I had earned a student volunteer spot at the conference. But, as often is the way of life, things did not go as planned; I did not get to attend. In fact, I detoured so much from my plans that I found myself in corporate accounting, but not in a position to actively seek out any fraud.

While I learned a lot along my inadvertent career path, I fortuitously found my way back to the ACFE. Ten years later, I finally got to attend the ACFE Global Fraud Conference, but instead of as a student, I went as an employee.

Had I known about the ACFE Mentoring Program when I graduated, I might have had a better chance of sticking closer to my career goals by finding a mentor who could have helped me develop my skills and seek out relevant opportunities around me. Funny enough, I always wanted a mentor in all my jobs, but nothing organically came to fruition. Research has shown that 63% of women have never had a formal mentor, either. Little did I know, the answer was with the ACFE all along.

Mentoring benefits both parties. Mentees can get help preparing for the CFE Exam, seeking a raise or promotion, landing a job as a new anti-fraud professional, shifting to a new specialty in the anti-fraud profession and more. Mentors also gain exposure to new perspectives, develop and improve their leadership skills, and form new and lasting relationships. In fact, studies show that giving, not receiving, offers greater happiness.

The ACFE mentoring program is not without its benefits as well:

• Enrollment is free for all ACFE members.
• Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs) can earn 2 CPE credits through the program.
• Enroll at any time and match with a mentor or mentee during the designated matching periods.
• There are two six-month sessions per year, starting in January and July.
• There is a month-long matching period before each session begins.
• Participants can choose to meet by phone, video chat, email or in person for the recommended commitment of one hour per month.

Did you know that those who have been mentored are more likely to go on to mentor? Additionally, mentors were six times more likely to have been promoted, and employees who received mentoring were promoted five times more often than people who didn’t have mentors. Interestingly 76% of people think mentors are important, yet only 37% have a mentor. The UPS Store conducted a survey on small businesses and found that 88% of business owners with a mentor said that having one was invaluable. Furthermore, 70% of small businesses that received mentoring survived more than five years, which is double the survival rate of non-mentored businesses. Whether part of a larger organization or smaller business, mentoring can make a difference in many lives.There is something special about teaching people or helping them along the way to realizing their dreams. Naturally, humans are inclined to thrive in a community setting, and the ACFE offers one of the very best through its members. Having finally attended the conference after 10 years, and seeing the community come together, I like to think how every mentoring session could be like a mini conference. See you in Las Vegas!