Forensic services

I read “The Crisis in Accounting Education” and the accompanying book review, “Accounting Education: Charting the Course through a Perilous Future” ( JofA, Apr.02, page 84), with much bemusement at their failure to point a finger at what I believe is the real “crisis” in accounting education—the overemphasis by colleges

I was surprised to see so little mention of the five-year program’s impact in “The Crisis in Accounting Education” ( JofA, Apr.02, page 81). That there are fewer accounting students, I believe, is directly related to the requirement for five years of education prior to certification. What college student today

As an investment adviser who has spent considerable time looking at alternative investments, I found the article, “Freedom from Market Swings” ( JofA, May02, page 49), somewhat simplistic and potentially misleading to readers. Although I agree there may be merit to investing in alternatives to provide diversification from “long-only” equity

I am not surprised at the precipitous drop in the number of accounting students reported in “The Crisis in Accounting Education.” I believe there are several contributing factors, including the present post-Enron image of CPAs. However, the seeds for this were sown by passage of the 150-hour requirement a few

“The Crisis in Accounting Education” states that technology has made preparing and disseminating financial information so inexpensive that anyone with the right computer software can produce basic data. “Yet, many accounting educators have failed to restructure the accounting curriculum to equip graduates with the tools and expertise they need in

“The Crisis in Accounting Education” relies heavily on a monograph, Accounting Education: Charting the Course through a Perilous Future, to support its claim of a crisis in the profession. The monograph noted a decline in the number of students who are enrolled as accounting majors in colleges and universities. This

The Enron/Andersen situation has damaged the credibility of all CPAs. As more of the story unfolds, the profession is going to take a lot more hits. Our main asset is our credibility with the general public. Once we lose that, the value of our services, and the need for them,

“Restoring Public Confidence” ( JofA, Apr.02, page 37) notes that “not only does our profession have zero tolerance for any CPA who does not adhere to the rules but, in the wake of the Enron collapse, is prepared for unprecedented change.” In my opinion, one of the biggest failings of

The environment that permitted the recent Enron Corp. fraud has existed since accounting began, and the answer to prevent such frauds has been around for many decades. There always will be managers of corporations willing to commit fraud or “manage earnings” either for their own enrichment or to keep their

I am responding to the twin articles, “Freedom From Market Swings” and “The Hedge Fund Mystique” ( JofA, May02, page 55). Although CPA practitioners may have some high-net-worth clients like those described in the articles, most of us work with clients with far more average investor profiles. Since these clients

I am a financial representative in Florida. My thoughts on the Arthur Andersen case, and I believe I speak for my colleagues as well, are that it was a solitary incident and that accountants should not be grouped into a category known for unethical conduct. I believe accountants are as