Georgia Southern University’s Sixth Annual Fraud and Forensic Accounting Education Conference Planned

March 16, 2012

Corporate crime fighters from around the country will head to Savannah this May for Georgia Southern University’s Fraud and Forensic Accounting Education Conference. The yearly event attracts investigators, accountants, academics, attorneys, journalists and others who want the latest information about fighting fraud and white collar crime. Georgia Southern University’s Center for Forensic Studies in Accounting and Business will host the conference, with Atlanta-based accounting firm Porter Keadle Moore, LLP (PKM) as the primary conference sponsor.

This year’s keynote speaker is Pat Huddleston, CEO of Investor’s Watchdog, an investor protection company that performs investigations for pension funds, endowments, businesses and individuals. Huddleston spent several years as Enforcement Branch Chief for the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, leading a team of attorneys investigating scams, insider trading and financial misconduct. He is also the author of “The Vigilant Investor: A Former SEC Enforcer Reveals How to Fraud-Proof Your Investments.”

“Pat is a great speaker, and has an amazing amount of information to share about protecting your investments and fighting fraud,” said Conference chairDon Berecz, Director of Georgia Southern University’s Center for Forensic Studies in Accounting. “We have a great agenda this year featuring many brand new speakers, as well as returning favorites.”

Topics will include India’s Satyam Fraud, body language and non-verbal communication, shell companies, avoiding fraud in small business, financial search warrants, data analysis, continuous monitoring, ethics, teaching forensic accounting to students and establishing a forensic accounting practice.

“We are excited to continue our support of this eye-opening conference,” said PKM Managing Partner Phil Moore. “Every year brings something new and even more surprising than in the past.”

The conference will be held May 15 through 17 at the Hilton DeSoto in Savannah’s Historic District. The event is sponsored by Porter Keadle Mooreaccounting firm (PKM) and hosted by the Center for Forensic Studies in Accounting and Business at Georgia Southern University.

The Center for Forensic Studies in Accounting and Business is located within The School of Accountancy and the College of Business, both of which are accredited by AACSB  International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Undergraduate students of all majors can earn their interdisciplinary minor in Fraud Examination. Graduate accounting students earn their Forensic Accounting Concentration in their Masters of Accounting. The Center also publishes The Journal of Forensic Studies in Accounting and Business;  accepted as a peer-reviewed journal by Cabell’s Directory of Publishing Opportunities.

Early Bird rates are available for those who register before March 15. For more information, or to register, visit http://pkm.com/fraudconference/information.php.