Seham S. Carson, CFE
Internal controls manager hopes to use CFE to obtain crucial process-related information
Fraudsters aren’t the only people who sit across from fraud examiners at the interview table. Getting information from process owners within a company to aid in creating effective internal controls and policies can prove just as challenging. “Anyone in our field or a related occupation knows how difficult it is to get information needed to make assessments or improvements,” said Seham S. Carson, manager of internal controls and accounting policies at Bristow Group Inc. “The CFE Exam Review Course covered a lot of interviewing techniques and other concepts that will definitely be helpful in overcoming this.”
What are you responsible for as the manager of internal controls and accounting policies?
I am responsible for maintaining the overall internal controls framework for Bristow Group for material processes, including all related documentation. My main responsibility is to ensure internal audit and external audit have all the information they need related to the company processes in order to successfully complete their audits. Once audits are complete and exceptions are reported, I work with management to determine impact and ensure remediation. Additionally, I work on other projects related to our enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation, international financial reporting standards (IFRS) and maintain our U.S. GAAP policies.
What made you decide to pursue the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential?
Part of maintaining our internal controls framework is being aware of how fraud could penetrate the organization when creating and updating our controls. I have had some exposure to fraud-related reviews; however, I am not an expert. When my manager told me I needed to be a fraud expert, I immediately thought of the ACFE and its certification. It is well known in our industry and I knew it would give me the tools I needed to ensure my development needs were met.
How do you think earning the CFE credential will benefit you in your role?
It will give me a unique perspective when it comes to controls and policies. Not all accounting and finance personnel have had fraud training or credentials. It will ensure that when our internal controls framework is updated, the designed controls will deter fraud as intended.
What role does fraud prevention and detection play in developing internal controls and policies?
Ways to prevent and detect fraud are always part of any creation of internal controls or accounting policies. We want to be consistently efficient and stay in compliance, but ensuring there is no room for fraud is always something we keep in mind when developing or updating controls and policies.
What trends are you currently seeing in controls? Do you see any trends specific to your region?
Controls guidance may change from year to year depending on changes in the industry, but the approach is one thing that stays constant. Fraud deterrence is something that I can always remember being a key element of any controls, compliance, audit group or project I have been a part of.