Carroll College accounting students, accompanied by Business Department professor Dr. Belle Marie, recently participated in the annual Fraud Conference hosted by the Montana Society of CPAs and the Big Sky Chapter of Fraud Examiners.
The conference, designed as continuing education for professionals in accounting and forensic investigation, gave students a unique opportunity to learn directly from experts in the field. Sessions covered a wide range of timely topics including money laundering, workplace fraud, internal controls, global fraud trends, cyber security, and fraud investigation practices.
Students engaged with professionals and heard real-world examples of how fraud impacts businesses and communities. “The real examples were eye opening,” shared one student. Another noted, “What struck me most was the discussion of the real impact fraud has on businesses. It isn’t just about the immediate financial loss, it’s also the cost of the response, the disruption of operations, and the loss of customer trust.” A third added, “This fraud conference taught me how vulnerable the public is and that it is important as an auditor to identify trends in order to help not only clients and customers but society as a whole.”
Carroll students pictured with presenter Jennifer Louis, President of Emergent Solutions Group, included Taylor Lahrman, Henry Foy, Teah Falconer, Danny Garcia, Mason Greene, Tucker Zanto, Ben Paz, Nikulas Tekverk, and Peter Fiocchi. Students attending but not pictured were Aidan McGarvin, Mackinlee Naffziger, Joseph Satterthwaite, Adam Webster, and Colter Zink.
Participation in events such as the Fraud Conference helps Carroll students strengthen their knowledge beyond the classroom, preparing them for successful careers in accounting and related fields.