IRS Criminal Investigation Unit at SOM

University of Michigan-Flint accounting students recently got a visit from the IRS criminal investigations unit. The Internal Revenue Agents were invited to share their investigative activities with students by Beta Alpha Psi, the honors organization for financial information professionals.

The students had an opportunity to take a closer look at just what is involved in investigations. Agents from the Detroit Bureau provided a scenario for the senior accounting students to work on involving a fictional potential fraud where an ice cream store owner appeared to be cooking two separate sets of books.

Nathan Watson, president of the honors organization said the students thoroughly enjoyed the event. "One student told me he wished we could have the IRS come once a semester, another felt that had he known about all the IRS does, he would not have changed his major and instead applied for a job with the agency," said Watson. "I also know of a few students that were so impressed that they are planning on pursuing a career with the IRS."

The IRS uses the hands-on learning experience as a tool to attract students who may not have thought about a career with the agency. Aapplicants must have a college degree, as well as 15 hours of accounting or be a certified public accountant.