DIFA 2014 » Felicia Ciolfitto
CPA, CMA, CFE, CIA, MFAcc, MBA, LLM
Felicia has 25 years experience in the accounting field, and her work in the past ten years has been primarily in the areas of Forensic Accounting and Internal Audit.
Currently the Director of Internal Audit with British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA), Felicia is responsible for carrying out the annual Internal Audit Plan, reporting to the Board, and being a key contact for the organization’s Ethics Reporting Line. Felicia was Director of Internal Audit at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (Port of Vancouver), prior to joining BCAA.
Prior to her Internal Audit focus, Felicia was Manager of Trust Regulation at the Law Society of British Columbia, and managed a team of forensic accountants and compliance auditors who conducted investigations into the handling of trust funds in law firms throughout BC.
Felicia is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). She also holds an MBA from Queen’s University, and an LLM from York University (Osgoode Hall).
Felicia is alumna of the Diploma in Investigative and Forensic Accounting (DIFA) from the University of Toronto, and part of the first Master of Forensic Accounting (MFAcc) graduating class.
What are some of the key skills and knowledge you acquired during the MFAcc program that are still important to you today?
The MFAcc program strengthened my knowledge in the area of forensic accounting, and how to conduct an investigation in a careful and unbiased manner. The program also allowed me to improve my report writing skills and always focus on facts.
What were some of the most valuable lessons and/or memorable experiences from your time at MFAcc?
The professors were excellent and I always appreciated hearing their first-hand accounts of cases they had worked on and the learnings they had extracted. This made the program all the more practical and relatable to real-life forensic accounting work.
What advice would you give to professionals who are looking to pursue a degree and career in Forensic Accounting?
The MFAcc program provides a solid foundation for a career in this area. The skills you learn here are invaluable and will help you be successful in other aspects of your career as well. Attention to detail and clear report writing is always a must!
What trends or changes have you observed in your industry since graduating, and how have you adapted to them?
With more evidence being electronic, it can be challenging to gather everything you need, or be confident that you have the skills to gather it all yourself. Consider that experts in the technology area are an important asset to any investigation you may pursue.
Are there any major accomplishments or achievements you would like to share with us?
I have been a Sessional Instructional Assistant in the MFAcc program for a number of years. It brings me great satisfaction and pride to see the success of the students as they work their way through the program.