CFE Banks on Anti-Fraud Training to Stay Ahead of the Curve

Sarah Vandersnick, CIA is an internal auditor for Think Mutual Bank in Rochester, Minn.

March 2012 

ACFE Member Profile 

 
Sarah Vandersnick, CFE, CIA, is senior internal auditor for Think Mutual Bank in Rochester, Minn. She joined the ACFE in 2008 to learn new skills and best-practices in preventing and detecting fraud that can be applied to auditing and the banking industry.

Vandersnick has been with Think Mutual Bank for more than five years. Prior to moving to Minnesota, she worked for a banking software company in Nebraska. “I plan to continue to work in audit and/or fraud because I enjoy the ever-changing pace,” Vandersnick said.

It is not only the pace that keeps changing. Types of fraud, and the techniques and tools needed to prevent and detect them, are constantly evolving. Vandersnick said she plans to continue to seek out educational opportunities to stay ahead of the curve.

Vandersnick encourages her colleagues to attend the Annual ACFE Fraud Conference & Exhibition (she has attended several herself) and to make the most of the experience: “Take a variety of classes at the conference,” Vandersnick said. “Also, take advantage of the networking areas that are set up at the conference.” This year's 23rd annual conference will be held in Orlando, June 17-22, 2012. Read more about the world's largest gathering of anti-fraud professionals in the world at FraudConference.com. 

Following the trail of fraud is an engaging and interesting part of Vandersnick’s job. “I like the challenge of finding the little clues that add up to the bigger issues,” she said. “Because fraud is a constant in the financial industry, I think it is important to stay on top of the latest trends."