Expert Qualities - Coursework Example

The term ‘expert’ is not a defined term within the insurance industry. Button and Gee (2013) stress that great differences can exist between organisations, describing some industry experts as having professional qualifications, some having degree level qualifications but others having no membership of a professional association at all. With this recognised variance in professional qualifications, so too will there be differences in knowledge consumed from professional journals, levels of professional standards and abilities to share their experiences with others in order to up-skill and train those tasked with the operation of counter fraud processes and procedures.

There are two main professional bodies operating in the UK insurance market: The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and the Institute of Counter Fraud Specialists (ICFS). Additionally, qualifications can be achieved via Accredited Counter Fraud Specialists (ACFS) however membership or subscription to any of these professional associations is completely voluntary and the qualifications achieved through them are subject to a self-regulation regime. The counter fraud professional accreditation board has, since 2001, accredited approximately 13,000 people in various levels such as the foundation, advanced, degree, and even masters’ levels (Garfinkel & Nimalendran, 2003).

The individuals who are employed in the counter-fraud organisations are usually from a variety of backgrounds such as auditing, and accountancy.