APIPA2025 - Instructor Katharine

Katharine Kovacek

Katharine began her career with the Department of the Interior, Office of Inspector General (DOI OIG) in August 2019 as a Special Agent assigned to the Western Region Investigations office in Lakewood, Colorado, where she has worked on grant and procurement fraud cases and was the lead agent on many multi-agency fraud investigations. Prior to working for the DOI, Katharine worked for the U.S. Department of State OIG in Arlington, Virginia, for approximately 7 years as a Special Agent and Forensic Accountant. Katharine earned her bachelor's degree in accounting from Michigan State University and a Master of Business Administration from George Mason University. Katharine is a certified forensic examiner and a certified anti money laundering specialist.

Course Listing

TRACK D

This seminar will include a discussion of the components of a fraud investigation program, how to identify fraud, and what to do when you find it. We will discuss developing policy, clarifying your authority and budget, identifying staff and support. We will then discuss how to find fraud, by learning how to assess organizational vulnerability to fraud, how to build sources, how to be proactive, and give an overview of fraud schemes and what investigations of those schemes might look like in the wild. We will include classroom exercises and actual case discussion.

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TRACK A

The morning session builds on the initial Basic Investigation class by teaching advanced forensic accounting techniques to help investigators detect fraud through financial audits and investigate fraud by following the money. Participants will learn from investigative partners, participate in practical exercises to demonstrate new techniques, and learn the role of forensic accounting in proceedings, and criminal court.

The afternoon session will cover advanced documentation and investigative report writing. We will cover the importance of concepts such as writing for your audience, using plain language, active voice and bottom line up front (BLUF). Participants will learn the importance of effective report writing and how to write reports that help bring investigations to trial. Finally, we will have a panel discussion where we will discuss lessons learned during joint Federal-Territorial investigations.

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