Forensic accountants are financial detectives responsible for tracking down suspicious transactions and hidden assets to bring fraudsters to justice.

According to Ray Dunkle, director of forensic accounting and business valuation at Brockman, Coats, Gedelian and Company, it can be a good career choice for accounting graduates looking for something a little out of the ordinary.

Mr Dunkle told AccountingWeb that he started out in the profession as an auditor - a route he recommends to anyone interested in forensic accounting as it teaches them to "drill vertically and sideways if necessary to trace problems to their origins".

However, he added that unlike standard accounting and auditing, forensic accountants also have to be prepared to make "tough judgement calls", as in fraud cases not everything is as it seems.

It is also worth nothing that in a down economy, fraud increases, meaning demand for forensic accounting skills is on the rise - the FBI, for example, is doubling its financial crime teams.

According to the Department of Labor, the increase in forensic accountants will be a major driver behind the accounting sector's 18 per cent jobs growth between 2006 and 2016.