Forensic Accountant, CFSA, CGFM, CFE, CIA, CPA
915 Cove Court * Wheaton, Illinois 60187
Phone: 630-653-0462 * Fax: 630-653-9665
Email: diersen@aol.com
Diersen Consulting Website: www.DiersenConsulting.com
Political Website: www.DiersenForMilton9.com
CURRICULUM VITAE
Areas of Specialization
- Forensic Accountant and professional certifications in financial services auditing, government financial management, fraud examination, internal auditing, and public accounting
- Masters degrees in finance, accounting, and business administration
- 18 years experience doing internal audit work for the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO), the federal agency that conducts audits and studies for Congress –- 9 years auditing federal financial institution regulators and studying financial market issues and 3 years auditing the IRS — before retiring in 1997 with an ending salary of $72,460
- 9 years experience doing collection and litigation support work for IRS before transferring to GAO in 1980
- 13 years experience serving on the executive committee of a professional association and membership in many professional associations
- Member of the National Association of Securities Dealers Regulation, Inc. Board of Arbitrators since January 1998
- Listed in Who’s Who in the Midwest since 1988
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
- Derivatives, structured notes, and mortgage-backed securities, especially internal controls over their use and marketing
- Federal agency policies, procedures, operations, and internal controls – especially financial institution regulators and IRS
- Personnel management and employment issues
- Consumer issues Click here for information on odometer fraud case
- Appeals of residential assessed valuations
- Local public policy advocacy
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
- Forensic Accountant, 1997
- Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA), 1996
- Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), 1994
- Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), 1990
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), 1981
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA), 1979
Licensed CPA in Illinois since 1982. Passed CPA and CIA examinations on first attempt. Obtained subsequent certifications based on work experience, education, and prior certifications.
EDUCATION
- Master of Science in Financial Markets and Trading
Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, 1997
- Master of Science in Accounting
DePaul University, Chicago, 1980
- Master of Business Administration
Loyola University, Chicago, 1976
- Bachelor of Science in Management
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 1970
- Student
University of Illinois, Chicago, 1966-1968
WORK EXPERIENCE
GAO 1980-1997
Senior Evaluator – Financial Institution and Market Issues, Chicago (1990-1997)
Supervised audit staff, maximized staff development and teamwork, planned and directed the work of audit teams, developed recommendations, and provided oral and written reports to GAO management, agency officials, Congressional staff, and members of Congress. Held leadership roles and listed as a major contributor on three major studies – a 230-page October 1997 report on the use and marketing of over-the-counter derivatives, structured notes, and mortgage-backed securities; a 196-page May of 1994 report on derivatives; and a 6-page August 1991 report on insider trading.
Senior Evaluator, Chicago (1986-1990)
Held leadership roles and listed as a major contributor on four major audits – a 45-page May 1990 report on internal controls over a major Railroad Retirement Board benefits program; a 48-page October 1989 report on a Department of Defense ammunition budget request; a 32-page March 1989 report on the IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) program to address unreported legal source income; and a 49-page April 1988 report on CID’s program to address unreported illegal source income. Also, drew on the 3 years experience I gained working for the U.S. Postal Service while obtaining my undergraduate degree to make major contributions to a 1990 report on efforts to improve mail delivery.
Evaluator, Chicago (1980-1986)
Held increasingly responsible roles and made major contributions to many reports including ones that involved assessing the adequacy of (1) Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General’s compliance with Yellow Book standards, (2) SEC’s oversight of self-regulatory organizations, (3) Department of Energy’s financial internal control systems, (4) Department of Transportation’s administration of mass transit block grant programs, (5) Immigration and Naturalization Service’s issuance of employment visas, (6) General Service Administration’s leasing activities, (7) Federal Highway Administration’s distribution of highway trust funds, (8) Department of Labor’s contract compliance activities, (9) financial regulators’ use of consumer complaint data, (10) Federal Aviation Administration’s programs for modernizing air traffic control computer systems, (11) Veteran Administration’s processing of Agent Orange claims, (12) Department of Housing and Urban Development’s administration of community development block grant programs, and (13) Department of Health and Human Service’s administration of Medicare claim processing.
IRS 1971-1980
Special Procedures Staff Advisor, Chicago (1976-1980)
Conferred with IRS Attorneys, Revenue Officers, Revenue Agents and Special Agents as well as taxpayers and their representatives to resolve complex tax issues and determine a course of action designed to protect the Government’s interests and expedite payment of taxes due. IRS implemented a major employee suggestion that I had submitted as a Senior Revenue Officer after I brought it to GAO’s attention and GAO endorsed it in one of its reports.
Senior Revenue Officer, Chicago (1974-1976)
Provided financial advice to businesses and high-income individuals to liquidate large tax delinquencies and comply with tax laws. Collected delinquent tax accounts and secured delinquent tax returns from taxpayers and their representatives who often were uncooperative and resorted to sophisticated legal and illegal subterfuges to conceal assets, income, and tax liability. Frequently served as an acting supervisor.
Revenue Officer, Harvey and Joliet Illinois (1971-1974)
Collecting delinquent tax accounts and secured delinquent tax returns on increasing complex cases. Supervised a staff that at times included over 90 Revenue Agents, Revenue Agent trainees, and Taxpayer Service Representatives who answered all requests for information and assistance received via a newly-installed toll-free telephone call distribution system in Chicago in 1974.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS AND ACTIVITIES
- Accounting and Auditing
American Accounting Association
American Institute of CPAs
Illinois CPA Society
Institute of Internal Auditors
Institute of Management Accountants - Arbitration
American Arbitration Association
Society of Professional in Dispute Resolution - Cost Estimating and Analysis
Society of Cost Estimating and Analysis - Finance
American Association of Individual Investors
International Association of Financial Engineers
National Association of Financial Services Auditors - Fraud Investigation
American Board of Forensic Accountants
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
Federal Investigators Association - Government
American Society of Public Administrators
Association of Government Accountants
Federal Managers Association
Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter Treasurer 1983-1985 and Membership Director 1986-1996. Received many awards that recognized success in recruiting and retaining members. Served on the Illinois CPA Society Membership Committee 1989-1998.
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