Granholm appoints accounting professor to Michigan’s State Board of Accountancy

Weirich honored to serve

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has appointed accounting professor Thomas R. Weirich to the Michigan State Board of Accountancy. In his first few months of service, Weirich has been able to draw on his extensive experience to help ensure the quality of professional accounting in Michigan.
“This is a way for me to serve the profession here in Michigan. It’s a big honor to be recognized in this way,” Weirich said. “I’m glad that this appointment brings recognition to CMU.”

The board is responsible for the certification and licensure of certified public accountants and public accounting firms. So far during his term – which runs until 2009 – Weirich has helped craft a policy for the board to make sure international candidates are in compliance with U.S. rules and standards.

Recognition also received
for forensic program

For the past two years, Weirich also has brought recognition to his CMU forensic accounting students. He has invited a team of Internal Revenue Service/Criminal Investigation Division agents to learn about fraud the old-fashioned way – using live, reality-based scenarios. The project was implemented in conjunction with the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants. IRS agents hope the training will help students understand criminal investigations and learn about careers in the IRS criminal investigation division.

“More and more, fraud in business has become a major concern throughout the country,” Weirich said. “There’s a need in corporations to have people with expertise. The forensic fraud class has been very popular, and firms are taking an interest in our students.”

Accounting professor Thomas R. Weirich