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Investigation - Advanced Issues

Course Category Audit

September 10, 2025

8:00 a.m.

Change

On-Site

This course will be delivered on-site in CNMI.

Registration is open to insular government professionals.

Course Description

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.

What You Will Learn

Role of the investigator in preparing cases
Interactions with auditors and other partners
Evidence in proceedings and use in court

Who Should Attend

APIPA conference sessions are intended for island government accountability professionals. Audit, budget, finance, accounting, and related management and staff members will find interest and value in this presentation. Investigators and auditors are currently working on criminal cases. Participants should have a background in investigations and/or have completed the Basic Investigations course.

NEXT SESSION

DAYS

HOURS

MINS

SECONDS

September 10, 2025

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Change

CPEs - 8 Credit Hours

On-Site, CNMI

TBD, CNMI

Panelists

David House

Denver, Colorado

David House serves as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) for Infrastructure Coordination for the Department of Interior’s Office of Inspector General (OIG). SAC House has served in a variety of roles with the OIG – he was the Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Northern Region in St. Paul, MN; was Deputy Director for the Recovery Oversight Office; was a senior case agent in Hawaii, and was the Special Agent in Charge for the Central Region in Denver, CO. He served for several years as a Special Agent in Charge for the General Services Administration OIG in San Francisco, CA and before that, served as a US Army CID Agent for 12 years.

Katharine Kovacek

Denver, Colorado

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, Virgina, 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.

Photo Gallery

Photos from recent activities hosted by the Pacific and Virgin Islands Training Initiatives (PITI-VITI) in support of conferences, training and leadership development, are available below.