PROFESSIONAL CAREER
TOM GOLDEN has retired from leading one of the largest forensic accounting investigation practices in the US. He has a national reputation in financial crime investigation and is a frequent presenter to Fortune 500 companies and many organizations, including the FBI and the IRS.
A CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Golden was an adjunct professor at DePaul University, Chicago, where he developed and taught the school’s first forensic accounting course in 2002 in the wake of the WorldCom and Enron frauds scandals. That course was so unheard of that it made the front page of the Chicago Tribune.
Tom appeared in the 2017 film documentary ALL THE QUEEN’S HORSES detailing how Rita Crundwell, the treasurer of Dixon, IL could embezzle nearly $54 million over two decades without detection—the largest municipal fraud in our nation’s history.
Before turning his attention to the literary world, Golden was the lead author of the award-winning Wiley book A GUIDE TO FORENSIC ACCOUNTING INVESTIGATION, now in its second edition.
HOW TOM BEGAN TO WRITE NOVELS
Golden has been presenting and giving speeches for over thirty years on a wide range of topics, including the art of conducting a financial crime investigation. On stage, he always told real stories where he applied his methods and techniques. (See Videos) People would say, “You tell a good story. You should write a novel.” So he did!
In April 2018, Golden published SUNDAY NIGHT FEARS inspired by his first fraud discovery as an auditor. That effort was meant to be a one-and-done novel, but Golden discovered that he absolutely loved what is turning out to be his second career. And readers wanted more!
The Sam Halloran Thriller Series was born with the protagonist… quite possibly posing as the Doppelgänger who authored it???
Golden’s next book in the series, ONE HONEST SOUL (2021), was inspired by his harrowing investigation south of the border. It picks up where book one left off in terms of plot, yet it can be read as a stand-alone novel.
Golden’s third book, ECHOES OF DECEIT, completes the Sam Halloran Trilogy and was inspired by Golden’s investigation of a major city public school system. This real case resulted in shocking indictments and sentences.
STRANGER THAN FICTION
When Golden retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) in 2008, he was the partner-in-charge of the Chicago Forensic Accounting practice, which he began in 1998. He’s been profiled in several worldwide publications, is an adjunct professor, was selected by Wiley as the lead author of an award-winning professional book, has given hundreds of speeches, and has grown his Chicago practice to become the second-largest in the US firm of PwC, one of the Big Four international firms. He is a CPA and CFE… and, during his first public company audit, he discovered a massive fraud that previous auditors had missed—even though Golden had never taken even one auditing course! Who does that!
Given Golden’s background, no one could have predicted he’d end up where he did. So, let’s take a quick tour.
CIGARETTE SALESMAN TURNED BIG FOUR PARTNER
In 1968, Golden knew he had to leave Jersey (a guy from Jersey never says New Jersey!). He was graduating from high school, his dad was an abusive alcoholic, and Tom needed to get away from him. Totally at random, Tom selected Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, from the American College Directory. Four years later, he graduated with a degree in marketing (Not accounting!), knowing he’d need to make a living selling something.
He went to work for the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, selling Winston, Camel, Salem cigarettes, and plug chewing tobacco from the trunk of his company car. Nine years later, he decided he didn’t want to do that for the rest of his life.
He wanted to apply his talent for selling to another trade—he selected the public accounting industry. Before anyone would even interview him, he was told he’d first need an MBA and pass the CPA Exam (he had only nine credit hours in accounting). Golden aimed to work for one of the Big Eight (now the Big Four) accounting and auditing giants. And guess what? It all happened! Tom was a decade older than his twelve audit associate cohorts—the oldest professional ever hired in the Indianapolis office.
TODAY
Immediately after retiring from PwC, Tom and his wife, a retired school teacher, sold their Chicago condo and purchased some land about a hundred miles west. There, they built a home in the middle of the woods where they live today.
Before leaving Chicago, they stopped at PAWS and rescued a mixed Labrador puppy. Their sons’ families live a short distance away—allowing precious time to spend with their four grandchildren.
In 2021, they celebrated 50 years of marriage—not bad, considering Tom proposed on their second date! Who does that!
Living in the solitude of the woods provides the perfect environment to write, but Tom does miss his interactions with Chicago colleagues, clients, and friends… as well as exposing criminals. Some of that gap is filled by meeting new people at speaking events and those who reach out to him after reading his novels. He still mentors young professionals around the globe interested in learning to market and conduct financial crime investigations. That, he will never tire of!
Tom enjoys receiving emails from readers of his novels and the Fraud Guy Blog and is more than happy to provide the backstory for each. Just reach out to him!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tom Golden, CFE?
Tom Golden, CFE, is a retired PwC Forensics Partner, author, and speaker with 30+ years in forensic accounting. As the former partner-in-charge of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Chicago Forensic Accounting practice, he grew it into the second-largest in the US firm before retiring in 2008. He is a CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner, the lead author of the Wiley reference book A Guide to Forensic Accounting Investigation, and the author of the Sam Halloran forensic accounting thriller series. He was featured in the 2017 documentary All The Queen’s Horses about the $54 million Rita Crundwell municipal fraud case.
What is Tom Golden’s background in fraud investigation?
Tom Golden built his forensic accounting career over more than 30 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he grew the Chicago Forensic Accounting practice into the second-largest in the US firm before retiring as partner-in-charge in 2008. He began his career as an auditor and discovered a massive fraud on his very first public company audit. He is a frequent presenter to Fortune 500 companies, universities, and professional organizations.
Was Tom Golden really a cigarette salesman before becoming a forensic accountant?
Yes. Tom Golden graduated from Indiana State University with a degree in marketing and spent nine years selling Winston, Camel, and Salem cigarettes for RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company. He then decided to transition into public accounting, earned his MBA, passed the CPA exam with only nine prior credit hours in accounting, and was hired by one of the Big Eight accounting firms – a decade older than his fellow audit associates. He went on to become partner-in-charge of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Chicago Forensic Accounting practice, growing it into the second-largest in the US firm.
What is Tom Golden’s connection to the Rita Crundwell fraud case?
Tom Golden was an investigator in the Rita Crundwell case, which involved the largest municipal fraud in American history. Crundwell, the treasurer of Dixon, Illinois, embezzled nearly $54 million over two decades without detection. Golden was featured in the 2017 documentary All The Queen’s Horses, which detailed how the fraud was carried out and ultimately uncovered. The case is a prominent example in his presentations on fraud detection and the dangers of unchecked trust in financial oversight.
Did Tom Golden teach forensic accounting at DePaul University?
Yes. Tom Golden developed and taught the first forensic accounting course at DePaul University in Chicago in 2002, in the wake of the Enron and WorldCom fraud scandals. The course was so groundbreaking that it was covered on the front page of the Chicago Tribune. A reporter noted that she had never heard the terms forensic and accounting used in the same sentence. Golden’s pioneering work at DePaul helped establish fraud investigation as a formal academic discipline taught at universities worldwide today.
What books has Tom Golden written?
Tom Golden has written two types of books. His professional reference work, A Guide to Forensic Accounting Investigation, published by Wiley and now in its Second Edition, is the industry-standard textbook for fraud investigators worldwide. His fiction work includes the Sam Halloran thriller series: Sunday Night Fears (2018), One Honest Soul (2021), and Echoes of Deceit, three forensic accounting thrillers inspired by real cases from his 30+ year career as a PwC forensics partner investigating financial crimes worldwide
Is Tom Golden available for speaking engagements?
Yes. Tom Golden is an experienced speaker with over 30 years presenting on fraud investigation, forensic accounting, and financial crime detection. He brings real case stories from his career as PwC forensics partner to every presentation. Tom is available for library presentations, schools, universities, and podcasts. Visit the Speaking page to learn more or submit an inquiry.